Angel Island; off the coast of California; was the port of entry for Asian immigrants to the United States between 1892 and 1940. Following the passage of legislation requiring the screening of immigrants; "the other Ellis Island" processed around one million people from Japan; China; and Korea. Drawing from memoirs; diaries; letters; and the "wall poems" discovered at the facility long after it closed; the nonfiction master Russell Freedman describes the people who came; and why; the screening process; detention and deportation; changes in immigration policy; and the eventual renaissance of Angel Island as a historic site open to visitors. Includes archival photos; source notes; bibliography; and index.
#34216 in Books Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2016-04-12 2016-04-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .89 x 6.00l; .0 #File Name: 0544387635224 pagesHoughton Mifflin Harcourt
Review
98 of 103 people found the following review helpful. Love love loveBy Amy E. HenryThis book was a delight. For numerous reasons; as I'll explain. First; it's not a bird guide ala Sibley or Peterson. And it has none of the (probably necessary) savagery of Audubon's early research methods. It' simply about the lives of common birds; yard birds. Not ones that people travel to other continents to add to their list. Nope; these could be seen out the kitchen window.My first attraction to it was out of curiosity; as my favorite memoir of all time is called "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott. That's what caught my eye; and it took only seconds to find out that was not even close. Rather; Bernd tells a different life story. Equally fascinating and full of complex theory and some belly laughs.So; I live out in the sticks and birds are a big part of what we've created for our home area on a few acres. We have hummingbirds with names (Zip and Harley); and we've also named the red-tail hawks that breed across the valley (Spark; Cinder; and Shorty). The reason is; we've wanted to cultivate a love for nature for our sons. Our eight-year-old is now at that age of curiousity and feelings; and so he's interested in justice and safety even for the birds. When I couldn't save a baby hummingbird we found on the ground; he was devastated. (I simply had no idea what to do). But when we took a hawk to the Wildlife Center for a broken wing; he was delighted. So I want him to continue that love because other kids in his age group are discovering that charming habit of shooting at birds with BBs. I actually pulled over and yelled at some boys shooting at mourning doves. So part of Bernd's anthromorphic descriptions is to continue his interest and realize that birds do have a part in our world. Not just the raven on Youtube that skies on a lid; and not just the mockingbird in the yard that does the perfect car alarm.Another reason is that I've read some ghastly nonfiction for work; necessary stuff; but heartbreaking. I work with troubled kids. And this is a prettty peaceful way to spend an evening when you've left work with your skin crawling.Education; peacefulness; meditation.....given how much we've seen in the last few years of animal intelligence; I think they will be our next teachers.11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Scrapes and scatsBy DW Roubik señor“The Homing Instinct†and “The Nesting Seasonâ€; recent books from Dr. Bernd Heinrich; consider certain birds as they migrate and reproduce; and this book is about the scrapes; field nesting observation (in which excrement pellets play a large part); and challenges that buy birds their homes; through incredible labor and ingenuity. When reading Heinrich’s notes from his world—a preserve in the Maine woodlands; I know I am going home to nature. One by one; the populations of each study bird species; from woodcocks to flickers and chickadees; are given in summary form along with data on their nesting biology and behavior. Sometimes the birds have surprising performances; such as gentle cooings intended to be shared only with their mate; or by following a lone human in the woods; then taking food from them. Food; glorious food! Make a birdfeeder available in the woods; and presto; you can watch the persistence in owls waiting to spot shrews that emerge from the snow to eat a few fallen seeds. Mated bird couples return from southern lands to find the same nest and feeder as the previous year; or begin their search for something as good. We can marvel over the sagacity of birds which avoid being frozen in their burrows when wet snow freezes; but nonetheless burrow in the insulating snow to escape the death that awaits them in subfreezing ambient temperature. Without the engaging sketches drawn by Heinrich; and those offered in prose that is always to the point; we would miss the animal drama and see only woodland in the spring; summer; winter or fall. What goes on in those times; and in this northern habitat; includes truly unforgettable vignettes of the avian fauna that Heinrich knows and loves. Read and enjoy— a special gift went into showing you the world; one wild species at a time.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Wonderfully entertaining heartwarming bird storiesBy KiraNyresWhat a book! Heinrich once again writes a book that will resonate with all nature lovers. He definitely speaks my language; that common language only known to those who truly see nature and her bounty! This book is broken down into sections each dedicated to a particular timeline of interaction between the author and a bird species. I both laughed and cried in the first chapter. I'm guessing everyone else did too. You'll find yourself attached to the birds Mr Heinrich has had in his life. If this is your first book by this author; I can guarantee it won't be your last.
