Toward A Better Life

This work spans 120 years and is organized in two parts: Ellis Island-era immigrants (1892-1954), and America's new immigrants (1954-2010). Within the two parts chapters are organized by decade, and each decade includes the stories of two or three individuals, told in their own words. Some of the people are famous, some are not. Coan is the author of a larger book published in 1998 titled Ellis Island Interviews. Here he includes plenty of contextual and supporting information including a general introduction and introductory information for each decade--key historic events, migration statistics, and a list of immigrants who would later become famous. Indexing is thorough. Annotation 穢2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)