Song of Sampo Lake by William Durbin. 2002; 217 pages; juvenile fiction.
For Matt Ojala and his family, Finnish immigrants to Minnesota in 1900, starting a new life in America is both a hardship and an opportunity. Owning a homestead in the wilderness means constant hard work and new challenges for the entire family. But it also means that Matti, the "in-between" child, has his chance to shine. Whether he's looking after his younger sisters, clerking in a general store, teaching English, or clearing the land with Father, Matti strives to prove himself and step out of his older brother Timo's shadow.
