Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 Summary

The summer heat of Siberia scorches the potatoes in their garden, making them nearly worthless. Esther goes to see 100 Men and a Girl with Deanna Durbin, who becomes their new super-heroine. All of the girls sing and dream to be like her. The children are also all made to do odd jobs on Sundays at various points during the summer. Sometimes it's construction work or helping nearby collective farms. They complain together, but they are spending time together so they don't mind it too much.

The Rudomins dig up their potato patch in September before the freeze begins. Their pull is very small and they wonder how they will survive. They receive a letter from an uncle in America, who sends them $50. They are grateful and use it to purchase food at the market, but Raya writes him in...