STITCHING A LIFE

In this YA novel, a young Jewish woman and her family flee persecution and seek a better life in the bustle of turn-of-the-century Manhattan.

It’s the dawn of the 20th century, and by Russian imperial decree, all Jewish boys are forcibly drafted into the military at age 12—an edict that ruins lives and rips apart families. Hinde Breakstone, a teenage Lithuanian girl, is a member of one of those families, whose brother Max has only narrowly avoided conscription. After too many close calls, and with three more boys destined for military indenture, Hinde’s parents decide to move the family to the United States; Hinde’s father goes first and Hinde follows, in order to make enough money to bring the rest of the family over. After an arduous voyage, Hinde gets her first sight of Lady Liberty, and the idealistic and industrious girl renames herself “Helen” to embrace her new American identity. What follows are accounts of the protagonist’s years of diligent work as she acclimates to exciting new places, people, and concepts that were previously alien to her. Fein’s account of Helen’s story comes across as the archetypal immigrant experience: She finds a community, falls in love, and ultimately builds a life of prosperity and promise. It’s a sweet narrative, based on the real life of the author’s grandmother. However, it suffers from a lack of tension and conflict, even during incidents involving anti-Semitism, which should be harrowing. Helen is certainly an admirable character, but her struggles, as written, never feel palpable, as they’re easily and quickly resolved. The simple writing style often feels repetitive and saccharine, making the turning points in the main character’s life feel less powerful than they could have been.

A pleasant read, but more nuanced prose might have made it more compelling.