It’s 1900, and sixteen-year-old Helen comes alone in steerage across the Atlantic from a small village in Lithuania, fleeing terrible anti-Semitism and persecution. She arrives at Ellis Island, and finds a place to live in the colorful Lower East Side of New York. She quickly finds a job in the thriving garment industry and, like millions of others who are coming to America during this time, … devotes herself to bringing the rest of her family to join her in the New World, refusing to rest until her family is safe in New York. A few at a time, Helen’s family members arrive. Each goes to work with the same fervor she has and contributes everything to bringing over their remaining beloved family members in a chain of migration. Helen meanwhile, makes friends and—once the whole family is safe in New York—falls in love with a man who introduces her to a different New York—a New York of wonder, beauty, and possibility.
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If you like historical fiction this wonderful coming of age story is not to be missed. Endearing sixteen-year-old Helen is full of bravery, kindness and hope. A loving tribute to the author’s grandmother on which the character is based. The novel seamlessly transported me back in time to the early 1900s with well-researched facts as well as sensory detailed descriptions of antisemitism in Lithuania, a perilous shipboard journey to immigrate to America, and life on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. My knowledge of Jewish culture, career opportunities and dating in that era were also enhanced. I look forward to reading another book by Mary Helen Fein soon.
I thought Mary Helen Fein’s Stitching a Life was a beautiful story based on the author’s grandmother. I admire Helen’s strength and determination to make a life in a new country as an immigrant. The historical details were quite vivid. I felt like I was transported back in time to the return of the century New York.
I am giving Stitching a Life five plus stars. I would love to read more by Mary Helen Fein in the near future. She has proven to me that she is quit the storyteller. I highly recommend this one for readers who love historical fiction.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Stitching a Life: An Immigration Story is a compelling story, adapted from the diary of Ms. Fein’s grandmother. It is a compelling story about immigration and one everyone should read.
Helen, born Hinde, comes to America in 1900, following her father from their small village in Lithuania, in the hopes of saving enough money to get the rest of their family out and away from the terrible anti-Semitism and persecution.
This novel is critical because many forget that we are all descendants of immigrants. Unless one is a Native American, everyone is an immigrant. Immigration is the foundation of America; it was built by immigrants who worked long and hard to make a life for themselves. This novel also highlights the reason for immigration.
Helen and her family are Jewish, and in Lithuania, they face great persecution for their beliefs. Not only that but the Russian army conscripts any young Jewish boy age 12 or over where they face terrible treatment. Helen’s brother faces that fate unless they escape.
Stitching a Life: An Immigration Story was a compelling read because it reminds readers why people come to America, why they risk everything to come to this country. They want the freedom to be who they are; want the freedom to practice their beliefs; they want the freedom to live their lives without fear.
Helen and her family also face their challenges during there journey. They come face to face with the challenges that accompany going to a new land. However, they find a home in America, they make a life for themselves and it is incredible to see this story unfold.
Final Thoughts
Fein uses her imagination and her grandmother’s words to educate readers while also making her grandmother relatable to the reader. She gives her grandmother a strong personality, a compassionate and thoughtful narrative to break the world of fiction with non-fiction. It moves at an incredible pace and leaves the reader with hope for the future.
Stitching a Life by Mary Helen Fein is an enjoyable and interesting novel that is part biography and part historical fiction.
The author discusses in detail how she found inspiration in the story of her grandmother, Helen Breakstone Fein, and her story of immigration to the States to create a better life. She details all of the known facts, the research she did in reading and in person, and what details she filled in to create a great narrative.
We first meet Helen when she and her family are still experiencing the harrowing situation in Russia (a part of Russia that is now Lithuania). We see the hardships that she and her family are facing as Jewish citizens and all of the potential tragedies that could befall them if they stay.
We then get to follow along as Helen and her family immigrate at the turn of the 20th century to create a new, and safer existence.
They know that there will still be trials and tribulations in the new land, but opportunities exist that are not available in their volatile homeland.
It was interesting to take a peak inside one family’s immigration story and follow along to see the long-term outcomes of its members and descendants.
I truly enjoyed the book.
4/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.