The Orphan of Ellis Island

A Time-Travel Adventure

By: Elvira Woodruff

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Dominic Cantori is an orphan. Ashamed of his situation, Dominic 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. Immediately, Dominic 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! And 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.

©1997 Elvira Woodruff (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Woodruff's well-researched novel beautifully describes the similarities between an orphan's and an immigrant's search for a home." ( ALAN 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)

youth literature

this was actually a nice story but I figured out almost as soon as I started listening that I had missed any note about it being written for youth. doesn't matter, I was happy to listen anyway. but it's definitely not sophisticated adult lit.

Such a precious story

I’m so glad I listened to this book. Precious. Sweet. No cussing. No violence. No sex. Don’t miss this one.

What a wonderful story.

You really get a feel for what imagrant whent through in the in the 1900's. You also learn how a little boy who is a orphan might feel and how much family can mean.
I got quite emotional when Salvatore died. But this put a very human touch to the story. I found this to be a wonderful story quite touching. Thank you so much.

The organ of Ellis island

It was the best book ever
and I really enjoyed reading it you should too.

Sweet story

This is a story for young readers. It is an interesting way to talk about early immigration to the United States. Its nice, well read and very moving.