Listen to a sample
The Orphan of Ellis Island
- Author
- Elvira Woodruff
- Narrator
- Lloyd James
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 1 January 2006
- Run Time
- 3 hours 23 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Adoption / fostering, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Historical fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage social issues: Migration and refugees
What to expect
Dominic Cantori is an orphan. Ashamed of his situation, he avoids making friends for fear of exposing his terrible secret. One day on a class trip to Ellis Island, a tour guide asks everyone about their families. Terrified of having to answer, Dominic immediately flees from the class and hides in a closet, where he falls asleep for hours.
When he wakes up, the museum is deserted. Lonely and afraid, he picks up one display telephone after another, listening to the recorded voices of immigrants who describe their lives in faraway countries and their journeys to Ellis Island. To Dominic's surprise, the voice of an old Italian immigrant speaks directly to him! Before he knows it, he's transported back in time—to Italy in 1908. There, he unlocks the door to his past and discovers just what it feels like to be loved by his own family.
Critics Review
-
“Easy to read and hard to put down, this convincing novel gives a poignant and believable picture of the lives and motivations of some of this country’s immigrants, and of one boy who learns about himself…An enjoyable and informative tale.”
School Library Journal
-
“Sheds light on the values and experiences of Italian immigrants, with touches of humor and an easy-to-read style. An author’s note at the end provides a thoughtful bridge from real life to fiction.”
Booklist
-
“Woodruff’s well-researched novel beautifully describes the similarities between an orphan’s and an immigrant’s search for a home.”
ALAN Review
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Elvira Woodruff
- Narrator
- Lloyd James
- Duration
- 3 hours 23 minutes
- Release Date
- 1 January 2006
- ISBN
- 9781481544375
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Adoption / fostering, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Historical fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage social issues: Migration and refugees
Synopsis
Dominic Cantori is an orphan. Ashamed of his situation, he avoids making friends for fear of exposing his terrible secret. One day on a class trip to Ellis Island, a tour guide asks everyone about their families. Terrified of having to answer, Dominic immediately flees from the class and hides in a closet, where he falls asleep for hours.When he wakes up, the museum is deserted. Lonely and afraid, he picks up one display telephone after another, listening to the recorded voices of immigrants who describe their lives in faraway countries and their journeys to Ellis Island. To Dominic's surprise, the voice of an old Italian immigrant speaks directly to him! Before he knows it, he's transported back in time—to Italy in 1908. There, he unlocks the door to his past and discovers just what it feels like to be loved by his own family.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.