How Many Days to America?

How Many Days to America? by Eve Bunting

Illustrated by: Beth Peck

Grade Level: 2-4

Genre: Historical Fiction

            Do you know the story of the pilgrims and the first thanksgiving? Did you know that many other groups of people from around the world took a similar voyage to America similar to that of the pilgrims? This is a story of a long journey to made by refugees of a Caribbean island. Will they make it all the way across the ocean? Will they even be allowed to stay in America? This book describes the hardships and obstacles of a family and their people on their search for a better life.

            Everything was fine in the village until that fall day when soldiers came in and began to took over. The two girls didn’t know what was going on, so they hid under the bed as they were told to do. After things finally calmed down, their father told them that they all had to leave. They had to leave all of the possessions behind because they had no time to waste; they were leaving for America. Everyone from the village began to flee and all got onto a boat which would take them on their journey. Along the way the young girls are questioning whether or not they will ever make it to America. The trip is long and hard; people become sick, their boat is robbed, and many other events stand between them and their freedom. As the story goes on, the readers learn how the refugee’s journey connects to the trip made many years ago by the pilgrims and why the day they arrive in the country is extra special.

            While this book was very informative, I am not sure it is a must have for a classroom library. If I were studying Thanksgiving or a similar topic with my students, I may have the book on display for children to look at as well as to use for a read aloud, but it did not stand out to me where I would have to keep it in my classroom. This story clearly depicts a historical event and even connects it to our present day Thanksgiving. It would be a great story to use to have children decipher the fiction from the nonfiction aspects. The characters in the story are also very relatable and the feelings the little girls have on the boat are feelings that many people, young and old, feel every day.

This book meets the standard Ma. 6 which has children being able to identify the person telling the story and why the narrator is significant in influencing the language and/or plot of the story. This particular book is told from the perspective of a young girl with very little knowledge of what is happening; he retelling of the event definitely effects the flow and tone of the story. Standard Ma. 7 states that children should be able to use the illustrations to describe features of the story. The illustrations in this book are very connected to the story. The colors and tons used definitely sets the mood for the reader. Lastly, this book meets standard Ma. 8 which, as I stated above, has students identifying elements of the story and deciphering between fiction and nonfiction events.