Polonia: From the Beginning — Geraldine Prusko

Polonia, From the Beginning is Book Two of the Series, The Polish Americans. Poles who came to America were one of many groups who arrived on its shores with new hopes and dreams. The families who settled in Milwaukee around the turn of the 20th century were bound together by culture, religion and language. Stoically, they faced the new world. 

In the early years, the immigrant families remained close to the customs of their native lands. Often rejected for their foreignness, or the threat they represented to more established groups, the residents of Polonia slowly make their contribution to the often changing society. In their adopted country, the sons and daughters begin the process of Americanization. The next generation, who sometimes forget their Polish heritage, think of themselves, primarily, as Americans.

Of those born in Poland, Peter and Ursula Zbikowski arrive with a son and a daughter. In America, they have six more children and grandchildren. The next to arrive, Albert and Sara Kubiak, also emigrated with two children and have a third in America. Their daughter, Irene, marries Peter and Ursula's son Luke. The Modjeski family comes from another part of Poland. Here, the husband, Frank, came first. He then sent for his wife, Anna, and their daughter, Helen. In America, Anna gives birth to six more children, expanding as farm families did in Poland.

    The drama is narrated by Olivia, a member of the current generation and a descendant of all of them. She ties the stories of the families together. Olivia is a gifted college student who interviews family members and looks at their historical papers and documents to fill in gaps in her knowledge of her ancestors. By understanding the trials of older generations, blood to her, she hopes to chase away the demons she faces in her own life.

In this account of family life and relationships, the reader learns what matters most, regardless of the circumstances. The dramatic, funny, unforgettable circumstances. Whether the characters are born in Poland or in America, their experiences, their problems and resolutions, resonate in the lives of us all.