Although this book by Dorthe Binkert was not as informative
on how immigrants assimilated into America’s environment, I realized that the
journey to America was just as important of a topic. Binkert chose to focus on
a mysterious girl named Valentina who boards an America-bound ship as a
stowaway. She does not have a single belonging on her, though her dress hints
at her upper class background. Through the course of the trip to America, more
of her life is revealed. She has a husband who cheats often and openly, and she
lost her young child two years ago. The story line may be a bit melodramatic,
but many immigrants during that time (early 1900s) had chosen to leave their
home countries because of past sorrows they hoped to escape from.
At the end of the novel, however, there is a harsh truth.
Not all immigrants were allowed entry into America, and Valentina was one of
them. She had not bought a ticket, so as a stowaway she returned to Belgium.
Even though her case was rare, others had their hopes crushed when eye
infections or other illnesses forced them, and sometimes their other family
members, to return to their home countries. Therefore, even though the plot
was fictional, it was based on a true story, and revealed how immigration was
not always a happy ending for everyone.
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