The Next Ship Home: A Novel of Ellis Island
"An unflinching look at the immigrant experience, an unlikely and unique friendship, and a resonant story of female empowerment."--Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star
Ellis Island, 1902: Two women band together to hold America to its promise: "Give me your tired, your poor ... your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."
A young Italian woman arrives on the shores of America, her sights set on a better life. That same day, a young American woman reports to her first day of work at the immigration center. But Ellis Island isn't a refuge for Francesca or Alma, not when ships depart every day with those who are refused entry to the country and when corruption ripples through every corridor. While Francesca resorts to desperate measures to ensure she will make it off the island, Alma fights for her dreams of becoming a translator, even as women are denied the chance.
As the two women face the misdeeds of a system known to manipulate and abuse immigrants searching for new hope in America, they form an unlikely friendship--and share a terrible secret--altering their fates and the lives of the immigrants who come after them.
This is a novel of the dark secrets of Ellis Island, when entry to "the land of the free" promised a better life but often delivered something drastically different, and when immigrant strength and female friendship found ways to triumph even on the darkest days.
Inspired by true events and for fans of Kristina McMorris and Hazel Gaynor, The Next Ship Home holds up a mirror to our own times, deftly questioning America's history of prejudice and exclusion while also reminding us of our citizens' singular determination.
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Community Reviews
Author Heather Webb's main characters, Anna Brauer and Francesca Ricci, are entirely fictional. Alma, age twenty-one and unmarried, lives in a tenement in Kleindeutschland (Little Germany), one of many communities within New York City situated within just a few blocks that remained separate, the inhabitants understanding their respective roles within the strictures of society. Alma's family and friends steer clear of the Irish, Italian, Russian, and Jewish neighborhoods, and "the squalor the newly arrived immigrants bring to the city." Her stepfather, Robert, and mother, Johanna, run a bierhaus in the basement where they serve German customers. "Alma had never questioned her parents' views. In fact, they'd instilled their own unease" about people unlike them in her. To disarm her anxiety, she learned other languages in order to understand people different from her and her family. Learning of her activities, her stepfather has forbidden Alma and her older brother, Fritz, from continuing to study Italian, demanding that they remain steeped in German tradition, "a known aspect of their lives, comforting in its predictability." But Alma will not be dissuaded, sneaking away whenever possible to learn more.
Alma's parents are anxious to move to a better neighborhood and Robert, who constantly refers to Alma as a burden, announces that he has arranged with John Lambert, the chief inspector at Ellis Island, for Alma to begin work there as a matron. She is to contribute her wages to the household and continue working in the bierhaus in the evenings and on weekends. Alma is mortified at the thought of being sent off to work among "a horde of unruly, dirty immigrants," convinced it will ruin her reputation and dissuade any possible suitors. After all, Ellis Island, the immigration station, is called Tranen Insel -- Island of Tears.
Meanwhile, Francesca and her sister, Maria, abandoned by their mother years ago, have run away from their abusive alcoholic father in Italy, crossing the Atlantic in steerage where passengers are crammed together in the filthy bowels of the ship with little food or water. Francesca has already sacrificed a great deal in order to get herself and Maria aboard the ship, proving that she will do whatever it takes to survive and protect her beloved sister. But Maria has grown increasingly ill and they have used up their water rations. Desperate to help her sister and aided by her compassionate fellow passengers, Francesca bluffs her way up to first-class in search of water. There, she encounters the benevolent Marshall Lancaster and his haughty mother. Not only does Marshall give Francesca water, he also offers her his card, telling her, "I hope you will consider me your first friend in America." His address is Park Avenue. Francesca is resolved that once she reaches America, she will never have to steal or "beg for charity again."
From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island served as the immigration station for millions of immigrants escaping war, drought, famine, and religious persecution for the promise of a better life in the United States. All arriving immigrants were tagged with information gleaned from their ship’s registry. They were funneled into long lines in which they waited to undergo medical and legal inspections before being admitted into the country. Some were detained on the island for days or even weeks until their suitability to enter the United States was confirmed. Others were deemed ineligible and sent back to the country from which they had traveled, their hopes dashed. Webb convincingly takes readers to the island with Alma, describing the ferry trip, the sounds and smells, and the sea of confused, frightened immigrants with whom Alma must contend, along with Mrs. Keller, the head matron and her supervisor. From the outset, Mrs. Keller seems determined to give Alma the most challenging and taxing assignments. "The guards and inspectors do the sorting" of the immigrants as they arrive, while the matrons are specifically charged with helping the female immigrants and their children. Mrs. Keller makes clear that the questions asked by the inspectors are designed to "find reasons to deport the immigrants" in order to "keep our country safe from the worst kinds of people." She also warns Alma to stay out of the way of Commissioner Fitchie (a scandalous actual historical figure) and that "there are a few others you should avoid, but you'll learn that in time on your own." Alma soon puts her study of other languages, particularly Italian and Russian, to good use in an effort to explain to the immigrants what will be required of them and what their futures hold.
Alma soon encounters Francesca and Maria, and even though she has been warned not to become personally involved in the immigrants' lives and plights, she cannot help but take the sisters into her heart. She risks a job she is learning to love in order to assist Francesca. With Alma's help, Francesca reaches out to the man who promised to be her first friend and secures her future in New York City. Or at least it appears that way. But John Lambert, a fictional character loosely based on John Legerhilder, an inspector who was described as "dictatorial and cruel," threatens the independence and freedom that both Alma and Francesca are working hard to attain. Francesca finds herself choosing between acceding to the inspector's repugnant demands or being deported back to Italy and her abhorrent father. With an iron will and unwavering determination to find her way in America, free from her father's domination and physical abuse, Francesca does not regret her choice. Alma, deemed plain by her overbearing stepfather, is informed that he has promised Alma will marry Lambert without her knowledge or consent. Alma is appalled and angered at being treated like chattel, and feels further betrayed as her mother silently goes along with her stepfather's machinations. Alma is painfully aware she will disgrace her family and herself if she refuses to marry Lambert. But she neither knows nor loves him, and with each passing day she learns more about him and the disturbing way business is conducted on Ellis Island. She must find a way to break off the engagement.
Webb cleverly includes fictionalized newspaper accounts of ongoing investigations into employees and vendors, ordered by President Roosevelt. Eventually Commissioner Fitchie was replaced by Commissioner William Williams, as recounted in the book. He was dispatched to determine the source and nature of the corruption, and clean up the island's operations. His arrival shakes up the employees, who are interviewed individually and warned that they must report wrongdoing. Alma witnesses misconduct and hears about more, but in a story that could appear in the headlines in any city in America today, her supervisor refuses to take action, leaving Alma to risk retaliation if she goes over Mrs. Keller's head.
Webb's characters are fully developed and empathetic. In Webb's skilled telling of her story, Alma, who is naive, sheltered, and obedient at the outset, transforms into a strong young woman who rejects her parents' view of the world and the "others" who inhabit it with her. She develops a genuine friendship with Francesca and learns a great deal from her about self-worth and self-assurance. She discovers strength that she never knew she possessed and needs it when she decides that she must do the right thing -- in the workplace and her personal life.
Francesca settles into her role as a live-in cook for the Lancasters, even winning over Mrs. Lancaster with the delicious dishes she prepares. She also develops warm relationships with most of her coworkers and savors sleeping in the most comfortable bed she has even known, grateful that her days of stealing and scrapping in order to survive are behind her. She even grows close to Fritz, who flirts with danger and the possibility of losing his job with the railway by serving as a leader in the anarchist movement. But Francesca's new-found security is soon threatened and she learns that the price of her hard-won freedom may be giving up everything she has worked for, along with her new home.
Both Alma and Francesca defy convention, refusing to be subjugated and minimized, constrained by the roles they are expected to play within the social structures of their time. Webb aptly observes that their stories "highlight the vulnerabilities of women in the early twentieth century." But they also effectively illustrate how some aspects of women's lives haven't changed at all in the past hundred years. Women who are sexually harassed and manipulated in the workplace still face retribution and ostracism for standing up for their rights, as the #MeToo movement demonstrated. Moreover, Webb hopes readers appreciate that "many of the challenges Francesca faces are still issues for immigrants around the globe."
The Next Ship Home succeeds on two levels. It is an illuminating look at Ellis Island's purpose and operations, and the unique and important role it played in shaping the immigrant experience and history. It is estimated that nearly forty percent of all current United States citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island. Part of the National Park Service since 1965, Ellis Island has been open to the public since 1976. Thus, it remains a destination for the millions of Americans who visit, hoping for a glimpse into their own family history.
And The Next Ship Home is an absorbing and relatable story of two young women from completely different backgrounds who come to understand and care for each other, establishing a friendship that strengthens, empowers, and forever changes both of them. Their story is as relevant today as it was more than a century ago.
The Next Ship Home is a must-read selection for fans of American historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Alma's parents are anxious to move to a better neighborhood and Robert, who constantly refers to Alma as a burden, announces that he has arranged with John Lambert, the chief inspector at Ellis Island, for Alma to begin work there as a matron. She is to contribute her wages to the household and continue working in the bierhaus in the evenings and on weekends. Alma is mortified at the thought of being sent off to work among "a horde of unruly, dirty immigrants," convinced it will ruin her reputation and dissuade any possible suitors. After all, Ellis Island, the immigration station, is called Tranen Insel -- Island of Tears.
Meanwhile, Francesca and her sister, Maria, abandoned by their mother years ago, have run away from their abusive alcoholic father in Italy, crossing the Atlantic in steerage where passengers are crammed together in the filthy bowels of the ship with little food or water. Francesca has already sacrificed a great deal in order to get herself and Maria aboard the ship, proving that she will do whatever it takes to survive and protect her beloved sister. But Maria has grown increasingly ill and they have used up their water rations. Desperate to help her sister and aided by her compassionate fellow passengers, Francesca bluffs her way up to first-class in search of water. There, she encounters the benevolent Marshall Lancaster and his haughty mother. Not only does Marshall give Francesca water, he also offers her his card, telling her, "I hope you will consider me your first friend in America." His address is Park Avenue. Francesca is resolved that once she reaches America, she will never have to steal or "beg for charity again."
From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island served as the immigration station for millions of immigrants escaping war, drought, famine, and religious persecution for the promise of a better life in the United States. All arriving immigrants were tagged with information gleaned from their ship’s registry. They were funneled into long lines in which they waited to undergo medical and legal inspections before being admitted into the country. Some were detained on the island for days or even weeks until their suitability to enter the United States was confirmed. Others were deemed ineligible and sent back to the country from which they had traveled, their hopes dashed. Webb convincingly takes readers to the island with Alma, describing the ferry trip, the sounds and smells, and the sea of confused, frightened immigrants with whom Alma must contend, along with Mrs. Keller, the head matron and her supervisor. From the outset, Mrs. Keller seems determined to give Alma the most challenging and taxing assignments. "The guards and inspectors do the sorting" of the immigrants as they arrive, while the matrons are specifically charged with helping the female immigrants and their children. Mrs. Keller makes clear that the questions asked by the inspectors are designed to "find reasons to deport the immigrants" in order to "keep our country safe from the worst kinds of people." She also warns Alma to stay out of the way of Commissioner Fitchie (a scandalous actual historical figure) and that "there are a few others you should avoid, but you'll learn that in time on your own." Alma soon puts her study of other languages, particularly Italian and Russian, to good use in an effort to explain to the immigrants what will be required of them and what their futures hold.
Alma soon encounters Francesca and Maria, and even though she has been warned not to become personally involved in the immigrants' lives and plights, she cannot help but take the sisters into her heart. She risks a job she is learning to love in order to assist Francesca. With Alma's help, Francesca reaches out to the man who promised to be her first friend and secures her future in New York City. Or at least it appears that way. But John Lambert, a fictional character loosely based on John Legerhilder, an inspector who was described as "dictatorial and cruel," threatens the independence and freedom that both Alma and Francesca are working hard to attain. Francesca finds herself choosing between acceding to the inspector's repugnant demands or being deported back to Italy and her abhorrent father. With an iron will and unwavering determination to find her way in America, free from her father's domination and physical abuse, Francesca does not regret her choice. Alma, deemed plain by her overbearing stepfather, is informed that he has promised Alma will marry Lambert without her knowledge or consent. Alma is appalled and angered at being treated like chattel, and feels further betrayed as her mother silently goes along with her stepfather's machinations. Alma is painfully aware she will disgrace her family and herself if she refuses to marry Lambert. But she neither knows nor loves him, and with each passing day she learns more about him and the disturbing way business is conducted on Ellis Island. She must find a way to break off the engagement.
Webb cleverly includes fictionalized newspaper accounts of ongoing investigations into employees and vendors, ordered by President Roosevelt. Eventually Commissioner Fitchie was replaced by Commissioner William Williams, as recounted in the book. He was dispatched to determine the source and nature of the corruption, and clean up the island's operations. His arrival shakes up the employees, who are interviewed individually and warned that they must report wrongdoing. Alma witnesses misconduct and hears about more, but in a story that could appear in the headlines in any city in America today, her supervisor refuses to take action, leaving Alma to risk retaliation if she goes over Mrs. Keller's head.
Webb's characters are fully developed and empathetic. In Webb's skilled telling of her story, Alma, who is naive, sheltered, and obedient at the outset, transforms into a strong young woman who rejects her parents' view of the world and the "others" who inhabit it with her. She develops a genuine friendship with Francesca and learns a great deal from her about self-worth and self-assurance. She discovers strength that she never knew she possessed and needs it when she decides that she must do the right thing -- in the workplace and her personal life.
Francesca settles into her role as a live-in cook for the Lancasters, even winning over Mrs. Lancaster with the delicious dishes she prepares. She also develops warm relationships with most of her coworkers and savors sleeping in the most comfortable bed she has even known, grateful that her days of stealing and scrapping in order to survive are behind her. She even grows close to Fritz, who flirts with danger and the possibility of losing his job with the railway by serving as a leader in the anarchist movement. But Francesca's new-found security is soon threatened and she learns that the price of her hard-won freedom may be giving up everything she has worked for, along with her new home.
Both Alma and Francesca defy convention, refusing to be subjugated and minimized, constrained by the roles they are expected to play within the social structures of their time. Webb aptly observes that their stories "highlight the vulnerabilities of women in the early twentieth century." But they also effectively illustrate how some aspects of women's lives haven't changed at all in the past hundred years. Women who are sexually harassed and manipulated in the workplace still face retribution and ostracism for standing up for their rights, as the #MeToo movement demonstrated. Moreover, Webb hopes readers appreciate that "many of the challenges Francesca faces are still issues for immigrants around the globe."
The Next Ship Home succeeds on two levels. It is an illuminating look at Ellis Island's purpose and operations, and the unique and important role it played in shaping the immigrant experience and history. It is estimated that nearly forty percent of all current United States citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island. Part of the National Park Service since 1965, Ellis Island has been open to the public since 1976. Thus, it remains a destination for the millions of Americans who visit, hoping for a glimpse into their own family history.
And The Next Ship Home is an absorbing and relatable story of two young women from completely different backgrounds who come to understand and care for each other, establishing a friendship that strengthens, empowers, and forever changes both of them. Their story is as relevant today as it was more than a century ago.
The Next Ship Home is a must-read selection for fans of American historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
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