The turbulent Thirties, and across Europe cry the discordant voices of hunger and death, most notably in Spain, where a civil war rages. Aspiring writer, Marcus Hendrycks, has had a safe, cloistered existence in Cambridge, but joins the fight against the fascists. He discovers that life itself is the real schoolroom.

As winter arrives and the local school closes until summer, the Fairchild children continue their schooling in the parlor with the oldest, Althy, teaching.

The turbulent Thirties, and across Europe cry the discordant voices of hunger and death, most notably in Spain, where a civil war rages. Aspiring writer, Marcus Hendrycks, has had a safe, cloistered existence in Cambridge, but joins the fight against the fascists. He discovers that life itself is the real schoolroom.

Three charming stories of new school years and new romance. A Class for Laurel by Amy Clipston Adventurous Laurel Weaver leaves Pennsylvania to answer a newspaper ad for a teaching position in Colorado. She stays with handsome Glen Troyer’s family, and they become close. However, she never intended to stay in Colorado, and his family worries Glen may choose to follow her back to Pennsylvania or be left with a broken heart. Now she can’t bear to think of leaving Glen and her beloved students, but she’s beginning to feel like she’s out of options. Will Laurel and Glen push through the obstacles and fight for love? A Lesson on Love by Kathleen Fuller Priscilla Helmuth left her Amish community twelve years ago to pursue her dream of being a country singer, but she’s missed her faith and her family. Now, she’s moving to Birch Creek to be a schoolteacher. Micah Wagler recently moved there as well to put the past behind him. As the community comes together to build a new schoolhouse, Priscilla and Micah are thrown together. They bond over their love of music, but soon it appears that Priscilla’s dreams of fame just might be coming true. She has to give up something, and Micah worries that it will be their faith . . . and his heart. Wendy’s Twenty Reasons by Shelley Shepard Gray Wendy Schwartz is used to people underestimating her, but she’s sure she can be a great teacher. Unfortunately, it’s a disaster not long after she starts, and soon her job is in jeopardy. To make matters more complicated, she worries that she’s falling for the son of the older couple she’s boarding with. Lewis Weaver knows he shouldn’t have a romantic relationship with a tenant, but he can’t help but be drawn to Wendy. When a dangerous ice storm traps Wendy in the schoolroom with her students, uncomfortable truths will have to be faced by the town that just might change the future for everyone. Sweet Amish novellas with happily-ever-afters Book length: 75,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs

The story of a young Mexican boy living in a colonia (trash dump community) who takes the first steps toward realizing his dream of getting an education.