Summary

Letters from Rifka

What is the book about?

Letters from Rifka is all about Rifka's journey to America. When Rifka and her family stayed in Russia, no one appreciated them because they were Jewish. So, their family decide dto go to America. During the trip there Rifka got 2 diseases and gaves them to others. One of her diseases called ringworm that made her lose all her hair, and stopped her from going to America, while her whole family left her behind to be treated, they made their way to America. During Rifka's journey to America she has to keep note of what she went through so she wrote letters to her cousin Tovah, writing down all the details of what happened. Finally, after a year or so of her treatment to ringworm, Rifka was allowed to go to America and when she made her way to Ellis Island, the guards stopped her because they aren't sure that her ringworm is cured. So Rifka stayed at Ellis Island for a while, a Russian peasant boy follows Rifka around as his mentor. As Rifka stayed in Ellis island for a long time she became closer to the boy, and sometimes some of her family visited her. The day of Rifka's inspection to go to America she felt her head itching worse than ever, and she's really nervous that she was never cured and that she can't go back to America. However, while they were inspecting Rifka's hair, she knew they would send her back to Russia. But it wasn't ringworm on Rifka's head, it was hair. That's when Rifka was able to go to America.

The Summary

By: Caroline Sharpe and Margaret Griffith