February 1, 1994
Gr 4-9-This third book in the series takes place in 1902, when Kristin Swenson and her parents reach the colony of Great Rock Lake, Minnesota. Strong-willed, unconventional, and ready to embrace the freedoms of her new land, the 17-year-old girl tests the limits set upon her by her parents and by the community. They expect her to conform to the proper behavior of a Swedish young lady and to accept an arranged marriage. After a fire destroys her family's home, Kristin learns that her parents and neighbors are not at odds with her after all. She grows to realize that her own stubbornness stands in the way of her happiness; that accepting the choices of others doesn't necessarily preclude making her own; and that change takes time. Nixon's careful research provides a convincing portrait of Swedish-American church and home life. The historical facts the author shares are occasionally awkward when converted into dialogue, but otherwise make a seamless backdrop to the story. Kristin's rebelliousness and her romance with the young man she is to marry will appeal to preteens and teens alike. A must for fans of the earlier books, but one that stands alone as well.-Sally Bates Goodroe, Houston Public Library
February 15, 1994
Gr. 6-9. Kristin is eager to begin her life in America. She's heard that it is the land of freedom, and she's ready to make her own decisions. But the rural community that her family joins in Minnesota is very like the Sweden they've left behind: people talk in Swedish; girls are still expected to learn to stitch and bake light cakes; and parents continue to arrange marriages. Like her friends Rebekah ("Land of Hope," 1992) and Rosie ("Land of Promise" ), whom Kristin met aboard the ship to America, Kristin dreams of an exciting future. She'd like to leave the farm and move to Minneapolis, where women gather to earn the right to vote. When fire strikes her home, however, Kristin learns the importance of community support and accepts that change will come slowly. In the third book in her Ellis Island series, Nixon once again offers a compelling, believable story that gives readers a peek at the past. Young teens will sympathize with feisty Kristin's impatience and her struggle to assert herself. ((Reviewed Feb. 15, 1994))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1994, American Library Association.)