Non-depressing Finds: Book Recommendations on the Great Depression and Dust Bowl

You wouldn’t believe how hard it was for us to find just three books/series to recommend. There are a lot, and I do mean a lot of good books on the Great Depression and Dust Bowl eras. Ranging from biographies, autobiographies, historical fiction and nonfiction, we had to really consolidate to find three we liked the best.

            But we got our work done, and as promised here are some books we recommend you read.

The Listening Tree

Celia Barker Lottridge

When Ellen and her mother leave the family farm to go live with Ellen’s aunt in Toronto, Canada, Ellen can’t imagine things getting much worse.

With her father traveling around Canada in hopes of finding work, Ellen struggles to find the courage to make friends with the neighborhood children. Her shyness holds her back and instead, she passes her time reading and sitting in her Listening Tree, a large tree next to her window where she can hear the neighbor children play and talk. But when she overhears a sinister plan, Ellen must overcome her fears to help the family next door in a time of crisis.

Walk alongside Ellen as she comes to find that to have a friend, you must be a friend.

What we like about this book: It had such a realistic feel to it, like you were really there along with Ellen and feeling what she was feeling. The writing was wonderful, there was a plot twist and the characters draw you in as good, realistic people struggling during the Great Depression.

Age Range: 7-14. Little children may not understand it very well as its written for a more mature audience. 

Audience: Mainly girls. Yet it might keep the interest of a boy reader, too.

Cautions: Though we have read this book before, it has been a couple years and we don’t quite remember the entire story. Marin doesn’t recall any objectionable content though, so we’ll give it clear passage! Reader discretion advised in case we missed something in it that wasn’t appropriate. 

Era: 1930s

Special Notes: Unlike most books, which focus on America during the Great Depression, this book gives you a whole new perspective as the author focuses on what it was like in Canada during the Depression and Dust Bowl.

* Kit: an American Girl

Meet Kit

Kit Learns a Lesson

Kit’s Surprise

Happy Birthday, Kit!

Kit saves the Day

Changes for Kit

By American Girls Collection and Valerie Tripp

Enjoy a good time and some provoking thoughts as you get to know Kit Kittredge, a young girl growing up in the Great Depression.

After her father loses his job, nine-year-old Kit is forced to accept the changes that come over her family. Boarders come to live with them, kids tease her about being poor and her father tries without success to find a job to support his family. That’s not all! From chickens to her Aunt coming for a visit, to no electricity for Christmas and a hobo needing her help, Kit finds that, no matter how hard and hopeless life may seem, you have to keep on hoping that it will get better. And it will.

What we like about this series: As one of the earlier collections by the American Girl company, Kit delivers good, clean stories, adventure and is packed full of historical facts that are presented in a fun and easy way. The characters are memorable, the stories fast pace and Kit’s personality gives the books a special touch. 

Age Range: 8-14, though younger girls might like to have these read to them.

Audience: Girls.

Cautions: None.

Era: 1934-1935

Special Notes: None.

* There are more books in about Kit, but these are the ones that we have read.

Blue Willow

By Doris Gates

Her most prized possession was a plate of her great-great-grandmother's, but when worst comes to worst Janey has to chose what’s the most important to her.

Ten-year-old Janey Larkin can barely remember what her home in Texas was like. All she can remember was the dust and that they had to leave. Now in the San Joaquin valley in California, Janey is used to moving from town to town, wherever her father can get work. Because of this she chooses not to make friends, she hates having to say goodbye to them when she has to move on. But this summer is different, this summer she might actually have a permanent home in the valley, and friends like Lupe, the girl across the road.

Join Janey as she finds that hope can conquer all, even when life throws its meanest curveballs at you.

What we like about this book: The dialogue is lively and Janey’s way of thinking will bring a chuckle to many a reader. Her friends are loyal and add a special touch to the story, and Janey’s encounters with the main antagonist, Bounce Reyburn, though serious, can sometimes have a funny twist to them.

Age Range: 7-14

Audience: Though the main character is a girl, we think boys and girls would enjoy this book.

Cautions: None

Era: 1930s

Special Notes: This book really promotes the importance of friendship, no matter how often you move around, friends are worth making.

            Come back next week when Marin and I head to Washington to get some serious work done to help the Great Depression!