Letters from rifka is a childrens historical novel by karen hesse, published by holt in 1992. It features a jewish familys emigration from russia in 1919, to belgium and ultimately to the u. Letters from rifka through the looking glass childrens. Introduction this study guide aims to provide material to help in the preparation of a lesson, unit, or bookclub discussion about the novel letters from rifka by karen hesse. Beginning in russia in 1919, this epistolary novel, based on experiences of the authors greataunt, tells how 12yearold rifka nebrot and her family fled the antisemitism of postrevolutionary russia and emigrated to the us. This puts the family at great risk, so to protect themselves, twelveyearold rifka and her family flee russia for america in the hope of a better life. She has received honors including the scott odell historical fiction award, the christopher award, and the macarthur fellowship genius award, making her only the second childrens book author to receive this prestigious grant. My primary concern, i suppose, was finding a way to tell my aunts story. Twelveyearold rifkas journey from a jewish community in the ukraine to ellis island is anything but smooth sailing. One of rifka s cousins, tovah, remains in russia and wants to keep in touch with rifka. Ms hesse is also the author of wish on a unicorn and the forthcoming lesters dog and lavender. But she dreams she will at last be safe from the russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the jews in the new country. Also my grandparents were apart of this period in history and lived through many of the hardships described in this book. Rifka s mother talk to her about how it has been in america.
Studying this novel expands the exploration of the value tikvah, hope, the theme of the shevat 5764 issue of babaganewz. She knew what it was like to miss her home and all she knew, just like i was. Rifka tells her mom about hows she been while in belgium. Letters from rifka timeline timeline created by kittycat. Her letters to her cousin tell of rifkas bravery and loy. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and. Rifka finally sees her mother and she has never been happier, especially in her problem. Bartoletti has taken one episode from her newbery honor book, hitler youth, and fleshed it out into a full novel. Rifka writes letters in the margins of a book of pushkin to a cousin still in russia, telling of her loneliness, fear and determination to join her family. I chose this book because world war two era is very fascinating tome. It is 1919 and rifkas brother nathan has deserted the russian army.
In it, she records her observations and experiences in the form of. I wanted, first and foremost, to honor the memory of my grandparents. Rifka s family hid in the trains boxcars, and rifka had to distract the soldiers. Have students use a blank world map to trace the journey of rifka and her family. Letters from rifka is a short childrens novel narrated by a 12 year old jewish girl fleeing russia in 1919. The soldiers came to the boxcars to search for nathan, and rifka distracted them. This gives rifka a way to express her fears and loneliness as the family journeys across russia.
Rifka knows nothing about america when she flees from russia with her family in 1919. Rifka also shows her mother about the boy who looks at rifka as a mother. For each country rifka visits, have students label that country on the map. She endures prejudice, displays family loyalty, and shows perseverance and growth. They chose rifka because she could speak russian and she had light hair and blue eyes. As an adult, reading this book to my children was one of the most nostalgic experiences i think i have ever had. Ms hesse is also the author of wish on a unicorn, lesters dog and lavender. The entire book consists of letters that rifka wrote to her cousin tovah, detailing the heartinyourthroat moments that surround her jewish familys escape from russia. Throughout her journey, rifka carries with her a cherished volume of poetry by alexander pushkin.
I asked him what he loved about it and he ended up reciting a full summary of the story. In it, she records her observations and experiences in the form of letters to her. Rifka also shows her mother about the boy who looks at rifka as a. On ellis island rifka meets a new friend named ilya, but he first does not talk to her nor will he eat, so everyone thinks hes a simpleton. Letters from rifka and millions of other books are available for instant access. You have been a big sister and a best friend to me. May 7, 2015 rifka is a girl who is trying to get to america but she has many challenges to face while she is on this journey. Karen hesse calls letters from rifka a gift to my grandparents and to my heritage, and to people like rifka who have made the passage between two worlds. Dec 16, 2015 letters from rifka by karen hesse in chm, epub, fb2 download e book. The letters, each prefaced by a few telling lines of pushkin, tell of the fear, indignities, privation, and disease endured as they traveled through poland and into. Always, to help her, she has the book of pushkin poems that her beloved cousin tovah gave her. As an adult, reading this book to my children was one of the most nostalgic experiences i.
Letters from rifka summary letters from rifka is the story of a young russianjewish girl and her family who leave their homeland in 1919 to travel to america. My favorite highlights were when rifka and her family got typhus but survived. Twenty years ago i was in third grade reading my first karen hesse book, letters from rifka. She has received honors including the scott odell historical fiction award, the christopher award, and the macarthur fellowship genius award, making her only the second childrens book author to. Rifka makes the difficult journey from the ukraine to america and records the adventure, as well as her solo journey to rejoin her family after being separated from them, in a series of letters. Letters from rifka by karen hesse in chm, epub, fb2 download ebook. Also, i liked how she was the little mother of a polish baby when the babys real mom died from typhus. Before long, the family encounters their first obstacle. They have a dangerous escape, and meet some unpleasant people along the way. In it, she records her observations and experiences in the form.
Rifka s family quickly packed up their things and left. I learned more about jewish history from this book. To ask other readers questions about letters from rifka, please sign up. When garnet finds a silver thimble in the sand by the river, she is sure its magical. When a case of ringworm prevents rifka from joining her russian family as they emigrate. Because she has no spare paper, she uses the blank spaces of the book to write letters to a cousin who remains in the motherland. Introduction this study guide aims to provide material to help in the preparation of a lesson, unit, or book club discussion about the novel letters from rifka by karen hesse. Choose from 500 different sets of letters from rifka flashcards on quizlet. The book is super unique in that it is written as series of journal entries or letters. Her family decided to leave russia and take a train to poland where they got sick with typhus and were stuck there for weeks. The power of pushkins poetry in karen hesses letters. Rifka and her jewish family have fled russia for america. Persecuted in russia by the soldiers and others who dislike jews, rifkas family makes their way across russia to poland and the u. Letters from rifka character descriptions for teachers.
Karen hesse is the author of many books for young people, including out of the dust, winner of the newbery medal, brooklyn bridge, phoenix rising, sable and lavender. Jan 01, 1992 letters from rifka is a short childrens novel narrated by a 12 year old jewish girl fleeing russia in 1919. Praise for letters from rifka hesses vivacious tale colorfully and convincingly refreshes the immigrant experience. I bought it for my 9year old and, thankfully, read a part of it first before making a determination to give it to her. Setting letters from rifkabook project by anna dayton. I felt like the summary was a bit inaccurate, although i can t say why without. Twelveyearold rifka tells her story through a series of letters written to her cousin tovah. Persecuted in russia by the soldiers and others who dislike jews, rifka s family makes their way across russia to poland and the u. The story letters from rifka is about a jewish family who has decided to leave russia to go to america. Letters from rifka karen hesse summary rifka is a young girl who lives in russia.
Jstor september 2015 learn how and when to remove this template message. Sections date we will finish reading date we will discuss 1. Modeled on the authors greataunt, rifka surmounts one obstacle after another in this riveting novel. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. I was in third grade reading my first karen hesse book, letters from rifka. The time peroid for the story was during the 1920s, the setting occured in various places. This book is a fantastic resource if you are teaching your class about immigration. There are a couple parts that i did have to skip they talk about undressing in front of the soldiers, pretty descriptive but a great depiction of what life was like for a jewish girl trying to come to america.
Our online letters from rifka trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top letters from rifka quizzes. See more ideas about lettering, writing and america. Her family decided to leave russia and take a train to poland where. Rifka, the protagonist of this book, is 12years old, which matches the beginning age for appropriateness of this book. Mar 17, 2017 i had a book report due and got a group of friendsover 9000 gamer, camera man,tessa constantine rifka, isaac lowe nathon, cameron the beast saul editor. The power of pushkins poetry in karen hesses letters from rifka.
Along the way she faces many obstacles and the only way she feels comfort is when she writes in a book called pushkin, that her cousin gave her. In the book letters from rifka by karen hesse, a young jewish girl named rifka, has to go through an experience such as escaping religious belief and running away from pogroms. Experiencing the letters rifka wrote to her cousin, tovah, allowed me to experience a sense of kinship. Rifka takes a poetry book with her and starts writing letters to tovah using rippedout pages from the book. This book is an indepth look at a 12 year old girls struggle to get to america from russia. Aug 20, 2010 rifka knows nothing about america when she flees from russia with her family in 1919. Her father does not want her brothers to fight in the russian civil war. Letters from rifka plot summary letters from rifka is a story about a jewish girl that escapes to america because her brothers are wanted by the german army. Just when rifkas troubles should be over she finds herself facing new hardships. Karen hesse in letters to her cousin, a young jewish girl chronicles her familys flight from russia in 1919 and her own experiences when she must be left in belgium for a while when the others immigrate to. A youth in nazi germany tells the truth about hitler. Letters from rifka plan your schedule my group members are. This puts the family at great risk, so to protect themselves, twelveyearold rifka and her family flee russia for america in. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws.
First she outwits a band of russian soldiers, enabling her family to escape to poland. Karen hesses young adult historical novel, letters from rifka 1992, centers on a young jewish girl and her journey from russia to belgium in 1919. We plan to read letters from rifka and meet on these dates. Pj our way offers free, monthly jewish chapter books to kids 911 years of age. When a case of ringworm prevents rifka from joining her russian family as they emigrate to the united states, she spends nine months living in warsaw, with her care overseen by the hebrew immigrant aid society. Letters from rifka quizzes online, trivia, questions. I asked him what he loved about it and he ended up reciting a full summary of. So she writes letters to her cousin explaining everything.
She writes about all of the problems she has to get through. They are going to help you out while you read the selection from letters from rifka emma likes to ask questions about what youre thinking while you read alex tries to answer emmas questions and asks for your help along the way with the help of your coaches youll be a literary whiz in no time. This book waas very interesting and flowed easly as letters. Based on a true story from the authors family, letters from rifka presents a reallife heroine with an uncommon courage and unsinkable spirit. Karen hesse lives in williamsville, vermont, with her husband, randy, and her daughters, kate and rachel. Letters from rifka 1993 read online free book by karen. Letters from rifka is the story of a young russianjewish girl and her family who leave their homeland in 1919 to travel to america. Rifka and her jewish family have fled russia for america in 1919.
She carries with her a lone beloved volume of poems by pushkin. However, rifka encounters many difficulties along the way. A comprehensive database of letters from rifka quizzes online, test your knowledge with letters from rifka quiz questions. This puts the family at great risk, so to protect themselves, twelveyearold rifka. Read the book form the group that will read letters from rifka. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In letters from rifka, rifka and her family travel to many countries before arriving in the united states.
Letters from rifka is a story about a jewish girl that escapes to america because her brothers are wanted by the german army. But she dreams that in the new country she will at last be safe from the russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the jews. Plot summary letters from rifkabook project by anna dayton. Read with a group group members read an agreedupon number of pages, complete the corresponding student journal pages, and meet to discuss. Learn letters from rifka with free interactive flashcards. Indeed it is within the pages of this beloved volume that rifka writes letters to tovah, letters describing her experiences and her feelings. Rifka takes a risky journey all the way to america. Her letters to her cousin tell of rifka s bravery and loy alty to her family.
Rifkas mother talk to her about how it has been in america. Rifkas compelling story, relating her burgeoning maturity and ability to cope with her situation, is presented in letter format. Then have students briefly research each country and provide relevant. Letters from rifka morphed from being simply a memorial to my grandparents to a tribute to my great aunts extraordinary courage and humor. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. I cannot bear to think of never talking to you again.
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