The 1930s: Directions

Century Kids #4

by Dorothy Hoobler, Thomas Hoobler

In the summer of 1936, Tony runs away from his home above his family's Italian restaurant in Chicago, while in Berlin David is present at the Olympics and prepares to move to America.

159 pages, Library Binding

First published July 20, 2000

About the author

Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, a married couple who have written numerous books together, were drawn to this story of great writers inspiring each other collaboratively. Their most recent novel, In Darkness, Death, won a 2005 Edgar Award. They live in New York City.

Series:
* Samurai Detective
* Century Kids
* Her Story
* Images Across The Ages
* American Family Album

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in a series called Century Kids. Each book features a family in a certain decade. This book is the 1930s. I really enjoyed this book. There are historical facts mixed with the fiction. There are real photos from historical places and events. I read book #1 some time ago and I recognized the family in that book as having a part in this one, even if they were off camera most of the time, so the story is sort of a continuing one following people through the decades.

In this book it is 1936, height of the depression, and 13 year-old Tony runs away from home to go to California. His adventures on the way, hopping boxcars, hitching rides, and going hungry are not fun. Meanwhile, the Olympics are beginning in Berlin and there is a part-Jewish family there descended from the Aldrich family featured in book #1. Hitler in all his scary glory is at the Olympics.

These books are fast reads with less than 170 pages.