Irina — John R. Dann

A sequel to "The Good Neighbors," "Irina" takes place in 1932 and is the story of the last member of the Romanian Dacia family, the lead dancer of the Romanian State Folk Dance Ensemble, Irina, who plans to defect when the Ensemble reaches New York City at the beginning of its tour of America. Irina has been marked for death by the Iron Guard in Romania, a group trying to regain control of the country by spreading fear and hate. She sends a letter, through friends, to her Uncle Joseph in South Dakota, hoping that he can help her escape, but doesn't know if he has even received the letter. Her main persecutor is Deben, the lead male dancer of the ensemble, whose mission is to kill her before the troupe returns to Romania. Irina finds help in foiling Deben's plans when she makes a new friend on board the ship to America, Mrs. Ida Epstein, a woman of experience, courage, wealth, and compassion who puts herself at risk also to protect Irina. On their farm in South Dakota, the Dacia family receive the letter and in spite of having little money or resources, find a way to obtain a car, and with their singing and fighting neighbor August Wagner, Joseph and his wife Elizabeth, make a road trip from South Dakota to New York City. There are repercussions from the Chicago gangsters of "The Good Neighbors" as well as new involvement with the Greek mob in Sioux City, Iowa. In spite of the difficulties of the road trip, the group arrives in New York and confronts the treachery of the Iron Guard in Irina's rescue. Other surprises await the group in New York, and back on the farm as the Dacias continue their efforts to become "real" Americans and to grasp the "American Dream" of progress, tolerance, fair play, and neighbors helping neighbors.