"Sarah is happiest when the family celebrates
the Jewish holidays. Mama and Papa laugh and
sing songs. Sarah loves lighting the Sabbath
candles every Friday evening. But Mama and
Papa encourage the girls to learn American
customs, "so you shouldn't feel like foreigners
in your own country.""
Sarah Brenner knows she is one of a kind. She is the middle sister of five, born in the early twentieth century in lower Manhattan. Her parents have migrated from Germany after facing antisemitism, with the hope of finding a happier home. The family is poor, the community is poor, and the girls are reminded to learn about their new American home.
Sarah's father is a junk collector and seller. He works hard for little pay; the family does not have much to eat. Today, when he comes home for lunch, Papa brings a huge surprise - a new book. Sarah dreams of being a writer. As she learns about life in America at the Henry Street Settlement House, Sarah falls in love with acting and dance lessons.
Walking home from class, she sees a group of women marching for their right to vote. Sarah agrees that her opinion should matter as much as anyone else's. Her concern leads to her keeping a private journal of her thoughts and beliefs. Thinking that Sarah is shy and old-fashioned, she changes her name to Sydney for her writing. At work, she hears the complaints about Jewish people and takes a stand against intolerance and prejudice. When she meets Ralph Taylor, she knows she has met a kindred spirit. Their lives are full, and fuller still when they welcome their daughter Jo.
They two read together every night. When Jo wonders why all the children in the stories she hears are Christian children, Syd remembers feeling the same. She begins telling Jo stories of her life growing up in a Jewish home: the celebrations, the library visits, school events. Jo loves to listen to her mother's stories, over and over again. Sydney believes that Jewish children deserve to see themselves in the pages of a book. She promises to write them down for her daughter.
No one is interested in publishing those stories. Sydney puts them away and forgets all about them. Ralph does not forget. In 1950, All-of-a-Kind Family is given first prize in a writing contest at Wilcox and Follett. What a wonderful surprise it is!
Archival photos and further information about Sydney, Ralph and Jo complete their story. An author's note, bibliography, personal interviews, and primary sources offer further information.
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