DEAR AMERICA: Depression

I was going to pair the Dear America and Dear Canada depression books, but I just finished Minnie's and figured I'd go ahead and review it.

First thing, look at that picture on the cover. If you ever wanted a real life Kit Kittredge, there you go.

Like Kit, Minnie's a young girl during the Great Depression. However, Minnie comes from a much larger and wealthier family. Their house is so large that they've had to close off rooms because they can't afford to heat them all.

Minnie has three older sisters: Gwen, Clem and Lady (Adelaide). Her younger brother is Ozzie. Their father is an accountant. At the beginning of the book, they get a telegram and are surprised to learn an orphan is coming their way. Their cousin Willie Faye arrives the next day by train and she's a teeny little thing, though actually older than Minnie.

Willie Faye is easily the best character in this book and that's saying quite a bit, because every one of the characters is very likeable. Minnie's family is like Kit's. You just love everyone.

The depression hasn't hit the Swifts as badly as other families. They don't have the best food, but they do always eat, and it's probably halfway through the book before the father loses his job. There are plenty of depression stories of bad things happening to other families though.

Minnie's book is very unusual for a DA, because it takes place over just a single month. Minnie writes a lot though, so it's still a sizeable book.

Minnie is one of the few DA girls who got a rerelease book that actually has her art look somewhat like her original photo. Although she looks quite a bit older here!

I'd give this one a high recommend. It's a bit of a whirlwind story, what with taking place over only a month, and the cast is pretty big, but it's a very good read and well worth reading for the character of Willie Faye alone.