The One-In-A-Million Boy

At the heart of The One-in-a-Million Boy is Ona, a character shaped by the major social changes of the 20th century, such as immigration, women’s rights, and multiple global conflicts. Historically, large-scale Eastern European immigration to the United States occurred between 1880 and 1924, with over 2 million immigrants arriving from countries like Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. Many were fleeing religious persecution, economic hardship, or political repression under the Russian Empire. Once in the US, these immigrants often settled in urban areas and worked low-wage jobs. Their children were rapidly assimilated into mainstream American society via the influence of public education, and they sometimes lost their language and customs in the process. This loss of cultural identity, coupled with the trauma of transatlantic migration, shaped the lives of many immigrant families.

World War I lasted from 1914 until 1918, and although the US entered the war in 1917, the conflict nonetheless had lasting effects on American society, such as major economic shifts, labor shortages, and changes in social dynamics. These effects were particularly detrimental for the immigrants who had left family behind in Europe’s most deeply war-torn regions. Experiencing heightened feelings of loss and dislocation, immigrants from nations that were considered US enemies (such as Germany or parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) faced increased suspicion and discrimination during the war years.