Description
About the Author
Melissa R. Klapper teaches history at Rowan University in New Jersey and has also written Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America, 1860-1920. She lives in the Philadelphia area.
Reviews
Skillfully shows how the experiences of immigrant children highlight the dramatic shift from farm to factory. . . . An engaging synthesis. -- Kriste Lindenmeyer, author of The Greatest Generation Grows Up
Her culturally sensitive survey fills a gap in histories of childhood and of immigration. -- Roger Daniels, University of Cincinnati
Klapper has written a brief gem of a book, examining immigrant children in all of their diversity, tragedy, and triumph. -- Jonathan Zimmerman, author of Whose America?
A careful blending of personal accounts with the larger social issues and reform movements of the period. -- Marilyn Irvin Holt, author of Children of the Western Plains
Small Strangers touches on an astonishing range of key issues. . . . Indispensable. -- Alice Kessler-Harris, author of Gendering Labor History
Klapper paints a compelling portrait. . . . An especially pertinent story in light of the current debates over immigration policy. -- Peter Bardaglio, author of Reconstructing the Household
Small Strangers fills a gap. . . . An excellent addition to any college level collection strong in immigrant studies. * California Bookwatch *
Small Strangers captures the essence of what it meant to be one of the many children whose families immigrated to America around the turn of the last century. . . . Small Strangers manages to do an excellent job of telling their stories and shedding light on their lives and their contributions to building America. -- Garrett Berger * Virginia Quarterly Review *
Highlight[s] . . . experiences of individuals while still describing . . . structural similarities in the experiences of . . . a broad range of ethnicities. -- Ellen L. Berg * H-Childhood *
Stimulating study . . . fine insights concerning the effects that immigration had on American and its varied citizenry. -- Robert Leiter * Jewish Exponent *
This slim, accessible volume presents a concise history of the immigrant generation that came of age in late nineteenth-and early twentieth century America. -- H. Mark Wild * Journal of American History *
A book that smoothly synthesizes several decades' worth of scholarship. . . . Klapper draws an interesting contrast between the 'public and collective' child-rearing practices of working-class families and the 'private and individual' ones of native-born white Americans. . . . Readers will appreciate Klapper's presentation of anecdotes from a refreshingly broad range of geographic locales and ethnic groups. -- William S. Bush, Texas A&M University-San Antonio * Journal of American Ethnic History *
Book Information
ISBN 9781566637336
Author Melissa R. Klapper
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint Ivan R Dee, Inc
Publisher Ivan R Dee, Inc
Weight(grams) 481g
Dimensions(mm) 239mm * 161mm * 22mm