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Brooklyn to Yellowstone:: A 1933 Civilian Conservation Corps Odyssey
This historical novel is a hybrid, containing the actual journal a 19-year-old man kept from April 1933, when he joined the CCCs, through his tour in Yellowstone Park, and his return home to Brooklyn in September.
Using the journal verbatim as a plot device, the bulk of the book contains what he might have omitted, what he might have been, the relationships he might have formed, the deaths he might have experienced, and the lover he might have left behind in Montana.
The son of Sicilian immigrants at the height of the Depression, this young man's future was grim. But then he joined the CCCs, and everything changed. He became a man, both physically and emotionally. His body grew stronger each day, and he took on tasks he never would have attempted before. He climbed trees and mountains, cleared heavy vegetation for trails and roads, fought raging forest fires, and slept under the stars when he could take a break from the fires. He became a leader of men, rather than a follower of boys, which he had been back in Brooklyn.
Sicilian parents shaped their children, especially their sons, through a series of unwritten rules, designed to help young Italian men navigate life's challenges in a new country. This man's conflict revolves around the fundamental Young men must not leave Brooklyn; they should meet and marry an Italian woman (preferably Sicilian) and settle near the man’s parents. He witnessed this all around him before he left. But his experiences in Yellowstone and its surrounding towns affected him. Does he stay in Montana with the woman he madly loves, or does he leave her behind?
All this takes place in the background of the Depression and includes passages from FDR's Inauguration speech and Fireside Chats, which inspired this young man. He sees bread lines, the homeless living in Hoovervilles, and the Boxcar Children. He visits the Chicago World's Fair en route to Montana. And he takes in everything Yellowstone has to offer--the wildlife, the geysers, the hot springs, and the fresh air.
Using the journal verbatim as a plot device, the bulk of the book contains what he might have omitted, what he might have been, the relationships he might have formed, the deaths he might have experienced, and the lover he might have left behind in Montana.
The son of Sicilian immigrants at the height of the Depression, this young man's future was grim. But then he joined the CCCs, and everything changed. He became a man, both physically and emotionally. His body grew stronger each day, and he took on tasks he never would have attempted before. He climbed trees and mountains, cleared heavy vegetation for trails and roads, fought raging forest fires, and slept under the stars when he could take a break from the fires. He became a leader of men, rather than a follower of boys, which he had been back in Brooklyn.
Sicilian parents shaped their children, especially their sons, through a series of unwritten rules, designed to help young Italian men navigate life's challenges in a new country. This man's conflict revolves around the fundamental Young men must not leave Brooklyn; they should meet and marry an Italian woman (preferably Sicilian) and settle near the man’s parents. He witnessed this all around him before he left. But his experiences in Yellowstone and its surrounding towns affected him. Does he stay in Montana with the woman he madly loves, or does he leave her behind?
All this takes place in the background of the Depression and includes passages from FDR's Inauguration speech and Fireside Chats, which inspired this young man. He sees bread lines, the homeless living in Hoovervilles, and the Boxcar Children. He visits the Chicago World's Fair en route to Montana. And he takes in everything Yellowstone has to offer--the wildlife, the geysers, the hot springs, and the fresh air.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 2, 2024
Historical fiction is my favorite genre. Knowing that the author built the story around actual journal entries and that the character of Brooklyn itself played such a major role, made this a particularly enjoyable read. The story of Duke’s experiences in the CCC and Yellowstone Park were exciting, and the details included about the Depression era really brought this period to life for me. I think this would also be a terrific read for mature young adult readers.
September 14, 2024
Very enjoyable read! Mike sheds light on a time most of us have heard of but know little about. He weaves his story around a diary his father kept during the great depression and his six months enrolled in the CCC. It's a quick, easy read and well written with personal insights into what that time period was like for a Brooklyn NY youth.
December 21, 2024
This historical fiction piece is based off the real journal of the author’s father at 19, as he left his Italian family in New York to go work for the the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a public works program that provided jobs for young men during the Great Depression. I enjoyed getting a snapshot of a traditional Italian family and their customs and beliefs, and then getting a first-hand account of traveling west to Yellowstone and all of the adventures that transpired. This coming of age book has a little bit of everything: laughter, sadness, tragedy, hijinks, inspiration, and of course a peek into the 1930s and what life and people’s values were like. I really enjoyed the book and it can easily be devoured in a few days even though my work schedule made the reading journey a bit longer for me. Highly Recommend!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews