Monday, September 12, 2011

R My Name is Rachel by Patricia Reilly Giff

The Great Depression forced people to move to find jobs and often split families apart.  This is the story of Rachel, the oldest of three children...

Wendy Lamb Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has already been published, so you can find a copy at your local bookstore.  I've read many of Ms. Giff's books (she's a two-time Newbery honor winner), but this one particularly touched me.

Rachel is a young girl who finds herself uprooted from city life and moved to a farm.  The farm is run down, there are holes in the roof and there's not much furniture.  But the rent is cheap...

Pop had a job in the bank, which closed down in the Depression.  The job he moved for disappeared when he was snowed in and unable to get to the interview.  He worked for a grocer for food, but soon the grocer had to close, too.  He had no choice but travel further and hope the project he was working on would eventually pay him wages. In the meantime, the three children are left home alone.

As you watch Rachel give up her dreams and settle into being the matriarch of the family, it's very easy to see yourself in her shoes.  She refuses to give up, despite her young age.

This an excellent story of children coming of age and a family working together to better themselves.  It's also a good lesson on how life was during the days of the Great Depression.  Why not share this knowledge with your young adult?

Happy reading.

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