Parents need to know that The Girl in the Torch is the story of 12-year-old Sarah, a Jewish immigrant escaping the pogroms of Russia, who is orphaned upon her arrival in New York City. About to be sent back to a misogynist uncle in Russia, Sarah makes a daring escape and lives briefly in the crown of the Statue of Liberty -- the emblem of the hope and freedom she desperately seeks. While danger abounds, Sarah works hard and relies on her good instincts and a diverse group of newfound friends who risk their own welfare to help her. This novel vividly depicts the immigrant experience and the complexities of early 1900s America, which promised freedom yet was mired in poverty and racism. The endpapers give more information about U.S. immigration history. A fine choice for fans of historical fiction and families looking for books with diverse characters.
