With immigration a popular subject these days, this is a heart-warming story based on the true experiences of young Jewish immigrants in the 1930s who, more than anything else, wanted to become true Americans. Although Pavel is Jewish, his experience is the universal experience of American immigrants and indeed many of his co-workers in the CCC were also once immigrants.

Heidi Smith Hyde is the director of education of Temple Sinai in Brookline, Massachusetts. Her books include Feivel's Flying Horses, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist, and Mendel's Accordion, winner of the Sugarman Award.