What Wakes the Heart

Explore how two young people try to find their way to love in spite of the obstacles posed by immigrant status, religious differences, and past trauma.

Susannah looks forward to a rewarding career as a teacher in St. Louis, until a traumatic encounter with the president of her teacher's college drives her to seek a job elsewhere. Karol, a Polish Catholic immigrant living in Cowbird Creek, fears that the town's first school may not respect his bright, eager sister's intelligence due to her limited English. Susannah and Karol meet under propitious circumstances when she first arrives in town -- but once the school opens, Karol's fears for Bronka seem to be realized, with Susannah arguably to blame.

Can they move past this daunting conflict? And if they do, can they overcome the religious and social obstacles between them?

¿This novel may be read as a stand-alone, although readers familiar with the Cowbird Creek series will encounter several favorite characters from the earlier books.