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Dear Canada
Dear Canada: Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen, Toronto, Ontario, 1932
Coping with being poor during the Depression is hard enough, but Sally also has to contend with anti-Jewish sentiment when she ventures outside her familiar neighbourhood near Toronto's Kensington Market. Her cousin Benny is always getting into scrapes or dragging Sally into his hare-brained schemes. But it's also Benny who tries to open Sally's eyes to the wider world, telling her about Hitler's rise in Europe and urging her to stand up for herself when she comes across anti-Semitism.
A historical note gives readers the background of the Depression, which hit Canada harder than most other countries. It also describes the way Jews were treated in Canada. Today's readers might be surprised to know that there were people in Toronto who prided themselves on being part of The Swastika Club. A map, photographs and documents provide a visual context for the story.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2007
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992 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 1, 2020
Now with many if not most of the Dear Canada fictional diaries that I had read before joining Goodreads in 2009 (and that are often still languishing on my to-read list as unreviewed), I am of course planning on rereading them before I finally post a review. But no, I will indeed NOT bother doing so with Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen, since I did not at at ALL enjoy Perry Nodelman's featured text when I read Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen in 2007 and have definitely mostly found Sally Cohen's imagined journal musings annoyingly frustrating and in no way even remotely a reading pleasure (and because yes, I just also and really do not feel up to rereading a narrative that I have found so unenjoyable I actually had to constantly skim and skip huge sections of in order to be able to even complete Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen and not give up).
For while Perry Nodelman does certainly capture a very realistic sense of time and of place in Sally Cohen's fictional diary (Depression era Toronto, Canada, with its economic woes and wide-spread joblessness, as well as issues regarding rising anti-Semitism in 1930s Canada), I for one have from the first printed words of Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen found Sally's voice while perhaps age appropriate also absolutely inauthentic with regard to gender, with how Perry Nodelman presents Sally Cohen and her fictional diary never really feeling like she, like Sally truly is a girl, but rather more like a boy in disguise, like I am reading a male voice pretending to be female, not deliberately done so of course, but I just do not think that Perry Nodelman ever truly captures Sally as being in any way feminine enough and as such also sufficiently authentic and relatable.
And indeed, the inherent inauthenticity of Nodelman's narration, of how he in my opinion is unable to render Sally into a gender appropriate narrator, this has also truly and lastingly lessened my potential reading pleasure regarding Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen and to the point of me only considering but one star as a rating. Because yes, if there is one thing that I personally cannot abide and stomach when reading especially first person narration, it is indeed voices that feel false, and to and for me, Sally just does not ever in Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen show herself as though she even a totally ny bit mirrors whom and what she is in fact supposed to be, that there is really nothing in her fictional diary entries that I have found girl appropriate, that Perry Nodelman in my opinion truly makes his Sally Cohen feel not at all realistic as a girl, as someone who is supposed to be inherently female.
For while Perry Nodelman does certainly capture a very realistic sense of time and of place in Sally Cohen's fictional diary (Depression era Toronto, Canada, with its economic woes and wide-spread joblessness, as well as issues regarding rising anti-Semitism in 1930s Canada), I for one have from the first printed words of Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen found Sally's voice while perhaps age appropriate also absolutely inauthentic with regard to gender, with how Perry Nodelman presents Sally Cohen and her fictional diary never really feeling like she, like Sally truly is a girl, but rather more like a boy in disguise, like I am reading a male voice pretending to be female, not deliberately done so of course, but I just do not think that Perry Nodelman ever truly captures Sally as being in any way feminine enough and as such also sufficiently authentic and relatable.
And indeed, the inherent inauthenticity of Nodelman's narration, of how he in my opinion is unable to render Sally into a gender appropriate narrator, this has also truly and lastingly lessened my potential reading pleasure regarding Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen and to the point of me only considering but one star as a rating. Because yes, if there is one thing that I personally cannot abide and stomach when reading especially first person narration, it is indeed voices that feel false, and to and for me, Sally just does not ever in Not a Nickel to Spare: The Great Depression Diary of Sally Cohen show herself as though she even a totally ny bit mirrors whom and what she is in fact supposed to be, that there is really nothing in her fictional diary entries that I have found girl appropriate, that Perry Nodelman in my opinion truly makes his Sally Cohen feel not at all realistic as a girl, as someone who is supposed to be inherently female.
July 2, 2015
I don't understand why this book has such a low rating. It is probably one of the most realistic and historically accurate book in the entire series. At least it touches on not only the depression but the rise of Hitler. Not only this but it talks about how this was like for Jews in Canada, something not many people really touch on. This was one of the first books I read in this series, and in my opinion, one of the best books in the series.
August 2, 2025
1 star & 1/10 hearts. This must be the worst Dear Canada book there is. Sally is weird and ungirlish, her family is nasty, and there are a couple scenes set in a bar with some bad comments. I very much disliked this book and I don’t intend to pick up another book by the author—at least not without very good recommendation.
October 15, 2016
This was truly realistic. I loved that the character of Sally was so accurately immature in that she is definitely eleven years old with age-appropriate thoughts and opinions. I also liked that this took place not in a traditional kind of diary but a scribbler.
December 6, 2012
I've read a few of the 'Dear Canada' books but this is without a doubt my favourite. Sally Cohen's diary really touched me and pulled at the heart strings. Being from Toronto, I really liked reading about places I knew but what really got me, was the racist attitudes the Torontonians had in the 1930s. I've always been proud to be Canadian in this multi-cultured city and I had never imagined that Canadians were so racist and (some) even supported Hitler in those days. Then to read that Canada had pretty much closed their doors to Jews fleeing the Nazis made me so angry and upset. In all honesty, this book made me change the way I thought of my country. The rose-tinted glasses have been taken off.
I'm so glad I've read this book. It was a little snap-shot of life for a young Jewish girl living in Toronto during the depression. It opened my eyes and made me appreciate the time I'm living in now- where racism and intolerance to religious beliefs are not acceptable in society. I think that's the whole point to these little books. Little girls reading these can look at what they have and what world they live in and be a little more grateful.
Of all the books in the series I've read so far, this book has been the most touching and the message is spoken loud and clear.
I'm so glad I've read this book. It was a little snap-shot of life for a young Jewish girl living in Toronto during the depression. It opened my eyes and made me appreciate the time I'm living in now- where racism and intolerance to religious beliefs are not acceptable in society. I think that's the whole point to these little books. Little girls reading these can look at what they have and what world they live in and be a little more grateful.
Of all the books in the series I've read so far, this book has been the most touching and the message is spoken loud and clear.
May 23, 2016
This was a well-researched book on life during the depression in Toronto. I enjoyed the details about food eaten, school days and the constant search for work. I also appreciated that the author included many stories about his own parents living during this time. However, I felt in some ways that Benny should have been the main character in the story. It seemed like Sally lived a lot of her story through her cousin and that things might have been more interesting from his perspective. I also thought the book could have used a bit of tightening. However, I learned a lot and would recommend it for students interested in this time period.
June 13, 2023
Not very enjoyable. The only time she seems to write is to complain that she's bored until her cousin starts getting into trouble. And I really didn't enjoy the reverse racism. She doesn't seem to be able to form opinions of her own about the gentiles, she just lets her father's experiences color her judgment. Her father doesn't speak English very well, so of course he doesn't really have a good experience with any gentile. I don't think I'm going to read this one again.
February 23, 2014
Not a Nickel to Spare is about Sally Cohen, a young girl who faces the difficulties of depression. But on top of worrying about having enough money to survive, Sally also faces the difficulties of being a jewish. With her cousin, Benny, Sally has many exciting adventures that help Sally face her fears and learn more about being jewish.
I picked up this book because Mr.Gould told us to try the Dear Canada series, I also realised that I haven't read a historical fiction book in a while. So I decided to go look at all the Dear Canada books that were in, I read the all the book's back. I decided to take this one because I read another book about a young girl in the time of depression and I loved the book. The book was called That Scatterbrain Booky, it was fantastic.
I finished this book because I admired every page of it, my favourite part of the book was that it was written as if Sally was actually writing in it. This book also helped me learn a lot about the Great Depression in Canada. It also made me realise what a tragedy the Great Depression was, this was another reason why I couldn't put this book down, because I was learning so much. And even though Sally and her life may have been fictional it hurt to know that there were many people in her situation and in situations much worse.
I would recommend this book to Sashini because Sashini knows a lot about history, and she knows even more about Hitler. And even though this book takes place in Canada, Sally talks a lot about the Nazis and Hitler in Germany. I think Sashini will like this book just as much as I did and probably even more.
I picked up this book because Mr.Gould told us to try the Dear Canada series, I also realised that I haven't read a historical fiction book in a while. So I decided to go look at all the Dear Canada books that were in, I read the all the book's back. I decided to take this one because I read another book about a young girl in the time of depression and I loved the book. The book was called That Scatterbrain Booky, it was fantastic.
I finished this book because I admired every page of it, my favourite part of the book was that it was written as if Sally was actually writing in it. This book also helped me learn a lot about the Great Depression in Canada. It also made me realise what a tragedy the Great Depression was, this was another reason why I couldn't put this book down, because I was learning so much. And even though Sally and her life may have been fictional it hurt to know that there were many people in her situation and in situations much worse.
I would recommend this book to Sashini because Sashini knows a lot about history, and she knows even more about Hitler. And even though this book takes place in Canada, Sally talks a lot about the Nazis and Hitler in Germany. I think Sashini will like this book just as much as I did and probably even more.
June 6, 2019
I continue to be embarrassed by how little history I remember from school (or how little I was actually taught).
This is another installment in the "dear Canada" series, and this one is set in Toronto during the Great Depression. It is told from the viewpoint of a young Jewish girl. It is a good addition to the series - a well-told story of a difficult time in history. Sally is very relatable, and I enjoyed hearing what she had to say.
It horrified me to discover that there were pro-Nazi rallies in Canada during the depression. Hitler was just getting going in Europe, and there were people in Canada who liked what he had to say. I didn't realize there was such anti-Semitism here at the time. I am sure the incredible stresses of the Depression added to the racism, making people behave worse than they would normally, but once the Depression was over, did all of that hate just disappear? I don't know but I suspect not all of it.
I had thought that Canada was better than this, especially considering what's going on in the world today. But it's better to look at your own history with wide-open eyes, so you can look forward and try to improve.
Another excellent book in this wonderful series!
This is another installment in the "dear Canada" series, and this one is set in Toronto during the Great Depression. It is told from the viewpoint of a young Jewish girl. It is a good addition to the series - a well-told story of a difficult time in history. Sally is very relatable, and I enjoyed hearing what she had to say.
It horrified me to discover that there were pro-Nazi rallies in Canada during the depression. Hitler was just getting going in Europe, and there were people in Canada who liked what he had to say. I didn't realize there was such anti-Semitism here at the time. I am sure the incredible stresses of the Depression added to the racism, making people behave worse than they would normally, but once the Depression was over, did all of that hate just disappear? I don't know but I suspect not all of it.
I had thought that Canada was better than this, especially considering what's going on in the world today. But it's better to look at your own history with wide-open eyes, so you can look forward and try to improve.
Another excellent book in this wonderful series!
December 19, 2014
I began reading the book because I was waiting a history essay on the Great Depression and also because I like the Dear Canada series. However, this particular book was not that great because I found that Sally repeated things a little too much. And I know that she's Yiddish but she used a little too many Yiddish words and I was constantly turning to the glossary at the back of the book to understand what was going on.
February 4, 2016
In this book Sally got a notebook from her cousin Benny and started a diary. Right after, everyone was going crazy and fighting because people didn't like Jewish people. Then her dad got into jail. Luckily her dad got out, and got a better job. Sally was the only one in the family to go to school. The rest of her sisters worked at her uncle's factory. Her dad kept changing jobs and so did Benny. I learned that you shouldn't fight, because it makes everything worse. Auryn 12 years old, 2016
June 13, 2017
This book was very fascinating and it gave me a lot of insight of life during the Great Depression as well as opinions on Jewish "sticking to your own kind." I never really realized how families could have different rules about religious mingling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2020
3.5/5
Sally Cohen is growing up in a family of 5 girls with her Jewish immigrant parents. Her family worked hard and faced many challenging times, together. They did not always agree but they made the best of hard times.
Unfortunately, Toronto was not as welcoming during this era. People stayed within their own nationality or religious group. School children did not play or associate with other.
There are many incidents which thankfully would be unacceptable, today.
The book is well researched including loosely based stories from the authors parents.
An eye opening book for the time, locally, nationally and internationally.
Part of the Dear Canada series
Sally Cohen is growing up in a family of 5 girls with her Jewish immigrant parents. Her family worked hard and faced many challenging times, together. They did not always agree but they made the best of hard times.
Unfortunately, Toronto was not as welcoming during this era. People stayed within their own nationality or religious group. School children did not play or associate with other.
There are many incidents which thankfully would be unacceptable, today.
The book is well researched including loosely based stories from the authors parents.
An eye opening book for the time, locally, nationally and internationally.
Part of the Dear Canada series
December 26, 2018
A great book to better understand what it is do be without.
July 27, 2021
Sally Cohen is a young jewish girl with 3 older sisters and 2 younger. Her parents came over from Europe legally many years ago, though they seem to refuse to learn more then the minimal amount of English. Her three older sisters all work in their uncle's clothing factory and give the majority of their wages to their parents. Her father is mostly a seasonal worker, going out to farms to bring produce back into the city to sale to the grocers. During the winter he seems to pick up odd jobs such as stacking crates or packaging cookies at a plant.
Even with 4 incomes the family seems to struggle to pay their rent and keep more then just potatoes and oatmeal on the table. Yet occasionally they seem to be able to splurge on things like going to the lake and renting a cottage to stay in for a week, her father smokes the a chimney. Or buying dance shoes. Or waffle, or movies. But it's not as bad as the Dear America counterpart where the girls were constantly going out and spending money on stupid things (movies) while they had to shut down a section of their house to preserve coal.
Anyhow, her father seems a bit set in his ways and spends some time jobless, then bouncing from job to job before spring comes again and he can start driving, which he seems to prefer to do. Her sisters are pretty boring, though two of them have a turn at sneaking out to see their Bo. Her cousin Benny seems to constantly hop jobs (he's only 14 I believe) and eventually starts talking of unions and trying to rally people together to create one. This, however, seems to take a back seat when things start building up to the riot that took place out at "The Pits." This actually seems to be the climax of the book with it spanning several entries which are each several pages long. Then the diary just stops and moves to the epilogue.
While Sally talks of Hobos and such, I actually feel like the Dear America one (though the family struggle or lack thereof wasn't realistic) does a better job of displaying just how bad things got for some people during the depression. The Dear Canada seems to tone that down rather significantly only mentioning "hobos" who sleep on the benches in the park type deal. The Indianapolis one talked about the homeless having to take over a section of town and how they made their shovels out of the materials available to them. According to this book, this was not such a huge thing in Toronto, which I highly doubt.
Anyhow, it was alright and only took me part of the day to muddle through, though I do confess to taking frequent breaks.
Might be time to shift genres again.
Even with 4 incomes the family seems to struggle to pay their rent and keep more then just potatoes and oatmeal on the table. Yet occasionally they seem to be able to splurge on things like going to the lake and renting a cottage to stay in for a week, her father smokes the a chimney. Or buying dance shoes. Or waffle, or movies. But it's not as bad as the Dear America counterpart where the girls were constantly going out and spending money on stupid things (movies) while they had to shut down a section of their house to preserve coal.
Anyhow, her father seems a bit set in his ways and spends some time jobless, then bouncing from job to job before spring comes again and he can start driving, which he seems to prefer to do. Her sisters are pretty boring, though two of them have a turn at sneaking out to see their Bo. Her cousin Benny seems to constantly hop jobs (he's only 14 I believe) and eventually starts talking of unions and trying to rally people together to create one. This, however, seems to take a back seat when things start building up to the riot that took place out at "The Pits." This actually seems to be the climax of the book with it spanning several entries which are each several pages long. Then the diary just stops and moves to the epilogue.
While Sally talks of Hobos and such, I actually feel like the Dear America one (though the family struggle or lack thereof wasn't realistic) does a better job of displaying just how bad things got for some people during the depression. The Dear Canada seems to tone that down rather significantly only mentioning "hobos" who sleep on the benches in the park type deal. The Indianapolis one talked about the homeless having to take over a section of town and how they made their shovels out of the materials available to them. According to this book, this was not such a huge thing in Toronto, which I highly doubt.
Anyhow, it was alright and only took me part of the day to muddle through, though I do confess to taking frequent breaks.
Might be time to shift genres again.
April 8, 2015
{April 7th, 2015} MINI REVIEW
4.5 Stars.
The ending of this book broke my heart as much as reading through it and seeing events through Sally Cohen's eyes. These books were really something I loved reading when I was young, especially because it featured various Canadian locations providing a more meaningful read on a personal level. There's not too many books I find that are Canadian-centered so I'm terribly glad how these books have survived the years when they could have been easily forgotten like so many of these people have been lost within the pages of history itself.
4.5 Stars.
The ending of this book broke my heart as much as reading through it and seeing events through Sally Cohen's eyes. These books were really something I loved reading when I was young, especially because it featured various Canadian locations providing a more meaningful read on a personal level. There's not too many books I find that are Canadian-centered so I'm terribly glad how these books have survived the years when they could have been easily forgotten like so many of these people have been lost within the pages of history itself.
May 31, 2022
I read this book to screen its appropriateness for a 9 year-old.
I wish the story focused more on the depression and the hardships endured by people of all ages, family structures, businesses, school, daily life. Instead its focus seemed to be more on anti-semitism during 1932-33. There was also too much repetitive description of the riots at the Christie Pits games.
I felt that the narration of the 12-year girl didn't ring true to her age or gender.
I wish the story focused more on the depression and the hardships endured by people of all ages, family structures, businesses, school, daily life. Instead its focus seemed to be more on anti-semitism during 1932-33. There was also too much repetitive description of the riots at the Christie Pits games.
I felt that the narration of the 12-year girl didn't ring true to her age or gender.
February 27, 2017
Not a Nicckle to spare is a really moving story about a family who deals with the hate for their jewish origin. The little girl Sally Cohen writes in her diary about adventures and problems her family had in Canada at the time of the National Socialism.
If you like storys who are based on real happenings and will touch your hearyou have to read "Not a Nickel to spare".
If you like storys who are based on real happenings and will touch your hearyou have to read "Not a Nickel to spare".
September 1, 2019
This book is not very good. I read it and it's boring because it has nothing to do with The Great Depression! I think it's gross how Sally marries Harvey, who is VULGAR. Not a good read. That's my advice.
Anyways, Dear Canada is not a very bad series. I have tons of them, and most of them are really good. But not this one.
Anyways, Dear Canada is not a very bad series. I have tons of them, and most of them are really good. But not this one.
October 6, 2023
I just didn't care for Sally as a character, I didn't feel that the book really communicated the Jewish experience ( I realise the main topic is the Great Depression and not WW2 but I didn't feel the Great Depression was well communicated either), and Sally's cousin was a dick. actually, most of the characters sucked.
August 29, 2012
Another book from the Dear Canada series, this time focussing on the Great Depression and how those who were Jewish were treated at this time. Not a Nickel to Spare is full of historical facts that will leave the readers wanting to know more about Canada's history.
December 27, 2016
It was good. Didn't have the dire circumstances of the Depression mentioned as much because they weren't on the streets and had somewhat of an income but I didn't expect all the racism towards the Jews which were interesting but I think could have stood on it's own Dear Canada.
July 29, 2016
although this book does deal with the Great Depression, it deals a lot more with anti-Semitism during that era. it makes me wonder how widespread these issues are. was it the same in the states and we just don't hear about it? that is certainly possible.
August 20, 2018
My first Dear Canada book was love at first. Sally made me feel sympathy and laughter. Unfortunately, I lost interest halfway through the book. I can’t wait to read more Dear Canada books about World War 2.
May 6, 2008
I love it!
I have it!
Its awesome!
I have it!
Its awesome!
November 7, 2012
Oh Dear Canada, you never fail to keep me enthralled.
October 8, 2010
This Book, was Sad but very... Interesting
October 13, 2010
This book wasn't as exciting but it was based on real peoples lives.
May 11, 2012
This one was all right. Not my favorite. I think I knew too much about the history to really get lost in the book. I need to stick to the ones that have new information for me.
February 24, 2020
Sally had a tendency to be wishy-washy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews