Helena was eight years old when she went on the SS Rotterdam from the Netherlands to America with her parents and siblings. It was difficult to move across the ocean, to a new land, and to learn a new language, not to mention the challenge of making new friends. But it made for a better life for Helena and her family. In Penny S. Ledbetter’s The Long Journey, readers can follow Helena’s life from the beginning journey across the Atlantic to the new life in Watha, North Carolina. She makes a friend on the voyage, and they exchange dolls, promising to keep in touch. But life goes on, and the friends are separated as they follow their own families to start over in a new land. The journey continues and goes full circle as she reaches old age and rediscovers this lost friend, bringing back together not only a destined friendship, but also the two dolls they exchanged so long ago. Life can be like that, going in full circle until it meets its conclusion.

Penny S. Ledbetter’s novel, The Long Journey, is based on the real life of the author’s great-aunt. It’s a work of historical fiction, making the read both informative and entertaining. Readers of all ages will enjoy following the life and struggles faced by an immigrant family, in particular one young girl, Helena, who will have readers’ hearts warming to her from the very beginning. The author has developed a plausible plot, along with characters, to bring her family history to life. I love the way the author developed her aunt’s character, revealing the changes she had to make to fit into American society and culture, but, at the same time, she retained her unique Dutch characteristics. This was so evident with the end note on the reconnection of Helena and her shipboard friend from all those years ago: “The hot tea and Dutch cookies are ready. I hope you brought the chocolate.” This is a compassionate retelling of a real-life story. Beautifully done! Loved it!

The Long Journey: De Lange Reis by Penny S. Ledbetter follows eight-year-old Helena Swart as her family leaves the Netherlands in 1912. Her father decides to move them to America for better jobs, forcing them to sell everything except Mama’s prized china. After a tight ten-day ocean crossing in third class, where she manages to find a kind friend named Elisabeth, Helena makes it to Ellis Island. The immigration process is terrifying, especially when her family gets temporarily split up during medical checks. Eventually, they make it to North Carolina to settle down at the Van Eeden farm colony, though their journey later pushes them to try other tenant farms. Life here is nothing like their old home. It is filled with endless chores, a tiny house, and unexpected hardships. Will Helena find a way to adapt to this challenging new world and keep her family’s spirits high?

The Long Journey by Penny S. Ledbetter is a historical novel for children that makes you feel like you are sitting right on the porch with the characters. The most memorable person in the story is definitely Helena herself. She comes across as a child who has to grow up fast because she has to help her parents manage the heavy burdens of a demanding new life. As the only daughter in a large family, Helena bears a large share of the daily household cooking and cleaning while looking after her younger siblings. Ledbetter does a wonderful job of showing how protective she is of her siblings, especially when she has to keep her little brothers out of harm’s way, making her someone you immediately care about. The story flows naturally as the family journeys from the cramped lower decks of their ship to a succession of different tenant farms across North Carolina. Experiencing this new, unfamiliar America directly through a young girl’s eyes makes every hardship feel very personal. Ledbetter’s writing style is simple and compelling, which is perfect for a story about hard work and family love. It is a sweet, touching look at history that keeps you rooting for Helena’s family in every chapter.