Nothing Here But Stones

Nothing Here But Stones is a wonderfully written historical fiction telling the account of a Jewish Colony in Cotopaxi, Colorado. This colony was in existence during 1882 through 1884. Even though the colonists didn't stay much longer than two years their dedication to find a new home was one of sacrifice. The main character is a young Jewish girl named Emma. She tells us about her journey from Russia across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. She is homesick for the land she knew, and finds New York City different and a little scary. But it's when she boards the train to cross the United States to her new home in Cotopaxi that we truly feel her fear, stress, and sadness. When she arrives in Cotopaxi with her family and the other colonists, it's to a barren mountain community, nothing like the land she was used to seeing in Russia. Her father and the other men are told the houses aren't ready for them to move into and that the money they had sent ahead to build the colony is already spent. The Jewish families band together and build their colony even though everything seems to be against them. A lot of the conflict Emma and her family experience are based on true events that happened to different Jewish colonists; from bad weather stunting the crops to losing a loved one. Author Nancy Oswald's story may be about a fictional family, but she vividly captures the hardships, loyalty, sacrifice, and dedication the Jewish people have always shown throughout history. Stories for Children Editor, VS Grenier

This historical novel is set in an unlikely environment--the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of central Colorado. The Russian Jewish refugees came to farm land with a short growing season, rocky soil, and sporadic rainfall. If you want to understand the pioneer experience of a group of people who were misled into believing they were coming to the promised land, this book is a glimpse into their lives. The problems that face motherless children are universal, and in this setting all the more difficult. It's a good read.

Eleven-year-old Emma, her widowed father, her two sisters, and her baby brother have left their home in a small village in Russia to immigrate to America. In Russia, their lives were dangerous because they were Jews, and they were not allowed to own land. Emma's father dreams of building a better life for his family and being able to own a farm. Emma's family is part of a group of Russian Jewish immigrants hoping to build an agricultural colony on the Colorado frontier. But when they arrive in Colorado, they find they have been deceived. The land is poor, and their houses are unfinished. Emma must work hard to help her family, and she is desperately lonely and longs for her mother, who died in Russia shortly before the family left for America. It is only when she saves the life of an injured horse that she finally finds a friend. I loved this unusual historical novel. I have read many historical fiction books about Jewish immigrants, but none about Jewish pioneers who settled on the frontier. I really enjoyed reading about this forgotten piece of history and I highly recommend this book to young readers who enjoy immigrant or pioneer stories.