Zayda Was a Cowboy

Author: June Levitt Nislic

Nislick's book tells the story of her grandfather when he immigrated to America as part of the "Galveston Plan", an effort to bring Jewish immigrants to the western United States in the early 20th century. Framed as a story within a story, Zayda's unusual immigration tale is told to his grandchildren when he comes to live with them. Zayda describes life with his family before he was forced to run away to avoid conscription into the Czar's army which, as a Jew, would have led to cruel treatment and even death. After leaving his small Russian town, Zayda made his way to Bremen, Germany where he worked to earn the fare for a ticket to America. Landing in Galveston, Texas, Zayda, whose name was changed to Mike Benson, is greeted by a representative of the Jewish Immigrants Information Bureau, who helps him find a job as a ranch hand. As the story unfolds it describes Zayda's life on the ranch, learning to speak English (and Spanish, as many of the other ranch hands are Mexican), and working on a cattle drive from Texas to Kansas City where he settled, finally and became part of the Jewish community.

Zayda Was a Cowboy

Year Released: 2005

Grades 4-7