Adventures From the Bookshelf

“Come The Day Come Away” tells the sweeping saga of Henrik and Betty Hansen, Swedish immigrants who leave their homeland in 1891 to build a new life in the American wilderness. After a difficult start in the crowded, disease-ridden tenements of New York, they travel to Duluth before eventually homesteading on the rugged Wisconsin shores of Lake Superior. The story chronicles their early struggles against the isolation of the forest, the dangers of the wild, and personal tragedies, including the loss of an infant daughter. Throughout their journey, Henrik’s steadfast faith drives him to establish a Christian community and build a church, while Betty transforms from a fearful young bride into a resilient pioneer woman. Ultimately, the family finds peace and security in the land they have tamed and the spiritual legacy they have established for their growing community.

The story follows 12-year-old Mark and his younger brother Joey, whose lives are upended when their father loses his job as a precision machinist and takes a temporary position as a driver for a traveling carnival. Transitioning from a stable suburban life to the transient, often misunderstood world of “carnies,” the boys struggle with feelings of shame and the difficulty of maintaining their Christian faith in a secular environment. Throughout their summer journey, they encounter a variety of colorful characters, face accusations of theft, and witness a spiritual transformation within the carnival community. Ultimately, the story highlights the importance of integrity, the power of prayer, and the realization that God’s presence can be found even in the most unexpected places.

Following the death of his mother, young Billy finds comfort in his mischievous puppy, Frisky. When his stern Aunt Kate arrives to help his traveling father, she initially views the dog as a nuisance and demands he be kept out of the house. Guided by his neighbor Uncle John and the biblical promise of Romans 8:28—that “all things work together for good”—Billy learns to train Frisky and pray for his family. The story follows Billy through childhood challenges like school cheating, a lost puppy, and a terrifying encounter with an escaped mental patient in a “haunted” house. Ultimately, Frisky proves to be a hero, Aunt Kate becomes a loving part of the family, and Billy sees firsthand how God can use any circumstance for good.

Set in the Soviet Union during a time of intense religious persecution, the story follows young Alexi Kovich and his family after they are forcibly relocated from Leningrad to the harsh landscape of Siberia due to their Christian faith. In their new home, Alexi discovers a secret network of “believers” who risk imprisonment to operate a hidden printing press and distribute Bibles. As Alexi grows in his faith, he must choose between social acceptance on the school hockey team and his commitment to Christ. Ultimately, Alexi and his friend Yuri are entrusted with a “secret mission” to deliver Bibles to a distant church, proving their courage as “good soldiers” in a land where owning the Word of God is a crime.