Under a Ginkgo Tree and Other Stories is a beautiful collection of new Polish-American writings. With a light pen, Sana Szewczyk touches on often difficult subjects of change, love, and family through her stories about her life as an immigrant to the United States. Each chapter of Under a Ginkgo Tree is headed by an original illustration by Barbara Pantaralka, a talented Polish artist. The reader will find a peaceful retreat among the pages of the book to contemplate on the beauty of the world and laugh while reading about one person's ups and downs. Under a Ginkgo Tree is also an easy guide to the complex world of Polish culture and superstition. Many of the stories in the book have been published previously in a variety of newspapers and magazines in the United States. "A very old Polish superstition says if a ginkgo leaf falls on a person straight from the tree, they would fall in love with the first person they see. I wondered if this had happened to the person who found this leaf and carefully placed it in the book." - Under a Ginkgo Tree and Other Stories