Sweet America: An Immigrant's Story (Jamestown's American Portraits) - Softcover

Kroll, Steven

3.32

22 ratings by Goodreads

9780769634234: Sweet America: An Immigrant's Story (Jamestown's American Portraits)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0769634230 ISBN 13: 9780769634234

Publisher: Brighter Child, 2004

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It is 1889, Tony Petrosino, a 14 year old from a poor village in Italy, has been in America for two years.

Tony and his family live in a cramped tenement apartment in New York City's Little Italy. His papa has seasonal work laying new streets. His mamma sews garments and makes articicial flowers at home. Tony, his two brothers, and his sister do what they can do to help.

br>Tony wants to do better. Struggling with neighborhood gangs and working as a part-time newsboy, he has learned English and graduated from the eighth grade. Now, he wants to continue his education, but his papa, stuck Old World ways, refuses.

br> Tony must become a full-time newsboy to give more money to the family. Tony wants to rebel, but he is loyal to his family. His decision will begin the widening of his experience.

br>Jamestown’s American Portraits explores the growth of different generations and cultures through the lives of young boys and girls. These titles are told from a diverse group of boys and girls, coming from different and unique backgrounds that represent America’s own diverse population, spanning from the Jamestown Settlement to the Civil Rights Movement.

Titles in this series:

� This Generation of Americans: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement, by Fredrick L. McKissack, Jr.

� The Road to Freedom: A Story of the Reconstruction, by Jabari Asim

� All For Texas: A Story of Texas Liberation, by G. Clifton Wisler

� The Worst of Times: A Story of the Great Depression, by James Lincoln Collier

� Wind on the River: A Story of the Civil War, by Laurie Lawlor

� When I Dream of Heaven: Angelina’s Story, by Steven Kroll (1895 Italian Immigrant in NYC)

� An Eye for an Eye: A Story of the Revolutionary War, by Peter and Connie Roop

� Sweet America: An Immigrant’s Story, by Steven Kroll

� The Corn Raid: A Story of the Jamesto

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From School Library Journal:

Gr 5-8-The obviously educational intent overtakes the story in both of these books. In the first title, Petey's formerly comfortable family struggles through the Great Depression in the Chicago area while his cousin, the son of a wealthy factory owner, joins the union movement. The plot seems designed to set up a situation in which the struggle of the workers for rights clashes with free-enterprise beliefs that the boss makes the decisions. Collier tugs at readers' heartstrings with an ominous and abrupt ending, but amid a wealth of detail and political discussion, the humanity of the characters is lost, and with it the capacity of readers to care. In Sweet America, Kroll shows 14-year-old Tonio's gradual transformation into Tony, a hardworking immigrant striving to survive and succeed in New York City at the end of the 19th century. Predictable difficulties with gangs, overcrowded tenements, layoffs, and the generation gap almost, but not quite, overcome lively Tonio's charm. The talents of both of these writers are wasted in these lackluster offerings.-Carol A. Edwards, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA

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