Sparks Fly Upward

It is 1910, and twelve-year-old Rebecca Bernstein and her extended family live in rural Canada as part of a community of Jewish immigrants who have fled religious persecution in Russia. All is well until the family?s house burns down and they must relocate to the bustling city of Winnipeg, starting over once again. Rebecca is scared, but content as long as she is with her family. But then a devastating blow comes when Rebecca learns that?because her father cannot find work?she must be sent away to a foster home. Even worse, she will be living with the Ukrainian Kostaniuk family, non-Jews with customs not at all like her own. Rebecca is terrified. She eventually finds a true friend in their daughter, Sophie, but feels unwanted by others in the Kostaniuk family. Mr. Kostaniuk seems to hate Rebecca simply for being Jewish. Sophie?s older brother calls Rebecca?s uncles (who are about the same age as Rebecca) ?filthy Jews? and fights with them daily at school, an ongoing battle that eventually involves a dangerous knife fight. All Rebecca wants is to have a real home?and a real friend?but neither seems within her grasp as her father struggles to support the family and community prejudice clouds her very important friendship with Sophie. An affecting work of historical fiction that explores important dilemmas of family and faith. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.