This is the story of Kit Kittredge, a young girl dealing with the loss of her father's job in 1930s America. The book paints a clear picture of the struggles and vast effects of the Great Depression in America as felt from the viewpoint of a young girl. As Kit faces the hardships of a difficult economy, she finds comfort in her friends and her dreams of becoming a journalist. The book is appropriate for children age 8 and up.
The Squire's Tale is set in the ever-inspiring time period of King Arthur. The story centers around an orphan named Terence, who becomes the squire for the kind and generous Sir Gawain. Gawain will soon join the ranks of the Round Table, and Terence and Sir Gawain share many adventures together. Terence's parentage remains a mystery, though it might be connected to the faery world. The emerging friendship between squire and master is one of the most appealing aspects of this book. The Squire's Tale is appropriate for children age 9 and up.
Alligator Bayou looks at the hardships and racism of the Jim Crow South through the eyes of a teenage boy from Italy. Calogero arrives from Sicily to join members of his extended family in a small town in the deep South, and he finds himself caught in the midst of the difficult relations between whites and blacks in those days. The story also looks at the racism felt by Italian immigrants and sheds light on how the difficult economy played a role in racism. Alligator Bayou is appropriate for children age 12 and up.
This tale is set against the backdrop of the Civil War. In it, the lovable hero, Homer, sets off on a quest to rescue his older brother who has been illegally conscripted into the Union Army. Along the way, Homer encounters a variety of interesting and larger-than-life characters. The book also discusses the mistreatment of blacks and orphans during the time period, and it culminates with a look at the Battle of Gettysburg. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is appropriate for children age 10 and up.