The Spyglass: A Childhood in Finland and Sweden - Paperback

by Carol Makela (Editor), George Makela (Author)

The Spyglass - A Childhood in Finland and Sweden traces a young boy's childhood in Helsinki and the Finnish countryside in the years leading up to the Winter War and the following three years when he was sent to live with a foster family in Sweden in the early 1940's. The story includes his return to Helsinki and emigration to the United States with his single mother, their arrival in New York City, and a journey by train to Berkeley, California in 1947. The memoir culminates with a return to Finland and Sweden 28 years later. The book's themes include wartime, nature, entrepreneurialism, immigration, and the love of adventure. The afterword, written by the late-author's daughter, explores how memories of ancestors live inside us and celebrates the spirit of hope and renewal for future generations.