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. The conflict also disrupted communication and travel, making it more difficult for immigrants to maintain contact with their homelands. As a result, many felt pressured to prove their loyalty to the US through acts of patriotism such as military enlistment or public displays of allegiance to their new country.

Just as Ona’s account of her life addresses these issues, the novel also touches on the changing status of women across the 20th century. World War I drastically redefined gender roles as women entered the workforce in large numbers to support the war effort, and as millions of men were drafted into military service, many American women took on traditionally male-dominated jobs in manufacturing, agriculture, and civil service. This shift challenged conventional gender roles and demonstrated women’s economic capability and civic contributions. In 1920, American women gained the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment. This was a major milestone of the first wave of feminism, which focused on suffrage and legal equality. Later, the second wave of feminism, which spanned the 1960s through the 1980s, pushed for workplace rights, reproductive freedom, and a broader cultural shift toward gender equity. Women who worked in education, like Ona’s friend Louise, would have been at the forefront of these changes to male-dominated institutions. Female educators at the time often used literature and critical thinking to introduce students to feminist ideas and to encourage respect, understanding, and inclusion. Their roles as mentors placed them in key positions, enabling them to influence future generations (Alperin, Elija, and Jeanne Batalova. “European Immigrants in the United States.” Migration Policy Institute, 1 Aug. 2018).