Reviews - Letters from Rifka

77 reviews for:

Letters from Rifka

Karen Hesse

3.79 AVERAGE

bc_'s review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

sassmistress's review against another edition

3.25

Well-written, liked it, but too emotional for my taste. Very informative and engaging look at Soviet emigration experience.

emmerboo's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

ella_janna's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ricksilva's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Epistolary novel detailing a Ukrainian Jewish girl's flight to America during the progroms of 1919. When Rifka flees with her family from the Ukraine into Poland, they must endure harrowing treatment by the border guards, and then a battle against typhus.

But just when it looks like they can board a ship to join family members living in the United States, Rifka is barred from traveling by immigration officials due to an infection. She must stay in Europe, with the help of Jewish aid-workers and eventually make the journey on her own, finally facing a new set of challenges with the American officials at Ellis Island.

Through the story, Rifka details her adventures in the form of letters to her cousin in the Ukraine. She writes these in the margins of her book of Alexander Pushkin's poetry, and quotes from his poems serve as introductions to the chapters as Rifka writes out the letters that she won't be able to send until she finally settles in America with her family.

This is a good, engaging story with great details on the immigrant experience, especially the varying kindness and cruelty of the people that Rifka meets on her journey.

Content Warnings