Just Call Me Joe

It is the year 1909 and Joseph and Anna's parents have made the tough decision to let their children leave a life of persecution in Russia and emigrate to the United States to be with their Aunt Sophie in New York. They are leaving behind them days of anxiety and fear in their Russian shtetl where murderous soldiers would often sneak up on unfortunate Jews in the woods or come bursting into their homes in the middle of the night. Joseph and Anna are both excited at the adventures and prospects ahead. Following the sea voyage, they soon find that the streets in America are not "paved with gold" and many challenges await them. 17-year-old Anna finds herself working day and night in a dreary clothing factory and 10-year-old Joseph struggles to learn English, make new friends and be accepted by the boys at his new school. He is constantly challenged by his idyllic notions of what he thought America was going to be like. Aunt Sophie takes in boarders just to make ends meet and struggles to provide for them. Readers will cheer Joseph and Anna as they try to adjust to life in the early twentieth century New York. Although characters were a bit too one- dimensional, this book is a great introduction to immigration stories and historical fiction. Just Call Me Joe is ideal for curriculum units on immigration where teachers want to include an easy to read novel with a stimulating story line.