In 1939, two young sisters disembark from a train in a strange land. They have arrived in Sweden and are about to meet their new “families.” Stephie and Nellie are among a trainload of Jewish children who have been spirited out of Austria to the relative safety of Sweden. The transition is difficult— new language, food, customs, religion—especially with no friends and an all consuming concern for their parents’ safety. A Faraway Island, the recipient of the 2010 Batchelder Award for translation, is the first of four books about the Steiner sisters and their life in Sweden during World War II. 2010 US BBY Outstanding International Books List, 2010 Mildred L. Batchelder Award, 2010 Sydney Taylor Honor Award. lmp

Originally published as En ö I Havet in Swedish by Bonnier Carlsen Sweden, in 1996. Translated by Linda Schenck.