Second Hoeing

by Hope Williams Sykes, Timothy J. Kloberdanz (Introduction)

"Papa’ll work her till she drops in the field!" The backbreaking labor of German-Russian immigrants in the sugarbeet fields of Colorado is described with acute perception in Hope Sykes's Second Hoeing . First published in 1935, the novel was greeted in all quarters as an impressive and authoritative evocation of these recent immigrants and their struggle to realize the promise of their chosen country.

Genres: Historical Fiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1982

Reviews

[Cyndi Ries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from my father. It’s old—originally written in 1935. In those days, it was hated by the German Americans, because being a proud people, they didn’t want others to know what they were going through trying to assimilate into American society. I found it reminiscent of my growing up, having my mother’s family of 13 all beet farmers, and I even was a field worker, thinning, hoeing, and harvesting the sugar beets. This appeared to be historically accurate, although set in northeast Colorado rather than the Nebraska panhandle where I grew up.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I have an interest in my Volga German heritage, and all I knew was that this was a story about sugar beet farming which some of our relatives were involved with. This is the story of one family and their experiences in making a new life in America after leaving Russia. It's told from the point of view of Hannah, a daughter in the middle of the family of 10 or so kids.

[Laurie Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book as an undergraduate in “Literature of the Great Plains.”

[Glenn Younger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good cultural history of an oppressed minority. In this case the Russians in Northern Colorado. The agricultural history of the front range of Colorado.

[Sean Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really excellent book in every way but a god-awful, depressing story throughout...

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Original Notes (1997):

Very good, yet depressing and bleak. Somewhat predictable. Not a great artistic author, although a gripping story. Good look at German-Russian history in Colorado.

My Current Thoughts:

I only have a vague recollection of this book, but I do remember comparing it to My Antonia, feeling a little less impressed than I had been with Willa Cather's prose. Cather's novels are full of beautiful images and Sykes' novel, while informative and gripping, didn't evoke the same sense of creative drama as Cather's. I no longer own the book and have no inclination to read it again.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from my mother. It's old -- originally written in 1935. In those days, it was hated by the German Americans, because being a proud people, they didn't want people to know what they were going through trying to assimilate into American society. It has been re-released since that time. I found it fascinating, since my own ancestors lived what this book chronicles, emigrating from Germany to Russia to the U.S. It is written in historical novel fashion. In litrary circles, this is considered true-to-life and historically accurate.

[Katrina Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in order to understand my ancestry better. My ancestors were German-Russians who moved to the Fort Collins area and became beet farmers. The characters in Sykes's novel are based on German-Russian beet farmers who farm outside of Fort Collins, although in the book the name of the town is changed.

The book gave me great insight into what it was like for my ancestors and illuminated family dynamics for me as well. I recommend it to anyone with similar roots.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This struck a chord with me because I too am a farmer's daughter, and weather and crop prices are giant memory markers for me as well as for these eastern Colorado beet farmers in the 1930's. This is a gripping (I couldn't put it down) love story, a story of faith, a story of sacrifice.

Another note: I read far more books than I list on this site. If I put every book I read on this site, I wouldn't get much else done! (Maybe I don't, anyway.)

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was kinda cool to read a novel about my roots - German-Russian beet farmers in northern Colorado, so I really enjoyed that aspect. I also really came to like Hannah's character as the novel went on. I feel like the writing (and in turn her thoughts) progressed as she became a woman. All in all just a good story to read and would definitely recommend this book, especially to anybody who has any ties to the story.

[Barb Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictional book about German Russion (Volga Germans) immigrants raising their families and working (with family) the sugar beet fields of Colorado. Old book written in 1935.... along the lines of "Grapes of Wrath". I find it interesting as the Volga Germans are my heritage. But it's also a good story of a young woman coming of age living in trying times. The eldest daughter in the family. A very good read.

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago as a gift from my Uncle. I come from German Russians on my Dad's side. My Uncle told me that reading it would help me know my Great -Grandma Katie Reichert. I could feel so close to my Ancestors though reading this book and even learned a few things that made me understand my Grandma Specht better. It was fun to see the similarities.

[Jennie Reithel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book mainly because it resonated with my family's history a little bit - at least the hoeing sugar beets part. The writing wasn't amazing, but the story of life for farmers in Colorado in the early 1900s was engaging. Stark and grim, but still engaging. Not amazing characters or writing, but a glimpse into the hard-working farming life of German-Russian immigrants.

[Anna Dalhaimer Bartkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers the best immigrant assimilation story for German Russians. Since this is my ancestry, I related strongly with the characters, the sense of family and the distress of learning to live in a new country. Well worth the read.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a powerful novel! Oh I just loved it and couldn't put it down! It's the story of a German -Russian beet farm family in N. Colorado. It's like The Good Earth but from the daughter's perspective.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest account of the hardships faced by German Russians as they farmed beets in eastern Colorado. Good story, but the storyline is occasionally not completely clear (e.g. one of the characters has a near-death experience that is not explained at all).

[Bart Schaneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote about this book here: http://www.starherald.com/opinion/sch...

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in 1935 and is about the German Russian immigrant beet farmers in Northern Colorado. The dialect was hard for me to read in the beginning.... but after awhile I got it. Trying to assimialate and farm was harsh, Papa was harsher, but I loved Hannah --- such a strong, focused, and good girl/woman. This book gave me a glimpse of life back then.