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Ruby's Hope: A Story of How the Famous “Migrant Mother” Photograph Became the Face of the Great Depression
A Junior Library Guild Selection!
Dorothea Lange’s Depression-era “Migrant Mother” photograph is an icon of American history. Behind this renowned portrait is the story of a family struggling against all odds to survive.
Dust storms and dismal farming conditions force young Ruby’s family to leave their home in Oklahoma and travel to California to find work. As they move from camp to camp, Ruby sometimes finds it hard to hold on to hope. But on one fateful day, Dorothea Lange arrives with her camera and takes six photographs of the young family. When one of the photographs appears in the newspaper, it opens the country’s eyes to the reality of the migrant workers’ plight and inspires an outpouring of much needed support.
Bleak yet beautiful illustrations depict this fictionalized story of a key piece of history, about hope in the face of hardship and the family that became a symbol of the Great Depression.
Dorothea Lange’s Depression-era “Migrant Mother” photograph is an icon of American history. Behind this renowned portrait is the story of a family struggling against all odds to survive.
Dust storms and dismal farming conditions force young Ruby’s family to leave their home in Oklahoma and travel to California to find work. As they move from camp to camp, Ruby sometimes finds it hard to hold on to hope. But on one fateful day, Dorothea Lange arrives with her camera and takes six photographs of the young family. When one of the photographs appears in the newspaper, it opens the country’s eyes to the reality of the migrant workers’ plight and inspires an outpouring of much needed support.
Bleak yet beautiful illustrations depict this fictionalized story of a key piece of history, about hope in the face of hardship and the family that became a symbol of the Great Depression.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2019
1 person is currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Monica Kulling
72 books68 followersMonica Kulling was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Monica Kulling has published twenty-six fiction and nonfiction books for children, including picture books, poetry, and biographies. She is best known for introducing biography to children just learning to read and has written about Harriet Tubman, Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Amelia Earhart among others. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 23, 2020
I'm glad that this is openly called historical fiction-- I'm bothered by the changes made to the story and how in this tale, Ruby invites Lange to take her family's photo. In real life, Lange approaches-- in her own words:
"I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was 32. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. There she sat in that lean-to tent [shed] with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it. The pea crop at Nipomo had frozen and there was no work for anybody. But I did not approach the tents and shelters of other stranded pea-pickers. It was not necessary; I knew I had recorded the essence of my assignment."
In the encounter, Lange seems to be emphasizing the assignment, the story she's working on, not the humanity in front of her. Would Ruby's mom really see it as "a sort of equality about it"? As it turns out, later in life, Mrs. Thompson saw Lange’s photo as a bit of a curse and was ashamed of it.
The photo is an important part of American history, but by simplifying an important part of the story in this book, it obscures the question of agency and permission (which I think you CAN tackle in an age-appropriate way).
Source: https://www.kennedy-center.org/educat...
"I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was 32. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. There she sat in that lean-to tent [shed] with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it. The pea crop at Nipomo had frozen and there was no work for anybody. But I did not approach the tents and shelters of other stranded pea-pickers. It was not necessary; I knew I had recorded the essence of my assignment."
In the encounter, Lange seems to be emphasizing the assignment, the story she's working on, not the humanity in front of her. Would Ruby's mom really see it as "a sort of equality about it"? As it turns out, later in life, Mrs. Thompson saw Lange’s photo as a bit of a curse and was ashamed of it.
The photo is an important part of American history, but by simplifying an important part of the story in this book, it obscures the question of agency and permission (which I think you CAN tackle in an age-appropriate way).
Source: https://www.kennedy-center.org/educat...
September 22, 2019
Ruby and her family leave the dustbowl of Oklahoma, for the greener hills of California during the Great Depression. They travel for weeks in their Hudson Super-Six, then finally settle in a pea-picker's camp in Nipomo. But the pea crop has died in a frost, and there is no work for the men, women and children.
And no food.
Things are grim, everyone is starving. Then one day ... Ruby notices a woman arrive with a "black box." Ruby chats with the lady, who tells her that she is a photographer for the government, and her job is to take pictures of migrant workers, so the world will understand their plight.
Ruby takes the photographer to meet her mother, who allows herself to be photographed, and the rest is history!
This is a moving, age-appropriate exploration of the Great Depression and the famous image of the Migrant Mother, by Dorothea Lange. Monica Kulling's back matter at the end of the book tells us that the photograph moved people and governments so much, that 20,000 pounds of food was delivered to the camp, to feed everyone. The Migrant Mother photo became the most recognizable image of the poverty and misery of the Depression.
Monica Kulling has written a beautiful, fictionalized account of an important moment in history, to make that moment accessible to younger readers. The simple but moving illustrations by Sarah Dvojack hit the right balance; they convey the family's poverty but also their connection to one another. Clear, direct, sweet and moving, a young child cannot fail to connect with Ruby, and see her courage and hope in the face of adversity.
That face is The Migrant Mother, a haunting photograph that will help build empathy in even the youngest of readers.
And no food.
Things are grim, everyone is starving. Then one day ... Ruby notices a woman arrive with a "black box." Ruby chats with the lady, who tells her that she is a photographer for the government, and her job is to take pictures of migrant workers, so the world will understand their plight.
Ruby takes the photographer to meet her mother, who allows herself to be photographed, and the rest is history!
This is a moving, age-appropriate exploration of the Great Depression and the famous image of the Migrant Mother, by Dorothea Lange. Monica Kulling's back matter at the end of the book tells us that the photograph moved people and governments so much, that 20,000 pounds of food was delivered to the camp, to feed everyone. The Migrant Mother photo became the most recognizable image of the poverty and misery of the Depression.
Monica Kulling has written a beautiful, fictionalized account of an important moment in history, to make that moment accessible to younger readers. The simple but moving illustrations by Sarah Dvojack hit the right balance; they convey the family's poverty but also their connection to one another. Clear, direct, sweet and moving, a young child cannot fail to connect with Ruby, and see her courage and hope in the face of adversity.
That face is The Migrant Mother, a haunting photograph that will help build empathy in even the youngest of readers.
February 28, 2023
Ruby and her family have to leave their home in Oklahoma. Everything has dried up, everything except the hope of Ruby's mother.
But when the family arrives in California, the pea crop has frozen and their car is out of gas. What will happen to the family now?
Along comes a photographer who takes a picture of Ruby and her mother, and hope is alive again.
It's the story of the famous "Migrant Mother" photo.
But when the family arrives in California, the pea crop has frozen and their car is out of gas. What will happen to the family now?
Along comes a photographer who takes a picture of Ruby and her mother, and hope is alive again.
It's the story of the famous "Migrant Mother" photo.
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October 21, 2019With hope nothing is impossible.
Heading to California, Ruby and her family flee from their Oklahoma home to escape the Dust Bowl. For weeks they move from camp to camp, slowly losing hope. But one fateful day, Dorothea Lange arrives and takes six photos of Ruby's family. When one of the photos appears in the newspapers, everything changes. Hope suddenly doesn't seem like such a foreign emotion anymore.
The story of struggle and depression. From the toughest times spring the toughest people.
A dreamer forced to join the distressing ranks of so many in the 1930s, the sweet Ruby was utterly lovable. Young Ruby offered such a heart-wrenching look at one of American history's darkest times. Seeing the Great Depression through an innocent's eyes was incredibly impactful.
Wether organic or found, family helps shape who we are as a person. Resilient and brave, Ruby's family held onto each other as they embraced their difficult fates. As they began to lose hope, it was Ruby's mother who kept them together. Her determination to make the best of things conjured hope in both the hearts of her children and the reader as well.
Inspired by the famous "Migrant Mother" photo, the story was a fresh look into a symbol, moreover a family that changed America. It opened the eyes of the American people, moving them to give much-needed support to those in need, even as they were hurting themselves. Simply extremely powerful, this work of historical fiction is a fantastic way to introduce children to one of America's most tragic time periods. Striking, Sarah Dvojack's accompanying illustrations perfectly captured the bleak yet hopeful tone of the book. Further helping impart the significance of the important picture, Monica Kulling included information about the Depression, why the photo was taken, it's subjects, and the woman who took it. Ruby's heartfelt story will inspire courage in the face of great misfortune.
Ruby's Hope was extraordinarily moving.
Heading to California, Ruby and her family flee from their Oklahoma home to escape the Dust Bowl. For weeks they move from camp to camp, slowly losing hope. But one fateful day, Dorothea Lange arrives and takes six photos of Ruby's family. When one of the photos appears in the newspapers, everything changes. Hope suddenly doesn't seem like such a foreign emotion anymore.
The story of struggle and depression. From the toughest times spring the toughest people.
A dreamer forced to join the distressing ranks of so many in the 1930s, the sweet Ruby was utterly lovable. Young Ruby offered such a heart-wrenching look at one of American history's darkest times. Seeing the Great Depression through an innocent's eyes was incredibly impactful.
Wether organic or found, family helps shape who we are as a person. Resilient and brave, Ruby's family held onto each other as they embraced their difficult fates. As they began to lose hope, it was Ruby's mother who kept them together. Her determination to make the best of things conjured hope in both the hearts of her children and the reader as well.
Inspired by the famous "Migrant Mother" photo, the story was a fresh look into a symbol, moreover a family that changed America. It opened the eyes of the American people, moving them to give much-needed support to those in need, even as they were hurting themselves. Simply extremely powerful, this work of historical fiction is a fantastic way to introduce children to one of America's most tragic time periods. Striking, Sarah Dvojack's accompanying illustrations perfectly captured the bleak yet hopeful tone of the book. Further helping impart the significance of the important picture, Monica Kulling included information about the Depression, why the photo was taken, it's subjects, and the woman who took it. Ruby's heartfelt story will inspire courage in the face of great misfortune.
Ruby's Hope was extraordinarily moving.
February 29, 2020
A fine work of historical fiction telling the story of the family depicted in Dorothea Lange’s iconic Depression-era "Migrant Mother" photograph.
April 3, 2021
This rating is difficult...as a book on its own, it was an engaging story about migrants during the Great Depression. But as a "reimagined" biography of the woman behind the "Migrant Mother" photo. It is an fictionalized story and doesn't even follow either the details given by Dorothea Lange or what Florence Thompson has told about her actual life. She was a real person, and she is named in the book. She was a full blooded Cherokee woman. She had a life and her children are still alive. Most importantly, Florence Thompson has said that she felt "exploited" by the photo.
If this were a standalone story and NOT using Florence Thompson's name, I could give it a higher rating. But using her name and her image and then fictionalizing her story? Feels like further exploitation of a real person.
The illustrations were evocative and engaging.
If this were a standalone story and NOT using Florence Thompson's name, I could give it a higher rating. But using her name and her image and then fictionalizing her story? Feels like further exploitation of a real person.
The illustrations were evocative and engaging.
December 9, 2024
This book is about Ruby, who has to move with her family because of a draught in Oklahoma, causing plants to stop growing. This book is historical fiction because it has historically accurate facts, Ruby's character is fake and never existed in real life. One message I noticed early on was Ruby watering the thistle. Her parents saying that the thistle was tougher than they were wasn't doing them any justice. The whole family was tough, moving across the country with all of their belongings. Ruby's mother was especially tough because she allowed the photographer to take a picture of her and her family knowing the photographer was taking the pictures because they were poor. Another theme I saw throughout the book was hope. Again, Ruby's mother was always hopeful and optimistic. Her hope was able to go to the rest of her family and give them hope as well.
2 things that children can learn from this book are the concepts of resilience/hope and how small things can make a difference. Resilience and hope was shown throughout the book, from the moving all the way until the picture and the delivery of food. It shows that even in dark moments like these, it is important to be tough and have hope. The book also went over how small things make a difference by using Ruby. Even though she didn't want to move, she went along with them and helped out at the cabbage farm. She could have complained and fought with her family the whole way, but she didn't. She also didn't have to talk to the woman with the camera, but doing so was what led to her mother's picture being taken and put on the newspaper. The small things that she did certainly made a difference. This was a wow book for me because it let me get a closer and more personal look into the life of a poorer person during the Great Depression. The book having a good ending made me happy because it shows that being resilient and having hope pays off at the end.
The use of symbolism and imagery were what made this book a good quality book. The symbolism of resilience from the thistle at the beginning was kind of like foreshadowing, emphasizing how plants and people are able to thrive in harsh conditions. It shows how with toughness there can be hope. The imagery was also important because while there were pictures, the imagery of the words helps feel what is happening. It shows readers the distress that Ruby and her family were in and help them feel it. I think that this book is as free of bias as possible because it doesn't focus on the concept of race or culture in it. It focuses on hardships and adversity, which anyone of any race and color can go through. It also does a good job of explaining how the people going through the hardships and adversity are resilient instead of trying to paint them in a bad light.
2 things that children can learn from this book are the concepts of resilience/hope and how small things can make a difference. Resilience and hope was shown throughout the book, from the moving all the way until the picture and the delivery of food. It shows that even in dark moments like these, it is important to be tough and have hope. The book also went over how small things make a difference by using Ruby. Even though she didn't want to move, she went along with them and helped out at the cabbage farm. She could have complained and fought with her family the whole way, but she didn't. She also didn't have to talk to the woman with the camera, but doing so was what led to her mother's picture being taken and put on the newspaper. The small things that she did certainly made a difference. This was a wow book for me because it let me get a closer and more personal look into the life of a poorer person during the Great Depression. The book having a good ending made me happy because it shows that being resilient and having hope pays off at the end.
The use of symbolism and imagery were what made this book a good quality book. The symbolism of resilience from the thistle at the beginning was kind of like foreshadowing, emphasizing how plants and people are able to thrive in harsh conditions. It shows how with toughness there can be hope. The imagery was also important because while there were pictures, the imagery of the words helps feel what is happening. It shows readers the distress that Ruby and her family were in and help them feel it. I think that this book is as free of bias as possible because it doesn't focus on the concept of race or culture in it. It focuses on hardships and adversity, which anyone of any race and color can go through. It also does a good job of explaining how the people going through the hardships and adversity are resilient instead of trying to paint them in a bad light.
May 11, 2021
The illustrations were perfect for the story. The grainy texture and use of sandy colors helped the reader to feel like they were struggling to survive in the dust storms of Oklahoma. Ruby is a young girl that lives in Oklahoma. Drought, dust, and lack of food forced Ruby's family to leave their home to find work. They pack up their things and drive towards California. But their luck did not change. Work was scarce. A photographer from the government came to take pictures of the people most affected by the depression. The photographer took 6 photos of Ruby's mother and one of those photos was the famous "Migrant Mother" picture. I really enjoyed this book. I think the illustrations would be great ones to look deeper into in a lesson. The story is easy to follow and young readers are able to connect to young Ruby's experiences. I also really like how the photographer that came to take pictures had a disability. She talks about how she has a twisted foot and was told she would never walk. She didn't let that hold her back and keep her from having hope.
March 6, 2021
Dorothea Lange’s Depression-era “Migrant Mother” photograph is an icon of American history. Behind this renowned portrait is the story of a family struggling against all odds to survive.
Dust storms and dismal farming conditions force young Ruby’s family to leave their home in Oklahoma and travel to California to find work. As they move from camp to camp, Ruby sometimes finds it hard to hold on to hope. But on one fateful day, Dorothea Lange arrives with her camera and takes six photographs of the young family. When one of the photographs appears in the newspaper, it opens the country’s eyes to the reality of the migrant workers’ plight and inspires an outpouring of much needed support.
Bleak yet beautiful illustrations depict this fictionalized story of a key piece of history, about hope in the face of hardship and the family that became a symbol of the Great Depression.
Dust storms and dismal farming conditions force young Ruby’s family to leave their home in Oklahoma and travel to California to find work. As they move from camp to camp, Ruby sometimes finds it hard to hold on to hope. But on one fateful day, Dorothea Lange arrives with her camera and takes six photographs of the young family. When one of the photographs appears in the newspaper, it opens the country’s eyes to the reality of the migrant workers’ plight and inspires an outpouring of much needed support.
Bleak yet beautiful illustrations depict this fictionalized story of a key piece of history, about hope in the face of hardship and the family that became a symbol of the Great Depression.
March 11, 2021
This highly interesting take on a historical moment in time imagines the events leading up to one of the most famous photographic portraits in American history. The story introduces a historical figure, Dorothea Lange, but mostly focuses on the time period and the conditions of migrant families during the depression. solid backmatter. Lovely illustration style. Interesting text. Engaging story. Great to read but also to deepen history curriculum. I love the theme of hope in hard times and the viewpoint that one person can change her world—in a quiet way like Florence Owens Thompson did for her family; in a grand way like Dorothea Lange did with her photographs; in a powerful way like the two women combined accomplished in the moving of a nation.
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April 14, 2021An imagined story behind the scenes of the Migrant Mother photograph. On one hand, there is a true story available I think, that could have been told. On the other, this picture book addresses some of the limitations of imagination when it comes to interpreting primary sources. A photograph can tell us a lot about the circumstances around which it was taken, but it cannot provide a backstory for its subject nor the history of the photographer. This story reveals the limitations of that interpretation.
Children and mothers seem to be the first affected and the last helped in any crisis. This story highlights the suffering of a particular fictional family, and showcases the tragedy of any crisis response that does not take sufficient care of the struggling families.
Children and mothers seem to be the first affected and the last helped in any crisis. This story highlights the suffering of a particular fictional family, and showcases the tragedy of any crisis response that does not take sufficient care of the struggling families.
June 18, 2021
This book provides the backstory to the famous Migrant Mother photograph by Dorothea Lange. The author states that some of the events leading up to the photograph have been reimagined because this is historical fiction, but the main ideas are based on the true story behind the photograph. Using this with Dorothea Lange picture books would be a great resource for discussion. I could also see this as a mentor text for writing their own back story to a famous photograph or just a random one that is brought in to use. This could also be used when talking about migrants, farm workers, and the Dust Bowl. Stories can provide an easier transition into some difficult subjects.
October 28, 2019
4.5 stars for this simply beautiful book, reimagined around the famous "Migrant Mother" photo of the Great Depression. Stunning graphite illustrations are perfect for the dusty Oklahoma plains as well as the California farmlands to which the family moves. The only reason I didn't give five stars is that the ending is a little abrupt, but this is a great book on a neglected topic in elementary library collections.
March 13, 2021
This is a historical fiction picture book about the migrant American families who travelled west looking for farm work during the Great Depression. Photographer Dorothea Lange took several photos of the family featured in this story, one of which became known as "Migrant Mother" and is representative of the struggle for survival.
Amazing story well told and wonderfully illustrated, including some of Dorothea Lange's photos.
Amazing story well told and wonderfully illustrated, including some of Dorothea Lange's photos.
January 16, 2021
Beautifully told. I love how much this humanizes the picture and the story. I'm going to pair this book with Dorothea's Eyes: Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth.
March 2, 2021
A beautiful book about the "Migrant Mother" photograph and a migrant family's experience. One star off because I was disappointed to read that much of this was a made-up story. Perhaps there was not enough historical info to make the story entirely factual and this was the only way to get the story out, but I felt a little cheated to discover this after reading the story. The art is beautiful.
December 8, 2019
Based on a photo Dorothea Lange took of a migrant mother & children in 1936. A poignant look at the human cost of the depression and the dust bowl and how a photograph brought not only food and supplies, but much needed hope to migrants.
August 4, 2021
I love that this categorized as a historical fiction book. I’m not a fan of the changes that were made from the real events, to appease readers. Yes they’re noted at the end of the book, but with this being a ‘historical fiction’ they should have stayed true to the real story.
August 12, 2023
Too fictionalized. And the challenges the migrants faced would not go away with 20,000 lbs of trucked food. Migrant workers still struggle for fair conditions, and for schooling for their children. One thing I did not know is that the mother was apparently a member of the Cherokee Nation.
October 4, 2019
Heartfelt, dense with history as revealed through one family's very personal (and fictionalized) story from depression-era desperation and migration.
October 26, 2019
Many of us have seen the iconic photograph "Migrant Mother." This story gives us a fictional scenario of what these folks went through during the dust bowl.
November 8, 2019
illustrations are nice, story is relatable, but the vocab doesn't always fit the audience (eg first page says the stock market crashed)
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December 6, 2019Picture K9632r 2019
December 17, 2019
313/365
December 21, 2019
This and other stories like it always bring me hope.
February 12, 2020
Beautifully written. Wonderful historical fiction picture book.
March 20, 2020
Ruby and her family trek from Oklahoma to California to escape the dust, the drought, the famine. The story of how a photograph highlighted the plight of migrant workers and inspired change.
April 3, 2020
Historical fiction for preschoolers. Love it! Great illustrations.
April 30, 2020
Not only is this a great book with great pictures, the end has my favorite part - MORE TO LEARN! Author's note, bibliography, and information that lead up to the photo "Migrant Mother."
August 15, 2020
Interesting historical book about a famous picture from the Great Depression, but the details are made up. I liked how dirty everyone's feet were throughout the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews