When Jessie Came Across the Sea
by Amy Hest
Book Talk
This fictional story is about a Jewish girl who travels from Eastern Europe to
America. Back when the story takes place, many Jews were leaving Eastern Europe
for religious freedom and opportunity. Listen to learn about why Jessie travels to
America, what the journey is like, and the challenges she has to meet to make a new
life in this country.
Note: The pages in the book are not numbered. Count the first illustration as p. 1 and
the first page of text as p. 2.
Vocabulary/Concepts
rabbi (p. 3), lace (p. 3), logic (p. 7), guidance (p. 7), comfort (p. 10), crammed
together (p. 14), swapped (p. 16), grand (p. 16), Ellis Island (p. 21), inspections (p.
21), occupation (p. 21), parlor (p. 23), pushcarts (p. 23)
Read-Aloud
Read pp. 1–4 and ask:
Q: What do Jessie and her grandmother teach each other? Jessie teaches
Grandmother to read and write. Grandmother teaches Jessie to sew lace.
Read pp. 5–10.
Use Think, Pair, Share and ask:
Q: Why do the people in the village call America “the promised land”? They have
heard that people aren’t so poor over there. There is more freedom in America. People
can have a better life.
Note: You may need to elaborate upon the idea of America as a promised land or a
land of opportunity.
Q: Why does the rabbi choose Jessie to go to America? She will help Kay, his brother’s
widow in her store, and also help Kay feel less alone now that her husband is dead.
Q. Why does Grandmother’s head say “Jessie must go”? She believes the rabbi
wouldn’t send Jessie unless there is a good reason. Jessie will have a better life in
America.
Read pp. 11–22 and ask:
Q. What are some of the hardships the people face during the voyage? The ship is
crowded. Many different languages are spoken; it is sometimes cold and stormy; the
voyage causes some to become seasick.
Use Think, Pair, Share and ask:
Q. How does Jessie’s skill at sewing lace become important on the boat? She makes
the little girl happy. She cheers up the old woman by making her worn-out coat look
fancy. It helps her pass the time, keeps her from being bored. Lou notices her.
Explain that Jessie was allowed to live in the United States because she could say she
had a job sewing lace. You may want to add that having a job is still a requirement
for certain types of visas that allow people to live in the U.S.
Read pp. 23–28.
Show the picture of Jessie’s neighborhood on p. 27. If you can project the picture, it
may be easier for students to see the details. Ask:
Q: What do you notice about this part of New York City? The buildings are old. The
streets are crowded and messy. There are carts and stalls on the street instead of
stores. The street looks like dirt.
Q: What has happened to Jessie since she came to America? She helped Cousin Kay
with her store/business/dress shop by bringing in a lot of customers who wanted
wedding dresses with her lace on them. She’s learning English. She’s learned how to
keep from getting lost.
Read pp. 29–36 and ask:
Q: What does Jessie do with the money she earns? Why? She saves up enough money
to buy a ticket for Grandmother to come to America. She loves her grandmother and
wants to live with her again. She wants her grandmother to have a better life, too, and
not be so poor. She doesn’t want to get married without her grandmother being there.
Q: How has Jessie’s life changed since she came to America? She has a job where she
can earn money/earn enough money to bring her grandmother to America. She’s
learned English. She’s going to get married. She’s learned that her skills and good ideas
can help Cousin Kay’s business. She’s learned that she could do really hard things. She’s
learned that, even though things can be difficult at first, she can do things if she works
hard. She’s learned that she can meet challenges.
Q: Does America seem like the “promised land” the villagers were so excited about?
Accept any answers as long as students can support their opinions with evidence
from the story.
Writing Response
Write a letter, as Jessie, to the rabbi, thanking him for the ticket to America and the
opportunity he gave her. Include details about the new life Jessie made for herself in
New York.