In 1933 as the Great Depression worsens, seventeen-year-old Lis and her friends hope that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a work program for young men, will be a financial answer to prayer. But how will they cope when the young men are sent away to work? BLUE as in Sad Goodbyes, a Changing Sky and Wedding Ties jumps between Lis and her friend Albert’s, points of view as each has new challenges to face. Desperate for employment, the men head to Fort Sheridan for training in the CCC. Back home, Lis juggles friend and family problems. While working in the North Woods, Albert is injured. Immediately Lis travels by train to visit him, there discovering something she knew all along. In this the fifth book of the series, the main characters learn the value of persevering. This historical fiction novel is written for teens and young adults.

Here’s how BLUE begins:

1933 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Part One

Alya, Yurgi, and I sat at the kitchen table while our dog Goldy snoozed in a patch of sunshine on the floor. Alya studied her sixth-grade reader, Yurgi flipped through pages of his little notebook, and I glared at my math book and grumbled. “Yes I wanted to learn to read English. Yes, I’m really grateful to get to go to school, and yes, I know I have to pass math to become a senior. But whoever said I wanted to work on math on a Friday afternoon?”….

Pounding on the front door interrupted me and shook Goldy from her nap. She erupted in a chorus of barking.

“I’ll get it Lis!” Yurgi yelled as he and Goldy galloped through the living room.

I cradled my head in my hands. “ Noisy and fast. Yurgi. Yurgi. Some things never change.”

“It’s Albert!” Yurgi yelled from the front room. “He’s on his way to the kitchen.”

Albert sauntered in. “I almost beat my announcement.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes as he plopped onto a chair.