This year in 4th grade we are reading Willow Creek Home/A Paradise Called Texas it is about a German family that moves from Germany to Texas.   Mina and Papa go through tough times in this book.  They move to Texas for land to live on and crops to plant.  You will see that some of the main characters in both books.  They soon discover that there are Indians that kidnap Mina she gets away but not with out any cuts her hands have no skin on them after that.  You should really read these books they are really good.