I enjoyed this, but after some years since reading it, I don't recall enough to discuss it. ( )

In reading this story, a reader is able to see the hardships of the Great Depression and how they affected people of all ages, sexes, and races at the time. The main character and narrator, Rose, is an elementary school girl, and throughout the story the reader gets a first-hand impression of her hunger and sadness at the time. Rose is also well-tuned to the frustration of her parents during this time- especially at her fathers growing anger as his farm continues to suffer due to dust storms. Rose also tells the tale of her neighbors and friends who had so many hardships due to the Dust Storms that they were forced to leave their home behind. Roses’ awareness of the world and people around her offered a true insight to a variety of people of the time.
The illustrations and photographs included in this novel made it infinitely more engaging for the reader. The historical fiction narrative is framed as a journal, and the illustrator included drawings that Rose would haver one herself, with captions written is pseudo-handwriting. Additionally, throughout the story are photographs taken during the 1930’s ‘pasted’ into the book with captions. The drawings served as an additional connection with the character, making her seem more relatable and offering information about her daily life that is not delivered in the main text. The photographs served as a reminder that this is historical fiction; although Rose may not have existed, her tale was lived my many Americans.
The message of this story is: even in the hardest times, there is a way to persevere. ( )

Summary: This is about an 11 year old girl living in the Great Depression. Her family owns a farm and they are experiencing dust storms, famine, and their crops are not growing to make any money. This book is written as a journal and has wonderful pictures from the era of the depression.

Personal Reaction: Once I started reading the book I could not put it down. It is very interesting to read about a time that we have not experienced in our livetimes. This is not a book that I would read in my classroom only because the formart might be a bit confusing. However maybe for an older age group.

Classroom Extention: 1. This book would be an excellent intro to a lesson the the Great Depression. 2. After reading this book the class could write their own journal about if they lived during the Great Depression.

This is a fiction book that is based upon the writings and recordings of real people living in the Dust Bowl and in New York City at the time of the Depression. It is an imaginative story but is meant ot provide a sense of people's actual experiences in time. It does not represent the life of any one person.

This book is about a girl who lives in the Depression times. how hard it is to get food. Raise cattle and crops and what it can do to a family. It is hard but her family has a plan ( )