Rebecca

Darleen R. Golke is a high-school teacher-librarian in Winnipeg,
Manitoba.

It is 1912. The Churchill and Bernstein families, having abandoned their
burned-out communal Saskatchewan farm, arrive in Winnipeg’s North End,
which is teeming with immigrants of all types. The sheer size of their
group creates accommodation difficulties, so Rebecca’s family, the
Bernsteins, seek separate lodgings. When Rebecca’s actor father fails
to find a job, the Hebrew Sick Benefit Society offers to help by placing
the children temporarily in foster care. Rebecca is placed with a
gentile Ukrainian family, whose four males disapprove of the enthusiasm
Sophie and her mother display in welcoming Rebecca.

At school Rebecca reluctantly joins a “Jewish” girl’s group,
which is led by overbearing Rachel, who decrees Rebecca cannot be
friends with Sophie. Ethnic divisiveness, bullying, fighting,
name-calling, cliques, and characteristic middle-school behaviors
abound, climaxing on the streets when Rebecca’s uncles rescue
Sophie’s Ukrainian group from a Polish gang. Shy and timid Rebecca
finds the strength to stand up to bullying classmates, help rescue
children in a hospital fire,defy her grandparent’s directives, survive
her separation from her family, and pursue her “ethnically
incorrect” friendship with Sophie.

Rebecca narrates her story, allowing the reader insight into her
innermost fears and longings as she navigates the unpredictable voyage
of growing up. Matas integrates Hebrew words and phrases into the text,
allowing their meaning to surface as the story unfolds. A briskly
flowing plot, realistic dialogue, colorful characters, and handily
resolved conflicts should appeal to young readers. Recommended.