The story of Lisenka continues. Russia and persecution have been left far behind, but new challenges face Lisenka. How can a German-speaking girl thrive in a school that only teaches in English? Is her dream to learn to read going to be crushed in America too? How can she deal with the class bully who belittles her or classmates who make fun of her clothes? Will bed bugs in their used mattresses actually be a blessing? What is God's will for her in the springtime of her life? Follow along with this brave, young girl as she explores her new world and struggles to pray, “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God.” (Psalm 143:10) This fictional story is based on true events.
Here are the exciting first lines of Chapter One:
“Fond du Lac in Wisconsin,” I whispered carefully as the train rumbled along. The American words twisted my German tongue into new shapes. Ja, Papa had said we were heading for our new home in Fond du Lac in Wisconsin in America.
But could the long trip from Russia finally be over? My heart began to thump wildly. Stop that, I silently commanded myself, but I couldn’t control my panic; I was afraid that somehow we would still be forced to leave this dreamland of America—or worse . . . that it would not turn out to be the dreamland we had hoped for.
My thoughts flitted back through time, back almost two years to 1926 when the Russian soldiers had closed our German Lutheran school. “Two years,”I mumbled, still upset. “Two years is a long time to be away from school for a girl who was just learning to read.”
I sighed and whispered, “I have waited so long to go back to school. Now that I am twelve years old could it be too late for me to learn?”
“Lisenka Schallert,” Papa said, startling me. His blue eyes and broad face shone with excitement as he bent down to gently tug one of my brown braids. “We are rolling into Fond du Lac,” he said, smiling. “You do not want to daydream through this stop. Pull on your shawl. That January wind is blowing outside. Then gather your bundle and come help Taty with the little ones.
“We have finally come to our new home,” Papa added, caressing those last words with his voice as he hurried back two seats to Taty and the little ones.
I sat up straight and peered through the dirty train window. Ja, we were slowing down. I strained to see the mansions I had pictured in America. Only cold, brick buildings stared back at me from across the snow-streaked, gravel road. . .
Endorsements:
“In reading GREEN, my students learned the blessings and challenges of immigration. It’s a must-read book for every elementary school classroom in America.” -Kris Walta, fifth grade teacher, Faith Lutheran School, Fond du Lac, WI
“In grade school, my entire classroom loved the original books, RED and GREEN. I pray that these new releases will have as profound an effect on young readers as they did on me.” -Caleb L. Manske, civil engineer
“After I read the book RED to my primary students, my enthusiastic listeners could hardly wait to hear GREEN and follow Lisenka as she faced new challenges in America. It was the one time in my day when I did not have to ‘practice my patience smile’ because everyone was mesmerized.” -Carol Kolosovsky, Christian day school primary teacher for thirty-seven years.
GREEN is available for purchase through the author, Northwestern Publishing House, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and xulonpress.com/bookstore