The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb
Through the story of the immigrant, hopefully looking up at the Statue of Liberty and the U.S. several generations ago, we can imagine some of our great-great-grandparents as they nervously clutched their papers, praying they would be admitted to a country they were told would offer them opportunities beyond any they’d known in the country of their birth. In The Next Ship Home (Sourcebooks Landmark), Heather Webb captures this spirit of the hopeful immigrant as she explores the story of Francesca, an Italian immigrant who is desperate to make a new life for herself in America, as well as an Ellis Island employee and would-be translator, Alma.
Both women find themselves trapped by expectations: Alma is being bullied into an arranged marriage with a horrible man, and Francesca must make unthinkable sacrifices to leave the island and begin her life in the U.S. The system on Ellis Island makes both women vulnerable to exploitation, and we see the gritty underbelly of this venerable institution that was, quite literally, a rite of passage for so many of our ancestors.
SACRIFICES MADE ON THE ALTER OF HOPE
As I read The Next Ship Home, I found myself ruminating about the experience of my own ancestor, Jeremiah Callanan, who emigrated from Ireland during the famine to start a new life in the U.S. in the late 1800s. He shortened his name to Callan at the island to appear less Irish and was known to all as Jerry. He did everything he could to make himself as “American” as possible and to find welcome in his new home. So many immigrants did the same; forsaking their nationalities and their identities to gain acceptance in their new country.
Francesca is no different. Alma’s family, too, cast off their German roots to appear more like their neighbors. It’s a sort of sacrifice that has rarely been put into words as well as Webb has done here. But the sacrifice was made on the altar of hope. The hope these immigrants all held in their hearts to be able to stay and carve something new for themselves. Francesca’s position is so perilous I found my heart pounding, worried that her dreams would be snatched away from her. I found myself so invested in Alma’s happiness at home and at work that I felt like her triumphs were those of a dear friend. To snare a reader so thoroughly into a story is truly the work of a master craftswoman.
POWERFUL BONDS OF FEMALE FRIENDSHIP
The theme that strikes me so much in this novel is that of female friendships. In an era where platonic friendships are so undervalued, to see the bonds between the women in this book is powerful. These women cling to their friendship like a lifeline — and in more than one instance, it truly is. Webb creates vibrant characters, relatable and three-dimensional from the first page. It’s also clear that Webb has spent an extensive amount of time in New York — her descriptions of the city at the turn of the century are lush and intriguing. In particular, the scenes on Ellis Island are rich and detailed.
We think of America as the land of opportunity, and so it was for so many. But few novels have been brave enough to tackle the hardships faced by those coming through in the immigration wave of the early 1900s. The corruption, the greed, the exploitation of the vulnerable populations is expertly depicted in this beautiful, haunting novel. The jacket copy describes it as “perfect for fans of Kristina McMorris and Hazel Gaynor,” an assessment with which I wholeheartedly agree. I predict this will be Webb’s breakout novel, and one of the most influential reads of the year.
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