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Until the Robin Walks on Snow
It is 1922. An immigrant family and their devoted midwife struggle to save a tiny premature baby. Inspired by real events in Norwich, Connecticut, this historical fiction novella about determination, family, faith, and friendship includes a story chapter about the family's Polish and Lithuanian Christmas Eve traditions. Appendices include Author's Notes about the facts, family history, and research behind the story.
202 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2012
12 people are currently reading
986 people want to read
About the author
Bernice L. Rocque
3 books23 followersBernice L. Rocque is a family historian, writer, educator, and avid gardener. In her early career, she worked in 3 library arenas: academic, public (YA/Ref), and corporate. She grew up in Norwich, Connecticut in the surroundings described in her novella, UNTIL THE ROBIN WALKS ON SNOW, now available in an expanded 10th Anniversary Edition (icon on front cover). Her second book was THE PONEMAH YEARS: Walking in the Footsteps of My Mother, published in 2017. She has authored numerous business articles and conference proceedings associated with her work in libraries, training and development, and project management. Articles she has written about her family have appeared in the Norwich Bulletin, Good Old Days magazine, Family Chronicle, and The Norwich Times. Ms. Rocque lives in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 27, 2013
As someone who loves genealogical and historical research, I really appreciated this charming story based on Bernice Rocque's family history. The story is rich with detail most likely gained by hours upon hours of research. Besides the fact that it is a very sweet story of a loving family's attempts to save their prematurely born infant son, it is also a look into the past and serves as a wonderful historical resource.
January 4, 2015
Well researched and written, this story is an account of an immigrant family's careful and remarkable nurture of a premature infant at a time when infant mortality was nearly 100 percent among one and a half pound babies. The mother's dedication to warming the tiny child with skin to skin contact, along with many interventions by her friend and midwife, bring about a heartwarming miracle. This story is derived from the author's family history, and her detailed description of the Polish/Lithuanian families, their farm in winter, and the midwife's wise care seem faithfully portrayed. The Christmas observances are wonderfully depicted. Very enjoyable read for Wintertime.
June 13, 2015
What a beautiful story.
June 20, 2014
From the moment I opened my copy of Until the Robin Walks on Snow I was hooked by the author’s eloquent prose, as she creatively marries fact and fiction. The story follows the birth of a premature baby, Antoni in the early twentieth century, “the smallest baby the doctor has ever seen––dead or alive”, and continues with the family's struggle to save this 1.5lb child during an extremely cold winter.
As well as precise details of how the family battles to save the baby, we also learn much about the culture, religion and celebrations of the author’s Lithuanian, Polish, and Russian ancestors, allowing the reader to truly feel a part of this 1920s community. And for me, this family’s long battle to save their child symbolises that same long struggle many immigrants face when they arrive in a new country.
Great storytelling, coupled with impressive genealogical research, family stories and local history, I would highly recommend this captivating story about love, hope and faith, and the unwavering determination of a family to sustain one fragile life.
As well as precise details of how the family battles to save the baby, we also learn much about the culture, religion and celebrations of the author’s Lithuanian, Polish, and Russian ancestors, allowing the reader to truly feel a part of this 1920s community. And for me, this family’s long battle to save their child symbolises that same long struggle many immigrants face when they arrive in a new country.
Great storytelling, coupled with impressive genealogical research, family stories and local history, I would highly recommend this captivating story about love, hope and faith, and the unwavering determination of a family to sustain one fragile life.
July 2, 2014
This is a charming novella, the story of a close-knit family of immigrants from Lithuania in 1922. The story is based on the author's family history and reflects, I imagine, the lives of many immigrants of the time. The mother, Marianna, has given birth in a Connecticut farmhouse to a tiny premature infant, and the book revolves around the events following the child's birth and efforts to keep him alive. The charm comes from the gentle, supportive family who have great respect for one another and pitch in to help out when Marianna is having difficulty recuperating from the birth.
The author presents a clear depiction of a tight, caring family. Also, the vivid images of the tiny newborn held in the palm of his father's hand and the child lying on Marianna's chest for days at a time for warmth are touching; they will not soon leave me.
The author presents a clear depiction of a tight, caring family. Also, the vivid images of the tiny newborn held in the palm of his father's hand and the child lying on Marianna's chest for days at a time for warmth are touching; they will not soon leave me.
December 30, 2014
Don't miss this novella - nice bit of local history!
Until the Robin Walks on Snow" is a charming novella by Bernice Rocque. Set in a farmhouse in rural Southern Connecticut, it is the imagined story of how a real family of Polish and Lithuanian immigrants braved the harshness of a cold winter to save a tiny premature baby. The heroic mother spent weeks holding the baby to her chest to keep it warm while her closest friend attended to her care as well as doing all of the cooking, laundry and cleaning.
Readers are treated to some of the family's ethnic holiday traditions, the experience of which is enhanced by language stylized after the old country.
End notes written primarily for extended family members are an interesting chapter-by-chapter extension of the book.
This is a delightful read.
Until the Robin Walks on Snow" is a charming novella by Bernice Rocque. Set in a farmhouse in rural Southern Connecticut, it is the imagined story of how a real family of Polish and Lithuanian immigrants braved the harshness of a cold winter to save a tiny premature baby. The heroic mother spent weeks holding the baby to her chest to keep it warm while her closest friend attended to her care as well as doing all of the cooking, laundry and cleaning.
Readers are treated to some of the family's ethnic holiday traditions, the experience of which is enhanced by language stylized after the old country.
End notes written primarily for extended family members are an interesting chapter-by-chapter extension of the book.
This is a delightful read.
April 28, 2021
I read this book for two reasons. The first was because the real towns in the book are my hometown and very interesting to discover part of our history. Towns and streets were very familiar and I could easily recognize them.
The second was because my second and third children were born prematurely. I am amazed at Helena and Marianna (midwife and mother) in the story who did what they could to help Antoni survive in a time when most would have died. Heartwarming and very well researched. The explanations in the prologue are worth reading.
The second was because my second and third children were born prematurely. I am amazed at Helena and Marianna (midwife and mother) in the story who did what they could to help Antoni survive in a time when most would have died. Heartwarming and very well researched. The explanations in the prologue are worth reading.
January 7, 2022
Good story! review @ https://scifisstrs.blogspot.com/2022/...
January 26, 2013
“Until the Robin Walks on Snow” by Bernice L. Rocque grabbed my attention on the historical fiction forums on Goodreads and was intrigued by the Eastern European angle of the story, something that I have researched myself for my own books.
I found the relatively short novel had a lot more to it than Eastern European culture. It is a meticulously researched and detailed account of the winter 1922 and 1923 in Norwhich, Connecticut, during which a group of mainly Lithuanian Immigrants fear for the live of a fragile baby. Antoni is the smallest baby the doctor has ever seen – dead or alive – and his survival is in serious question.
The author describes precisely which steps the family and the doctors take to help the baby survive in the same way as she adds great detail and authenticity to the cultural background of that group: The house they live in, the cooking implements they use, the clothes and fabrics, the religious habits and celebrations – all of this creates an amazing insight and allows the reader to become part of the community and the times.
It is a great challenge to write about one small subject matter such as the birth of a fragile baby. Some authors might have been tempted to fill the book with lots of side plots to keep the reader’s attention but Rocque manages easily to hold the interest and the suspense up.
As a plot driven writer and reader I was surprised to find myself so comfortable in the slow pace which this close up of the family and the surrounding community kept. The Wigilia, a Polish Christmas Eve dinner, the fables told and so much more that is mentioned makes this a well-illustrated and rich feast for the historian and culturally interested.
Right from the beginning when the author gives an introduction, background and her acknowledgements, the writing was already so fascinating and captivating that I was surprised when the actual novel began.
This is well crafted from research to the composition. If you have an interest in this field then “Until the Robin Walks on Snow” is a must read.
I found the relatively short novel had a lot more to it than Eastern European culture. It is a meticulously researched and detailed account of the winter 1922 and 1923 in Norwhich, Connecticut, during which a group of mainly Lithuanian Immigrants fear for the live of a fragile baby. Antoni is the smallest baby the doctor has ever seen – dead or alive – and his survival is in serious question.
The author describes precisely which steps the family and the doctors take to help the baby survive in the same way as she adds great detail and authenticity to the cultural background of that group: The house they live in, the cooking implements they use, the clothes and fabrics, the religious habits and celebrations – all of this creates an amazing insight and allows the reader to become part of the community and the times.
It is a great challenge to write about one small subject matter such as the birth of a fragile baby. Some authors might have been tempted to fill the book with lots of side plots to keep the reader’s attention but Rocque manages easily to hold the interest and the suspense up.
As a plot driven writer and reader I was surprised to find myself so comfortable in the slow pace which this close up of the family and the surrounding community kept. The Wigilia, a Polish Christmas Eve dinner, the fables told and so much more that is mentioned makes this a well-illustrated and rich feast for the historian and culturally interested.
Right from the beginning when the author gives an introduction, background and her acknowledgements, the writing was already so fascinating and captivating that I was surprised when the actual novel began.
This is well crafted from research to the composition. If you have an interest in this field then “Until the Robin Walks on Snow” is a must read.
January 26, 2013
“Until the Robin Walks on Snow” by Bernice L. Rocque grabbed my attention on the historical fiction forums on Goodreads and was intrigued by the Eastern European angle of the story, something that I have researched myself for my own books.
I found the relatively short novel had a lot more to it than Eastern European culture. It is a meticulously researched and detailed account of the winter 1922 and 1923 in Norwhich, Connecticut, during which a group of mainly Lithuanian Immigrants fear for the live of a fragile baby. Antoni is the smallest baby the doctor has ever seen – dead or alive – and his survival is in serious question.
The author describes precisely which steps the family and the doctors take to help the baby survive in the same way as she adds great detail and authenticity to the cultural background of that group: The house they live in, the cooking implements they use, the clothes and fabrics, the religious habits and celebrations – all of this creates an amazing insight and allows the reader to become part of the community and the times.
It is a great challenge to write about one small subject matter such as the birth of a fragile baby. Some authors might have been tempted to fill the book with lots of side plots to keep the reader’s attention but Rocque manages easily to hold the interest and the suspense up.
As a plot driven writer and reader I was surprised to find myself so comfortable in the slow pace which this close up of the family and the surrounding community kept. The Wigilia, a Polish Christmas Eve dinner, the fables told and so much more that is mentioned makes this a well-illustrated and rich feast for the historian and culturally interested.
Right from the beginning when the author gives an introduction, background and her acknowledgements, the writing was already so fascinating and captivating that I was surprised when the actual novel began.
This is well crafted from research to the composition. If you have an interest in this field then “Until the Robin Walks on Snow” is a must read.
I found the relatively short novel had a lot more to it than Eastern European culture. It is a meticulously researched and detailed account of the winter 1922 and 1923 in Norwhich, Connecticut, during which a group of mainly Lithuanian Immigrants fear for the live of a fragile baby. Antoni is the smallest baby the doctor has ever seen – dead or alive – and his survival is in serious question.
The author describes precisely which steps the family and the doctors take to help the baby survive in the same way as she adds great detail and authenticity to the cultural background of that group: The house they live in, the cooking implements they use, the clothes and fabrics, the religious habits and celebrations – all of this creates an amazing insight and allows the reader to become part of the community and the times.
It is a great challenge to write about one small subject matter such as the birth of a fragile baby. Some authors might have been tempted to fill the book with lots of side plots to keep the reader’s attention but Rocque manages easily to hold the interest and the suspense up.
As a plot driven writer and reader I was surprised to find myself so comfortable in the slow pace which this close up of the family and the surrounding community kept. The Wigilia, a Polish Christmas Eve dinner, the fables told and so much more that is mentioned makes this a well-illustrated and rich feast for the historian and culturally interested.
Right from the beginning when the author gives an introduction, background and her acknowledgements, the writing was already so fascinating and captivating that I was surprised when the actual novel began.
This is well crafted from research to the composition. If you have an interest in this field then “Until the Robin Walks on Snow” is a must read.
June 5, 2015
Until the Robin Walks on Snow was named a Finalist in the Faction category for the 2013 National Indie Excellence Awards – for good reason! Based on a true story, this “factional” novella weaves historical and cultural truths with the moderately-fictionalized story of Antoni’s premature birth to an immigrant family. Bernice L Rocque highlights the difficulties this family faces with ardor: winter weather, numerous chores, the constant terror of losing another child, and the trials of caring for such a small baby in the early twentieth century. This novella is a short, easy read, suitable for teens and adults alike. The significance of the title and its tie-in to the plot of the story is beautifully done.
Tension over Antoni’s fate carries the story to its conclusion; however, Rocque also presents other conflicts, such as the strained relationship between the midwife and her husband as well as Andrzej’s guilt for relying on Marianna’s father Nikodimus. Though these conflicts could have been fleshed out further, Rocque has undeniably created a way for readers to experience the difficulty of life almost one hundred years ago, as if they are part of the family themselves.
Tension over Antoni’s fate carries the story to its conclusion; however, Rocque also presents other conflicts, such as the strained relationship between the midwife and her husband as well as Andrzej’s guilt for relying on Marianna’s father Nikodimus. Though these conflicts could have been fleshed out further, Rocque has undeniably created a way for readers to experience the difficulty of life almost one hundred years ago, as if they are part of the family themselves.
January 1, 2015
In a small Connecticut town, in November 1922, an immigrant family and a devoted midwife struggle to save the life of premature baby, weighing only a pound and a half when he is born. This historical fiction novella is about determination, family, faith and friendship, and includes a chapter about the family's Polish and Lithuanian Christmas Eve traditions.
The story was inspired by true events in the lives of the author's ancestors; the older brother of the premature infant was the author's father.
This was an engaging story, more character driven than plot driven. One of the things that drew me to the story is that I have a younger sister who was born a preemie, during the 1960's, who was also only 1 1/2 pounds when she was born. No one was sure at that time if she was going to make it at first, so it was interesting to read to how this family took care of their baby at home, in a home with no electricity or running water, at a time when the mortality rate for preemies was much higher than it is now. (And by the way, my sister thrived, and she is still here with us today.)
The story was inspired by true events in the lives of the author's ancestors; the older brother of the premature infant was the author's father.
This was an engaging story, more character driven than plot driven. One of the things that drew me to the story is that I have a younger sister who was born a preemie, during the 1960's, who was also only 1 1/2 pounds when she was born. No one was sure at that time if she was going to make it at first, so it was interesting to read to how this family took care of their baby at home, in a home with no electricity or running water, at a time when the mortality rate for preemies was much higher than it is now. (And by the way, my sister thrived, and she is still here with us today.)
June 10, 2016
The author has meticulously researched her family history over many years and some of the fascinating details are outlined at the end of the book.
The main part of the book is a fictionalised account of the birth of a premature baby and the struggles the family have to sustain the baby in a hostile environment.
There are references to folk-lore and the family's East European background which add interest and support the narrative. The characters develop strong personalities which shine through the pages.
This family story is set in early twentieth century east coast America but it transcends geographical area and will be just as meaningful to readers in other parts of the world who have a feel for the past.
Until the Robin Walks on Snow is a charming and insightful book and I loved reading every page of it.
The main part of the book is a fictionalised account of the birth of a premature baby and the struggles the family have to sustain the baby in a hostile environment.
There are references to folk-lore and the family's East European background which add interest and support the narrative. The characters develop strong personalities which shine through the pages.
This family story is set in early twentieth century east coast America but it transcends geographical area and will be just as meaningful to readers in other parts of the world who have a feel for the past.
Until the Robin Walks on Snow is a charming and insightful book and I loved reading every page of it.
December 2, 2014
Until the Robin Walks on Snow, by Bernice L. Rocque
The writing and historical aspect of this book is unquestionably wonderful. The book drew me in and made me want to hug and help the Polish, Russian Immigrants in Norwich, Connecticut, as they fought to save a pound and a half baby in the 1920s. Through people I love, I have experienced what this entails today, and how difficult it is with all the modern conveniences.
The clever and resourceful choices, complimented the courage of this family made the story unique and full of hope.
Loved it! You can judge a book by its beautiful cover.
The writing and historical aspect of this book is unquestionably wonderful. The book drew me in and made me want to hug and help the Polish, Russian Immigrants in Norwich, Connecticut, as they fought to save a pound and a half baby in the 1920s. Through people I love, I have experienced what this entails today, and how difficult it is with all the modern conveniences.
The clever and resourceful choices, complimented the courage of this family made the story unique and full of hope.
Loved it! You can judge a book by its beautiful cover.
August 21, 2015
From the beginning of the book, I was drawn into this simple story of survival in the early part of the 20th century. Ms. Rocque's novel, a fictionalized account of a true story, is quite simply, charming. Her characters are genuine and believable and the situation, an infant born prematurely at the onset of winter, is tense and compelling. The author bolsters her story with solid facts and research which brings richness to the events. I thoroughly enjoyed reading what could possibly be a fairly accurate account of her family's history.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I can recommend Until the Robin Walks on Snow without hesitation.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I can recommend Until the Robin Walks on Snow without hesitation.
May 2, 2013
Short, sweet, a tad poetic. I don't feel my time was wasted because of how short it was, but from the description of the book I was feel I was led astray.
January 30, 2014
I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't that!
February 6, 2019
Survival of premature infant
A very nicely done short story of an immigrant family all devoting themselves to a newborn premature infant in the early 1900's. The ethnic customs and religious holiday traditions all brought together a real warmth to this story. Highly recommend.
A very nicely done short story of an immigrant family all devoting themselves to a newborn premature infant in the early 1900's. The ethnic customs and religious holiday traditions all brought together a real warmth to this story. Highly recommend.
December 20, 2019
Not what I expected at all. An unusual story of a child born very small, yet who survived, prompted the telling of this tale. More of a novella than a novel, this tale of immigrants making a new life for themselves in America is more of a family history than a novel.
July 30, 2022
This was a very different read than what I expected. It was OK but didn't really go anywhere in particular. The book says that it's based on a true story but it's really just basically about a preemie born in the winter to a fairly isolated family and how they got the baby through the winter. I was glad that the book ended on a positive note and it was interesting to read about their methods (i.e. skin to skin contact 24 hours a day and then a basket by the kitchen stove after hours of testing placement) of keeping the child warm. Also, the way they learned to nourish the baby until he was strong enough to suckle. Just a slice of life basically, no further information on what happened to the family or the baby once Spring was upon them.
December 25, 2012
From the moment I opened my copy of Until the Robin Walks on Snow I was drawn to read it. The image on the cover is lovely, the title intriguing, the author’s style of writing makes this novella very accessible and eases the reader, as if a guest, into the home of this immigrant family. The notes at the back of this novella add important information to this meaningful reading experience. As a daughter of Polish immigrants I was brought back to my ethnic history – I smiled at each occasional Polish word, the chapter abut Christmas Eve (Wigilia) was heart warming – especially at this time of year - and even some of the formality in the way the characters communicated with each other brought back memories. Interestingly one would think in a story addressing an intense situation there would be greater expression of emotion. Yet I feel that the author’s writing style purposely and effectively portrays the formality and emotional distance with which some Eastern European families communicate.
This novella offers a captivating account about faith, hope, and the unwavering determination of an immigrant family’s struggle to sustain life. Ms Rocque’s eloquent writing creatively and mindfully manages facts and fiction. Focused on the events following the birth of a premature infant, the author’s attention to detail exemplifies the many ways this family loved and lived their life in America while maintaining a deep connection to their religion, traditions, and heritage.
To me the birth of Antoni and the family’s focus to save the child during an especially harsh winter is symbolic of the unpredictable tenuous journey that immigrants often face when beginning a new life in an unfamiliar environment. Considering that the format of a novella is limited in length, the author manages to deliver an appealing story that relays a compelling description about how determination and the willingness of a small group of individuals working together made a difference not just in one child’s life but in all of their lives.
There are stories in Until the Robin Walks on Snow waiting to be shared in greater detail including the friendship between the midwife and the mother, what became of the premature infant, and the potentially dangerous journey of the bootlegging grandfather. I hope that Ms Rocque takes this masterful beginning of a novella and considers expanding it into a collection of short stories or a novel.
Until the Robin Walks on Snow
This novella offers a captivating account about faith, hope, and the unwavering determination of an immigrant family’s struggle to sustain life. Ms Rocque’s eloquent writing creatively and mindfully manages facts and fiction. Focused on the events following the birth of a premature infant, the author’s attention to detail exemplifies the many ways this family loved and lived their life in America while maintaining a deep connection to their religion, traditions, and heritage.
To me the birth of Antoni and the family’s focus to save the child during an especially harsh winter is symbolic of the unpredictable tenuous journey that immigrants often face when beginning a new life in an unfamiliar environment. Considering that the format of a novella is limited in length, the author manages to deliver an appealing story that relays a compelling description about how determination and the willingness of a small group of individuals working together made a difference not just in one child’s life but in all of their lives.
There are stories in Until the Robin Walks on Snow waiting to be shared in greater detail including the friendship between the midwife and the mother, what became of the premature infant, and the potentially dangerous journey of the bootlegging grandfather. I hope that Ms Rocque takes this masterful beginning of a novella and considers expanding it into a collection of short stories or a novel.
Until the Robin Walks on Snow
February 2, 2014
Bernice L. Rocque’s novella, Until the Robin Walks on Snow, leaves one charmed by an era in our recent past in which grandparents and grandchildren were each other’s best friends, in which extended families helped one other withstand severe hardships, in which people of all generations appreciated age-old customs for the social glue they provided, and in which simple amusements produced immense joy for all. Author Rocque infuses her touching novella with all these uplifting attributes in such an endearing fashion that one is left to ponder—no matter how much one embraces everything that is right and good about modern social progress—just how much has been lost and, more to the point, just how much can still be retained.
One chapter in the novella masterfully illustrates the excitement, cooking, decorating, toasting, celebrating, story sharing, and various forms of communion associated with a traditional Eastern European Christmas Eve in a New England immigrant enclave of the 1920s. The scenes are replete with rich and fascinating cultural details interwoven with action and dialogue. This isn’t a ritualized family gathering; there is plenty of genuine heartache. But almost anyone reading this story would love to be part of this family because of its resilience under duress.
One especially enchanting feature of this novella is its portrayal of a grandfather’s tender relationship with his granddaughter. This novella could be uniquely meaningful for middle school readers, because it could spark their interest in their own grandparents and encourage the young to cultivate their relationships with the old while they still have the chance. If this novella could inspire that to happen, then it will have not only painted a vivid picture of multigenerational family life, but it will have helped to rekindle it.
One chapter in the novella masterfully illustrates the excitement, cooking, decorating, toasting, celebrating, story sharing, and various forms of communion associated with a traditional Eastern European Christmas Eve in a New England immigrant enclave of the 1920s. The scenes are replete with rich and fascinating cultural details interwoven with action and dialogue. This isn’t a ritualized family gathering; there is plenty of genuine heartache. But almost anyone reading this story would love to be part of this family because of its resilience under duress.
One especially enchanting feature of this novella is its portrayal of a grandfather’s tender relationship with his granddaughter. This novella could be uniquely meaningful for middle school readers, because it could spark their interest in their own grandparents and encourage the young to cultivate their relationships with the old while they still have the chance. If this novella could inspire that to happen, then it will have not only painted a vivid picture of multigenerational family life, but it will have helped to rekindle it.
March 22, 2013
Delightful. I really enjoyed this story. I appreciated the insight that reveals how it came to be written. It had the feel of a wonderful close-up view of a resourceful family that had supportive friends and extended family. There was much revealed about immigrants and their traditions. There was much revealed about the customs of that time period. I suppose what I enjoyed most was the unfolding of the rich character of the people the author was sharing with us. I want that "midwife" as my friend. She beautifully demonstrated sacrificial love. I want the Grandfather to share with my grandchildren. The delightful grandfather at one point(when they were uprooting a Christmas tree), told his grandchildren that the tree was telling him things. When asked what he said to the tree he remarked,"I did not speak to it. One can learn much when one listens."
It is a well done simple story with much to ponder about the things we have lost in the passing of time.
Barbara Anne Waite- Author "Elsie-Adventures of an Arizona Schoolteacher 1913-1916"
It is a well done simple story with much to ponder about the things we have lost in the passing of time.
Barbara Anne Waite- Author "Elsie-Adventures of an Arizona Schoolteacher 1913-1916"
November 23, 2012
Until the Robin Walks on Snow was a book I really wanted to read due to some of the local history involved. There is so much rich history in this area of Connecticut. At 202 pages I was able to read it comfortably in one sitting. In 1922 families in CT struggled in so many ways. This particular story details how one family and some really dedicated friends helped to keep a premature baby alive, through an entire winter, with all odds against his survival. The story really hit home for me when they were struggling to try and get Antoni baptized. Tiny and fragile they still needed to trek through the winter streets just to try to get to St Josephs' Church. By the time the Robin walked on the snow it was clear that their faith, actions and struggles were in fact enough to keep Antoni alive. This was a really good story of the strength of faith, family and friends.
October 26, 2013
Back when little lives were still precious this immigrant family goes to great lengths to save the life of their premature baby who weighed a mere 1 ½ pounds at birth.
It’s a heartwarming story of the life and trials of this family in the 1920’s. It is well researched and told in such a way that makes for easy and enjoyable reading.
After reading the details and all the effort put into helping this infant to survive it’s amazing that with all the technology we have today aborting infants larger than this is an ongoing daily fact.
You will find this little book well worth the time spent reading it.
It’s a heartwarming story of the life and trials of this family in the 1920’s. It is well researched and told in such a way that makes for easy and enjoyable reading.
After reading the details and all the effort put into helping this infant to survive it’s amazing that with all the technology we have today aborting infants larger than this is an ongoing daily fact.
You will find this little book well worth the time spent reading it.
January 1, 2013
Well, being that this is a fictional account of something that actually happened in my family, and is written by a member of my own family, this was quite interesting. Left me with a bird's eye view of my early ancestors' lives, and the stories Granny's house would tell if its walls could talk. Left me with a lot of questions too.
January 15, 2013
An interesting short read on historical fiction about a Russian family and their pre-mature baby. It tells of how mom and midwife slept int he kitchen near the stove through the cold months of December, January and February to save a tiny baby. Brought in Russian customs and the importance of becoming an American.
December 10, 2012
A lovely novella portraying the courage and love of a family as they try, against all odds, for the survival of a premature baby, in a time before modern medicine. I really enjoyed this story, and didn't want it to end.
January 5, 2013
This book is a story of struggle, faith, determination, and how the mother of this tiny baby shows the love of a mother towards her child. I enjoyed this wonderful book and I learned so much about traditions and beliefs of other people.
July 6, 2013
The author hails from Norwich where she was born and grew up. The story is based on her family history here in Norwich in the early 1900's. She shows you how life was simple but yet difficult. Everyone helped each other out and got along.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews