American Girl: Kirsten Books
Presents recipes for homemade butter, round rye bread, and other commonly eaten foods of the mid-nineteenth century, and offers tips for a pioneer party
Kirsten Larson has been living on the Minnesota frontier for a only a few weeks when her neighbor and friend, Erik Sandahl, disappears. Erik had promised to help the Larsons at harvest time, and he owes Uncle Olav money. Everyone believes Erik has run out on his promises-except Kirsten. Can she figure out what's happened to her friend? Includes a glossary of Swedish words and a Looking Back historical essay.
Kirsten Larson and her family arrive in America in 1854, after a long sea voyage. Everything looks so different from the life Kirsten knew back in Sweden--the ways people talk and dress seem strange! Getting lost in a big city and parting with her best friend only add to Kirsten’s worry. Will she ever feel at home here? It is only when the Larsons arrive at a tiny farm on the edge of the frontier that Kirsten believes Papa’s promise--America will be a land filled with opportunity for them all.
Kirsten starts school in America, but she doesn’t speak English very well. Miss Winston, her new teacher, is strict and not very understanding. Things get worse when Miss Winston comes to live with the Larson family. Kirsten’s only escape is playing with her secret friend, Singing Bird. When Singing Bird suggests running away forever, Kirsten must decide where she belongs. Kirsten does learn some important lessons in school, but she learns something even more important about herself.
Kirsten and her family will be celebrating their first Christmas in America. Kirsten wants to keep some of their old Swedish traditions alive in the new country, so she secretly plans a Saint Lucia celebration. But everything depends on a trip to town with Papa, and he’s too busy to leave the farm. At last they go--and get caught in a terrible blizzard. It’s up to Kirsten to keep herself and Papa safe through the night. When she finally gets home, the candles in the little cabin glow with a special holiday warmth.
Kirsten's excited about the changes spring is bringing to the Larsons’ farm--including a big barn and a tiny baby. But changes bring new worries and more work, too. First Kirsten is afraid for Mama’s health. Then caring for a baby seems to mean nothing but chores. Kirsten has to miss school to help at home, and she can’t help with the surprise she and her friends are planning for their teacher. Will her friends forget all about her? But Kirsten’s hard work is rewarded with a day of fun—and a special birthday surprise.
Kirsten welcomes summer when it finally comes to Minnesota. Even chores, such as catching fish for dinner, seem like play. One day while she’s fishing, Kirsten leaves the stream to explore the woods. There she finds a treasure--a bee tree packed with honeycombs. Kirsten knows Papa could use the honey to trade for things the family needs. So she decides to surprise him by bringing the honey home. Kirsten asks her brother Peter to help her. But they don’t know that bears are after Kirsten’s treasure, too.
Kirsten wonders if the cold Minnesota winter will ever end. It’s crowded in the tiny log cabin, and Kirsten looks forward to the days she’s allowed outside to help her brother Lars with his trap line. One day she brings home a baby raccoon she’s found in the woods, and trouble begins. The raccoon gets loose and starts a fire that destroys the Larsons’ home and everything in it. The future seems bleak, until Kirsten and Lars go back into the woods and make a frightening but important discovery.