Anetka Kaminska lived in Sadowka, Poland during Russian rule in the late 1800s. Her mother had died and both she and her brother were living with their grandmother while their father immigrated to America in search of work. He finally sends for his family, but shocks Anetka when he tells her, in a letter, he has found her a husband and as part of the "bargain" the man sends them boat tickets to travel to America. What she finds is a harsh life in a loveless marriage where coal miners were expected to purchase goods only from the "company store." Often they were not paid in money at all but with scrip that could be used to "purchase" from the store.
I like these books because you hear the thoughts and worries of a young girl at a specific time period and it's a great way for readers to learn about the history.
