The Rebecca Series: Q & A

How were you chosen to write the Rebecca series?

An editor at American Girl had read my historical novels, Out of Many Waters. That book is set in 1654, and its background is about the first Jewish group to settle in America. The editor thought I might be an author who could write about another time in American history, with a different fictional character. She invited me to submit a proposal for a story set when American immigration was at its height, and to create a character that lived during that time.

How did you choose the character’s name?

It took a lot of time and discussion to choose the best name for the new character. In 1914, Rebecca was one of the most popular names for girls in Yiddish-speaking Jewish families in New York City. I liked it because it was historically authentic, but also sounded lively and spunky. And I wanted to have a nickname. So Rebecca is also called "Beckie" in the stories. The last name of Rubin was one of the most common for Russian Jewish immigrants passing through Ellis Island in the same time period. The word "rubin" means "ruby" in Russian, which seemed a nice touch. Interestingly, a few readers have told me that they have a relative who was an immigrant Russian Jew around 1914, and their name was “Rebecca Rubin!”

How long did it take to write the series?

It took over three years to write all six books. That might sound like a long time, but I worked hard to get each book finished on time. Before writing each new story, I did read several books about significant events in New York City in 1914. I learned about many interesting issues, including everyday life in the tenements, Ellis Island, labor unions, silent movies, and Coney Island. I also learned some fun things—like how the hot dog was invented!

What did you do to find information about Rebecca’s world?

Besides many trips to the library, I also used the Internet to find information, and watched several documentary films about New York City at the turn of the 20th century. By the time I finished writing all six books, I had read all, or parts, of more than 100 books! American Girl also has a research department, and its own library. One historian helped me find information about Rebecca’s world of 1914. He was amazing at locating books and pictures and details about everything from Coney Island rides and silent movie makeup, to Christmas decorations and clothes. I was lucky to have so much help. The best part of the research was taking a trip to New York with an American Girl team. The illustrator, the historian, the editor, a member of the art department, and I walked Rebecca’s neighborhood. We visited a row house on East Seventh Ave. just like the one she might have lived in, and toured the Tenement Museum to see what tenements on Orchard Street looked like. We went to Ellis Island, the Eldridge Street Synagogue, and many museums to gather information. I took photos of neighborhood buildings, with their fire escapes and tall front stoops. To keep things authentic, we even stopped for rugelach (a flaky pastry) at a deli on the Lower East Side!

Did you design the Rebecca doll?

Not at all! Professional artists and designers at American Girl created the Rebecca doll. I did get to see some of the process, including different hair colors and styles, and fabric for her clothes. But the finished doll was a charming surprise!

How do you think a modern girl can relate to Rebecca’s story?

I hope readers enjoy the stories, and come to care about Rebecca and her family. Beyond that, I hope the books give them an idea of what it is like to be an immigrant in America, whether they are thinking about their great-grandparents, or their next door neighbor. I also hope that Rebecca shows readers that one person can make a difference in the world, as long as she has the courage to try.

home | books | the rebecca books | meet jackie | events | contact jackie

© Jacqueline Dembar Greene 2006 | Email Jackie | Web Design: GoodWorx Web Design