Tales from Two Hemispheres

"Tales from Two Hemispheres" by Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen is a collection of late 19th-century stories including one about Halfdan Bjerk, a young man from Norway who comes to America with big hopes, only to be met with the hard truths of being an immigrant. As the story begins, Halfdan is both thrilled and scared as he steps off the boat in New York and finds himself alone in the busy city, made worse when he loses everything and gets in trouble with the law. His story, filled with kindness from a young girl named Clara and coldness from many adults, shows how hard it can be for someone to find their way in a land that is both exciting and cruel, dealing with questions of home, who he is, and the difference between what he dreamed of and what is real.