American Born is Rachel Brownstein's incisive memoir centered on her mother, Reisel Thaler, who embodies the archetype of a Jewish mother. Arriving in New York at eighteen in 1924, Reisel was among the Yiddish-speaking immigrants from Eastern Europe. However, she held an American passport, proudly claiming to be "American-born." Born on the Lower East Side in 1905, she was taken back to Galicia before her second birthday, allowing her to assert her American identity years later. Brownstein reflects that this insistence on her status was about more than just birthplace; it signified citizenship, talent, and identity. Writing during the Trump years, Brownstein explores her mother's life stories, raising questions about nationalism and immigration. Throughout the twentieth century, Reisel adeptly balanced her identities as an American and a Jew, with her values and language shaping her daughter's imagination. The narrative includes various family members, both from the old world and American Jews, enriching the story. Yet, the focus remains on Reisel, who evolves into Grandma Rose, a figure who observes, judges, sings, bakes, and busies herself, leaving a lasting impact on her daughter’s life and perspective.
