Letters from Rifka

Hesse's vivacious tale colorfully and convincingly refreshes the immigrant experience. --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Told with unusual grace and simplicity, an unforgettable picture of immigrant courage, ingenuity, and perseverance. --Pointer, Kirkus Reviews

What especially raises it above docu-novel is the emerging sense of Rifka's personality. Bald from the ringworm, poor and needy, she proves she's no greenhorn; she has a gift for languages, she's brave and clever, and if she talks too much, so be it. --Booklist

Based largely on the memories of the author's great-aunt, this historical novel has a plot, characters, and style that will make it an often-requested choice from young readers. A vivid, memorable, and involving reading experience. --School Library Journal, Starred Review

Karen Hesse is the author of many books for young people, including Out of the Dust, winner of the Newbery Medal, Brooklyn Bridge, Phoenix Rising, Sable and Lavender. She has received honors including the Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award, the Christopher Award, and the MacArthur Fellowship Genius Award, making her only the second children's book author to receive this prestigious grant. Born in Baltimore, Hesse graduated from the University of Maryland. She and her husband Randy live in Vermont.