Letters From Rifka
...reatments. Most people do not survive typhus, but Rifka’s family was very fortunate. After everyone was well they began their journey once again. Everything was going smoothly and on track, but of course nothing stays wonderful long. As they travel on the train Rifka has to go to the bathroom, but cannot because there in not restrooms on the trains and her mother is scared for her to get off at one of the stops for fear she want be able to get back on. As Rifka wonders the train she happens upon a young girl with a child. She talks with her and finds out she is on her way to see her family. Rifka offers to fix her hair. Unknowing to her the young girl has ringworms. When Rifka and her family arrive in Warsaw, Poland they had to be searched again. This time it was discovered Rifka had ringworms. She would not be allowed to go to America with her family. Rifka was forced to stay behind for treatments that took over a year. During this time she lost her hair, but found herself. Although she was alone she made the best of the situation and eventually made new friends. Also throughout her stay and her entire trip she continue to write letters in her book to her cousin. Finally after she was well she was able to continue her trip to America. When she finally reached America she face one last hardship. Because she had been infected with ringworms she would not be allowed to enter the United States until they felt she would not be a threat to others. She instead had to stay in a “hospital” where she helped care for others until they allowed her to be with her family. Finally she was able to live in America with her family! A long hard journey had finally ended and they had all made it. Reading this book you cannot help but feel what Rifka is going through. It was interesting how each heading from her Russian book mirrored things going on with her own life. I feel this book would not be good to...