Through fortuitous circumstances and a little help from Kirsten and her brother Lars, the family acquires a nicer house. Larson to return from his job at a logging camp. The family moves in with relatives while waiting for Mr. The family's cabin burns down when the raccoon runs wild in the house and starts a fire. In Changes for Kirsten: A Winter Story (1988), Kirsten finds a baby raccoon and brings it home. The novel focuses on everyday life on the farm in Minnesota. In Happy Birthday, Kirsten!: A Springtime Story (1987), Kirsten celebrates her birthday with a day off from her chores, a party at a barn-raising, and the making of a friendship quilt.

She and her cousins plot to surprise everyone with a Saint Lucia celebration.

Kirsten is surprised to learn that her cousins in Minnesota are not familiar with this part of their heritage. Kirsten's Surprise: A Christmas Story (1986) centers on the Swedish Saint Lucia celebration. The family faces perils as they cross the Atlantic to New York and then travel to their new home in Minnesota. The novel is set in 1854 as the Larsons, Swedish immigrants, prepare to make a new life in Minnesota. Meet Kirsten: An American Girl (1986) introduces the character of ten-year-old Kirsten Larson and her family. In the mid-1980s, Shaw began writing juvenile novels for the Pleasant Company's American Girl series, centering on the characters Kirsten and Kaya. Her first novel, Taking Leave (1987), was aimed at an adult audience. She began her literary career writing poetry and short stories. Shaw has worked as a freelance writer and as a lecturer at several colleges. from Stephens College in 1957 and her B.A. Shaw was born on September 30, 1937, in Springfield, Illinois, to Russel Henry, a teacher, and Nadina, a homemaker. Part of the American Girl series, which focuses on the lives of young female protagonists in different time periods of American history, her novels are noted for their historical research and cultural sensitivity. Shaw is known for her accessible, historical novels aimed at a juvenile audience. (Full name Janet Beeler Shaw) American novelist, poet, and short story writer.

Meet Kirsten by Janet Shaw