Zuska of the Burning Hills

Walking home from school past the piles of burning slag, protecting the younger children from bullies, rolling out the golden dough for the cutting of noodles, and helping Mama care for the boarders were all in a day's work for Zuska Stebina. Would the mine close? Would she have new white shoes for Easter? Where was Mr. Simek when the other men were rescued from the cave-in? These cares and many others too weighty for the fourth grader from Pinet Hill Camp pressed upon her dream of a little house on a farm and safe life for her family.