Hearts of Iron — Kathleen Benner Duble

Jesse is a dreamer.
At fourteen he's already thinking about his future, and the excitement of Navy life is calling him.

Lucy is just the opposite.
She can't imagine ever leaving her beloved mountainside community or saying good-bye to those she cares about.

But despite their desires, these two best friends know that their futures have been decided for them. The year is 1820, and Jesse's parents expect him to continue in the family tradition of working at the forge on the mountain, while Lucy's father expects her to marry someone outside their community and find a better, more sophisticated life somewhere else. So what happens when family expectations clash with what's in a teenager's heart? Is it possible to find a balance between one's destiny and one's dreams -- or must these two friends risk everything to create their own path to happiness?

Hearts of Iron is a moving novel about family, friendship, the power of love, and the few precious opportunities we're given to set the course of our life.