Recommended by the Reviewers Club
Ellis Island, New York 1902. A young American girl, Alma, with a natural gift and love of linguistics is starting her first day as a carer/assistant to new arrival immigrants being processed for entry into America. That same day, Francesca arrives on the shores of America with her desperately sick sister without the necessary papers.
But Ellis Island isn’t a refuge for them, and they are threatened to be returned to Europe on the next ship home. Alma soon becomes aware of the corruption that ripples through every corridor and the surreptitiously closed door where Francesca is being interviewed. While Francesca resorts to every measure to make it through, Alma is desperate to become a translator, a job never previously given to a woman.
As the two women face the misdeeds of a system known to abuse and manipulation against immigrants, especially those like Francesca, they form an unlikely friendship- and a terrible secret. However, despite the threat of Alma losing the job she loves, with a well to do family, she is finally persuaded to return to Ellis Island and give evidence against the supervisor that took advantage of her.
This story is based on fact and shows in detail the corruption that went in a world where job security for women was so tentative. A well worthwhile read.
4.5/5 Stars