"On Midsummer Eve, 1865, more than 30 Finnish and Sami immigrants disembarked from a Great Lakes ship to a place called Hancock, Michigan. At the time, Hancock consisted of nothing more than a small cluster of humble buildings, but it was here, on the outskirts of mid-19th-century civilization, that Finnish settlement in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) took root. Much to the surprise of these new Americans, Midsummer was not a religious holiday marked by feasts in celebration of the season's prolonged sunlight. Rather, the newcomers were immediately hastened into the bowels of the earth to extract copper in pursuit of the American Dream. In short order, hardworking Finnish immigrants became reputable miners, lumberjacks, farmers, maids, and commercial fishermen. A century and a half later, the UP boasts the largest Finnish population outside of the motherland and sustains the determined spirit the Finns call sisu--an influence that remains palpable in all 15 UP counties."--

A novel full of heart, in which love, friendship, and charity teach a young woman to live a bigger life. When Madeline Stone walks away from Chicago and moves five hundred miles north to the coast of Lake Superior, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, she isn't prepared for how much her life will change. Charged with caring for an aging family friend, Madeline finds herself in the middle of beautiful nowhere with Gladys and Arbutus, two octogenarian sisters-one sharp and stubborn, the other sweeter than sunshine. As Madeline begins to experience the ways of the small, tight-knit town, she is drawn into the lives and dramas of its residents. It's a place where times are tough and debts run deep, but friendship, community, and compassion run deeper. As the story hurtles along-featuring a lost child, a dashed love, a car accident, a wedding, a fire, and a romantic reunion-Gladys, Arbutus, and the rest of the town teach Madeline more about life, love, and goodwill than she's learned in a lifetime. A heartwarming novel, South of Superior explores the deep reward in caring for others, and shows how one who is poor in pocket can be rich in so many other ways, and how little it often takes to make someone happy.

Stories and photos that bring the spooky history of Western Michigan to life . . . Western Michigan is home to some of the state’s most picturesque places—and also some of its most chilling tales. Ghost story researcher Amberrose Hammond exposes the mysterious and spirit-ridden world of many beloved Michigan destinations as she skillfully weaves narratives of a world unseen by most. From the lingering spirit forever working in the Grand Theatre and the band of melon-headed children prowling the Saugatuck Dunes State Park to the lights of the Lake Forest Cemetery staircase waiting to reveal one’s place in the afterlife, these tales are sure to give pause to anyone daring enough to experience these hauntingly beautiful spots . . . after dark.

"Consistently rated the best guides to the regions covered...Readable, tasteful, appealingly designed. Strong on dining, lodging, and history."—National Geographic Traveler At the intersection of Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron is one of America’s best-kept secrets: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Westervelt’s friendly and knowledgeable advice points you to secret waterfalls, breathtaking vistas, excellent trout-fishing, romantic dinner spots, and the best hot pasties in the U.P. It’s like having a Yooper travel companion! Distinctive for their accuracy, simplicity, and conversational tone, the diverse travel guides in our Explorer's Great Destinations series meet the conflicting demands of the modern traveler. They're packed full of up-to-date information to help plan the perfect getaway. And they're compact and light enough to come along for the ride. A tool you'll turn to before, during, and after your trip, these guides include chapters on lodging, dining, transportation, history, shopping, recreation, and more; a section packed with practical information, such as lists of banks, hospitals, post offices, laundromats, numbers for police, fire, and rescue, and other relevant information; maps of regions and locales, and more.

New school...a bully...and an Ojibway spirit determined to expose the truth. Since moving to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, junior Shannon Colfax and her autistic brother, Shane, have struggled to settle in. After popular football jock Brent Duray bullies Shane, a feud erupts, and Shannon finds an unlikely savior-and new love-in Brent's friend, Cody Williams. Stung by Cody's betrayal, Brent and his entourage retaliate: if Shannon and Cody take the infamous Paulding Light Challenge and spend Halloween night in the forest alone, Duray will leave Shane alone.Desperate for vindication, Shannon and Cody take the dare. As they hike the Ottawa National Forest in search of a spectral train engineer that locals claim haunts the woods, they wander off the path, only to discover a dead Ojibwa man-and proof of something more sinister than legends.As Shannon and Cody gather evidence to prove what they've witnessed, they discover an intricately woven web of lies and deceit. When their snooping sets off a whirlwind of panic, the three friends are kidnapped, engaging in dangerous game of cat and mouse with the so-called ghosts. But there is something out there besides deception...Can the real spirit of the Northwoods help guide the teens safely home so they can finally reveal the truth?