The Journey of Elisa: From Switzerland to America

I purchased this book for my 9 yo daughter and thought I'd preview it first. I must say that I LOVED IT!! The story line is engaging and the main characters are well-developed. It's simply a great story and one that I'll remember in years to come. Through the challenging events of their life (their move to America and the death of the father), the characters grow in the virtues of faith, hope, and love. They become stronger people who know that they must rely on God. My only reservation about the book is the suggested reading level (8 - 12 years old). I would recommend an older audience. My daughter (age 9) would be able to read the book as it's her reading level, but she hasn't had enough life experience to fully appreciate the whole story. I'll wait another year or two before I give it to her.

Because their father was the Swiss consulate there, Elisa Bolli and her four siblings -- a brother and three sisters -- grew up in Brazil. But in the spring of 1853, when Elisa is twelve, her father's health begins to deteriorate. Elisa's parents decide that the family will move to Tennessee so that they can be near their relatives, who immigrated there from Switzerland several years ago. Elisa and her siblings manage to adjust quickly to their new life on a Tennessee farm. However, Papa's health does not improve, but only worsens. How will the family manage to go on when he dies? This was a good historical novel and a sweet family story for young readers, based on the life of the author's great-grandmother, Elisa Bolli, and her family. Elisa is a wonderful character whose relationships with her parents and siblings are very realistically portrayed. Readers who enjoy historical fiction about immigrants, or a sweet family story, will most likely enjoy this book.

Elisa's father is the Swiss consul in Brazil, and Elisa has lived in Brazil all her life. She is surprised when her father announces his intention to move to America so the family could be near relatives. But Elisa knows the real reason. Her father's health has never been good, and so they immigrate in hopes that he will recover. Elisa is sad to leave her home, but she is also excited about her new life. At first things seem to finally be turning out all right at last, when Elisa's father's condition worsens. And when he dies, Elisa and her family are struck with grief. Will Elisa ever learn to live without her father? And when Elisa has a bad fall and injures her elbow, will her arm ever be the same again? Find out in this heart-warming book!This has got to be one of my all-time favorite books. My mom got it for my birthday once because my name is Elisa also. I loved this book so much that I coaxed my mom into getting me the entire series, which are just as good as this one. My suggestion is to read them all!!!

This book is part of a series of Immigrants Chronicles from Cook Communications and is based on the real-life stories of my great-grandmother, Elisa Bolli Buffat, and other French-Swiss immigrants who settled in East Tennessee in the mid 1800's. In the story Elisa, 11, and her sisters and brother move from Brazil, where their father is Swiss consul, to Knoxville, TN, to be near relatives. Not only must they learn to speak English and make new friends, but they suffer through the illness and death of their father. As the family learns to farm and make their way in the new country, Elisa learns that even during times of great loss our faith and God's comfort can give us hope for the future. I felt very close to my great-grandmother as I read her memoirs and created this story about her life, and I hope readers will find encouragement and strength in God's faithfulness to all generations. Read the story to find out how Elisa's search for her mother's wedding veil brings her hope, too!