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From Hardship to Hope invites us to walk into the complexities of two women's parallel universes. It is a fictionalized, shared autobiography. Some of the moments and experiences come from the authors' lives. Some do not. Ruby Blue, a pregnant, homeless, Black teen is temporarily housed with Zoe, a White, olding widow, as Covid-19 disrupts their lives.Their daily pace slows and after a stormy start, Zoe and Ruby Blue begin to build trust, sharing increasingly insightful life experiences as they stay together. Zoe knows her world through books and travel. Ruby Blue knows her world through life on the streets.At the same time, the pandemic clouds the pace of life, the Black Lives Matter movement roils out of the unrest and the inequalities-laid bare by Covid-19-showcasing differences in job prospects, educational possibilities, housing opportunities, health care access, and societal transformation. Together, the women struggle with these realities.Over time, Zoe and Ruby Blue share their defining stories. And some secrets. They talk about family differences in favorite foods, hair styles, skin care, and history. (The women have the same last name, with different spellings.) Then, carefully, yet often bluntly, they compassionately move to discussing tough topics, each from her own background. Race. Age. Gender. Poverty. Healthcare. Pregnancy. Adoption. Protesting. Policing. Incarceration. Death. Trust. Love.

Bill Steiner, a farm boy, has just completed his first year of studies at the University of Wisconsin. To return to college in the fall, he knows he needs extra money. He takes a job at a pea cannery where he manages a small group of men. One of them, an alcoholic, threatens Bill with a gun when Bill empties the worker's bottle. Later in the summer, Bill manages a small pickle factory. He is learning that being the boss is more than a little challenging. Working with men processing peas and pickles offers learning experiences for Bill well beyond what he expected.