Evocative photographs and artifacts illustrate this account of Angel Island’s Immigration Station, the “Ellis Island” of the West. This informational text features gripping first-person accounts and describes current preservation efforts

Russell Freedman turns his formidable non-fiction writing talent to the story of Angel Island, the Pacific intake station for immigrants to the United States for most of the first half of the 20th century. He tells the stories of Asian immigrants: why they came, how they were (mis)treated once they arrived, and what became of Angel Island.

As always, Freedman sheds light on another little-known corner of history. ( )

Different things have different meanings to people .To some it maybe called angel island , but to others it is hell island. discrimination and racism is something that will live forever. A place that was rediscovered by accident , tells a story of millions of people who came looking for a better live ,hoping to land in the land of the free , but unfortunately they faced the true reality of America. This book will be a great read for a social studies class about immigration and inequality . Personally this book really moved me from deep inside and informed me a lot about an issue that happened and still happening these days but in a different way. I know that i'm hoping for something that will never happen , but hopefully politicians will have common sense one day. ( )

This was truly a captivating and engrossing book that talks about a part of history that was never known to me before last week. It tells of the immigration story of mostly Asians to the west coast of America in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was so culturally appropriate as we continue to deal with immigration into this country as a national topic. It was amazing to me that children by and large, grow up learning of the immigrants that came through Ellis Island in New York, yet this was the first time I had ever heard of Angel Island, dubbed the "Ellis Island of the West." I also found it very interesting as I have just returned from vacation in San Francisco about a month ago and spent a lot of time in Chinatown. It was very well researched, and included many historical photographs that capture the plights that Asian immigrants faced once landing in America. I'd recommend this book highly for middle school students. ( )

Freedman's crafted a beautifully compiled nonfiction work about a little-known island in the Bay Area, California, or Angel Island. Angel Island was established as an immigration station for Immigrants to the west. The people to streamed through the station were of Asian origin, particularly Chinese; Although, Angel Island was the Immigration Station was responsible for processing immigrants from over 80 different countries, Asian immigrants faced different hurdles in pursuing work in the United States.

These was a fascinating read, particularly as someone who went on many field trips to the Island, the pages were filled with under-studied stories and memories of trials and tribulations. While the information Freedman provided about the island and the immigrants was extensive, period pictured added to the readers understanding of what the immigrants contended with when they came to the States. Early in the book the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Geary Act, giving context to some laws and policies many readers should learn more about to understand the long history of anti-immigrant pressure.

It is a small book packed with information and important pictures. A enjoyed the structure and the way in which the book began and ended with modern activism seeking to honor the experience of thousands of immigrants. I would have loved to learn more about the ways in which immigrant experiences differed coming from various countries during that time period. Korean, Japanese, and Indian immigrant groups were briefly explored, but there would be so much more to learn. ( )