Anna's Fight for Hope: The Great Depression

Sisters in Time #20

by JoAnn A. Grote

"Twenty-five percent unemployment, food lines, banks and businesses closing. . . The Great Depression was not only a national catastrophe, but a personal one, as well. Follow the fictional story of Anna Harrington to see how this time of upheaval affected a twelve-year-old girl who saw her friends and acquaintances devastated by economic events. Written especially for eight- to twelve-year-old girls, this very personal story shows the beauty of friendship while at the same time teaching important lessons of Christian faith and American history. ""Anna's Fight for Hope"" is ideal for anytime reading and an excellent resource for homeschooling."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Childrens, Middle Grade, Historical, Fiction

105 pages, ebook

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

JOANN GROTE lives in Minnesota, where she grew up. She uses the state for most of her story settings, and like her characters, JoAnn seeks to serve Christ in her work. She believes that readers of novels can receive a message of salvation and encouragement from well-crafted fiction. She has over 35 books to her credit, including novels, "The American Adventure" series for children, and the "Heartsong Presents Inspirational Romance" series. She captivates and addresses the deeper meaning between life and faith.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pre Teens- Two Stars
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This book mentioned a few things (like a baby being kidnapped and later found dead & seeing a rabbit killed) that I think younger readers might have sensitivity towards. Depends on the reader, of course, but would probably be best for an adult to read along with them.


{{Official Content Review to Come.}}


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a younger girls' book (the book suggests from 8-12), this was definitely well written! I liked the characters, Chet being my favorite, and the way the three main characters (Dot, Anna, and Fred) interacted with each other. Nobody seemed like a little brat and it was actually interesting to read about them and the occasional other POVs that popped up, sometimes featuring Fred's POV or Anna's, for example.
The history surrounding the Great Depression was written into the story pretty well, though sometimes it felt like a lot of info (simplified, yes, but kind of boring) when the families were listening to the radio and that it was just sort of put in there because it needed to explain what was going on. It didn't happen too often, though.
I think that this book is good for readers who have enjoyed the American Girl Doll series such as Molly or Kirsten or Addy. It totally reminded me of that. If this book is anything like the others in the Sisters in Time series, I might suggest those, too.

It was a bit funny reading a book with the main character having the same name as myself.

Content:
Language: N/A
Sexy Stuff/Romance: N/A
Violence: A baby was kidnapped "That March, Charles Lindbergh’s baby, a boy who was named for his famous flying father, had been kidnapped from his crib. The kidnappers had demanded money, and the Lindberghs gave them fifty thousand dollars, but they didn’t get the baby back. Two months later, the baby was found dead." , a rabbit was hit with a slingshot for food, and someone recalls their friend dying on the traintracks "Then he was gone, just slipped under the wheels of that train. He died." (dialogue) . Some talk about American troops pushing Marchers out of town "The radio report went on. “At four-thirty this afternoon, General Douglas MacArthur led American troops from near the White House down Pennsylvania Avenue. First came the cavalry, then the army, then tanks. At first, the Bonus Marchers cheered the troops, saluting them as they passed. Their cheers turned to cries of fear as the cavalry began pushing the veterans back with the flat sides of their swords. After they’d pushed the veterans many blocks back, the soldiers put on gas masks and carried bayonets. They tossed tear gas bombs into abandoned buildings where Bonus Marchers were staying, forcing the veterans out of the buildings.” Tears ran down Dot’s face. Anna’s chest hurt because she felt so sorry for her friend. “Right now,” the reporter’s deep voice said, “orange flames are shooting up from the main camp of the Bonus Marchers. Hundreds of tents and lean-tos built of newspapers, cardboard boxes, and packing crates are being burned by the army. The Bonus Marchers and any wives and children with them have been cleared out. Smoke and the smell of burning cloth fill the air. Ambulances are carrying off men who have been injured. Many men’s eyes are still streaming from the tear gas.”"


Maybe learning to love and help each other is the most important thing God is teaching us.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in segments as history read aloud in preparation for great depression lessons coming up. My 8.5 yr old daughter really enjoyed it and I learned so much about that time that I either never remembered from history lessons long ago or never learned. I can see how the great depression would have a lasting impact on those who lived through it. The sheer stress of being out of work, possibly losing a home, having so many family members dependent on you, trying to find out how to get enough food, etc. Such a difficult time in history.

[Renee Zamora · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really cool learning all about the different types of programs that were implemented during the Great Depression. All the characters were lovable, and it just flowed smoothly.
If you like the American Girl books, especially Kit (since her story is also set during this time), you're bound to love this too.

[Anna Murdock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading this to Katie and Nicole, we enjoyed this book, there is a lot of history in it. I didnt think the writing was great, but the historical facts we interesting. We enjoyed it, and learned a lot.

[Ille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the 'Sisters in Time' series follows 12-year-old Anna Harrington and her cousin, Fred who live during the Great Depression.
For me, the last sentence sums the book up nicely: Maybe learning to love and help each other is the most important thing God is teaching us.

[Brooklynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to my children. It has a lot of info about what the United States was going through at the end of the Great Depression.

[Evan Whitlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this historical fiction for kids about the Great Depression. Learned some things too.

[Heidi Kuipers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Entertaining and so much good info, but very sad...

[Debora Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about the Great Depression for 8-12 year olds.

Times are tough for Anna Harrington. But times are even tougher for some of her friends, who’ve been devastated by the Great Depression. Dot’s family is hungry and may lose their home, while Chet, riding the rails as a hobo in search of work, is in trouble with the law. Twelve-year-old Anna and her cousin, Fred, watch in sorrow as others suffer, wondering what they can do to show God’s love to their friends.

The characters were very well developed and likable. I was drawn into the story and actually learned quite a bit about the Great Depression that I had never known before. I’ve checked some of the facts that were new to me and found them to be accurately portrayed.

This book has captured my interest in learning more about this period in America's history.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book is from the "Sisters in Time" series, it's a great book for both boys and girls. This book takes place during the Great Depression. Reading this book taught me more about the events and politics of this time period--and helped me "feel" the incredible suffering of the unemployed.

[Brooke]

I have this book, it also looks good!!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good book, one of the best book-with-children-in-them that I have ever read!! it's a great book for boys and girls, even though there is a girl on the front. Recommended!!!!

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, it described the american people getting through the depression times.
I would recommend to my friends who don't like to read thick books but a lovely story.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were certainly a lot of historical details about the Great Depression included in this book, but it wasn't very well-written. Much of it felt forced and it didn't always flow very well.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good:)