Half Pass Six
"Lockhart, a novelist, writes with measured lyricism... With its ruminations on migration and finding life in unlikely places, this is a book that will sink deep into the reader's consciousness." - Kirkus Reviews
A Haunting American Immigrant Story
In 1925, sixteen-year-old Willi Rohrbein sneaks into New York harbor—illegal, without papers, stowed away on a ship from Germany. What follows is an extraordinary journey that takes him from desperate poverty to one of the most celebrated scientific expeditions of the era.
What Makes This Book Special:
- True story of resilience and the immigrant experience
- Historical adventure aboard William Beebe's legendary Galapagos expedition
- Beautifully written memoir blending biography, natural history, and family history
- Kirkus Reviews praised for its "measured lyricism"
- Perfect for readers who love immigrant narratives, maritime history, and American dreams
The Journey:
Bremerhaven, Germany, 1919: A young father, poisoned by WWI gas, leaves his family and never returns.
Brooklyn, 1925: His son Willi arrives illegally, reunites briefly with his mother and sister, then is pushed back out to survive on his own.
Sargasso Sea & Galapagos Islands, 1925: Willi becomes a mess boy on a groundbreaking scientific voyage that would help prove Darwin's theory of evolution.
Long Island, 1958: Now William Rohrbein—established, legal, supporting his own family—receives a Christmas gift that unlocks memories of his extraordinary past.
In this unusual narrative, Barbara Rohrbein Lockhart peels back layers of time with the artistry of a novelist and the tenacity of someone still trying to plumb her own origins. The result is Half Pass Six—a haunting account of an age now past, and a fugitive immigrant boy who found his own American dream.
