Bibliographic Information: Freedman, Russell (2006) Children of the Great Depression. Houghton Mifflin Company, 101 pp.
Genre: Non-Fiction.
Awards. Golden Kite Award
Synopsis: Freedman illuminates the lives of the American children affected by the economic and social changes of the Great Depression. From Middle-class urban youth to migrant farm laborers, all Depression-era children and their families found themselves struggling for survival. The book portrays children who are faced with challenges like unemployed and demoralized parents, inadequate food and shelter, and schools they could not attend because they had to go to work or schools had closed their doors. However, the book also has its bright spots, such as some of the letters written by children to Eleanor Roosevelt. It also tells us about their favorite games and radio shows. Finally, it shows how young Americans were determined to survive.
Evaluative statement: The book is abundant with quotes, featuring the voices of those who endured the Depression. I especially liked the photos, all with captions including the date, which I feel really captured both the physical and emotional states of these children and their deplorable living and working conditions. These photos are a part of our history. By looking at this book, children of today can explore the lives of children in hard times. It really shows the effects the Depression had on children and what they suffered during this crisis in America. The book tells a story of how these young children were optimistic and never stopped believing that life would be better one day.
Possible classroom uses for the book: Read aloud to entire class, when class is reading The Grapes of Wrath.
Appropriate age range: Grades 5-8
My Personal Reaction: The book is straightforward and easy to read—making sense of even the stock market crash. It is an excellent introduction to the Depression years for younger readers.
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1 comment:
Hey Tonya!
This sounds like a really interesting book. I know that I still feel like I know very little about that time period and all of the hardships that people endured then, which is why I would love to read this. I also think it would be a great read for students, to help them become familiar with America's history. I also think, that especially in this day and age, young students do not realize the depth of the issues that kids their age went through during the depression. Maybe this could help them appreciate their own lives a little more :) Thanks for the great review!
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