The dream was always the same: I was back in Russia. My family was sitting around the Sabbath table: Mama, Papa, baby Hannah and my brothers Lemmel and Shloyme. I was telling a story about America-there were gold streets and chickens roosting in trees. Suddenly, Papa and I were on board a ship sailing far away. Ahead I saw the Statue of Liberty towering over the harbor of New York, but she raised her hand high above her head to stop us. I looked around for Papa. I was all alone. Then I woke up and remembered. Papa and I had arrived at Ellis Island. For three years we had been living on the Lower East Side of New York. Papa worked in a sweatshop earning money to bring over the rest of the family, while I worked after school. I dreamed of the day our family would be together again. And tomorrow, it would finally happen. Would they love America like I did or would they say "a curse on Columbus" because the New World brought them nothing but trouble and hard work? Eve Tal was born in the United States, but lives on Kibbutz Hatzor in Israel. Cursing Columbus is her second young adult historical novel and is the sequel to Double Crossing, which is based on her grandfather's emigration story from the Ukraine.

 

This book was recognised in the Teen category by the Sydney Taylor Book Award. It was recognised by the National Jewish Book Award.

This book has been graded for interest at 10-15 years.

There are 264 pages in this book. This book was published 2009 by Cinco Puntos Press, U. S. .

Eve Tal holds a masters degree in special education from Long Island University and is completing a master's degree in Children's Literature from Hollins University. She moved to Israel in the 1970s, living Kibbutz Hatzor. Eve has published four picture books in Hebrew. Her first novel Double Crossing was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award.