Milina Jovanović offers a unique compilation of individual and family immigration stories that include enormous contributions to the development of California and significant community involvement. In this version of people’s history she chronicles how Serbian Americans have strengthened community, region, state, and country through the endeavors and struggles of 150 years. This book also focuses on women’s contributions that are too often overlooked. Ms. Jovanović’s study reveals that Jackson not only remains an original and symbolic home to Serbian Americans and Serbian Orthodox religion, but also an oasis where the Serbian community has preserved its positive reputation and social influence. .
Here is a book that gives us an accurate and engaging picture of the Serbs, an intelligent, tolerant, and democratic people. Here we can see how Serbian-Americans helped lead the way in the development of a viable and valuable society in California from Gold Rush days to modern times.
- Michael Parenti, author of "The Face of Imperialism", "To Kill a Nation: The Attack on Yugoslavia" and many other books
Every ethnic group in America deserves as fine a study as this about its contributions to the United States, but none more so than Serbian-Americans, whose achievements until this book have remained largely in the shadow of obscurity and discrimination resulting from a one-sided view of the Balkan wars of the 1990s.
- Joe Lauria, journalist and author of "Political Odyssey"
Jackson, California has long held a special place in the Serbian American community. In the deeply researched All Roads Lead to Jackson Milina Jovanović tells that story, expertly weaving together oral history with sociological and historical analysis. Here is the beautifully told account of an immigrant community that reaches back to the Gold Rush days.
- Greg Elich, Balkan expert, author of "Strange Liberators"
"All Roads Lead To Jackson" is a must read for anyone who is interested in learning about the positive impact that Serbs have played in this community and how, even today, Serbs still flock to Jackson on a regular basis to remember the sacrifices our fellow Serbs made and to continue building life-long friendships that have spanned generations. As a former camper who went to St. Sava Camp, it was very nostalgic to read about many of the key players, especially the women of the KSS (Kolo Srpskih Sestara), who worked diligently to preserve the Serbian religion, heritage and culture, while trying to create a better life for their families. It is refreshing to read how the residents of Jackson still value and appreciate the important role that Serbians have played, and continue to play, in the growth and development of Jackson.
- Bill Davidovich
