A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt

by C. Coco De Young

Eleven-year-old Margo Bandini has never been afraid of anything. Her life in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, with Mama and Papa and her little brother, Charlie, has always felt secure. But it's 1933, and the Great Depression is changing things for families all across America.

One day the impossible Papa cannot make the payments for their house, and the Sheriff Sale sign goes up on their door. They have two weeks to pay the bank, or leave their home forever. Now Margo is afraid--but she's also determined to find a way to help Papa save their home.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, School, Historical, American History

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 1999

Reviews

[Amy Meyers]

This was a scheduled read-aloud for the younger grades in the My Father's World 1850-Modern curriculum. I liked how much info it gave on the Great Depression. It's interesting that it was scheduled for the younger grades, however, as the older grades are the ones who read about the economic crisis in Story of the World. But it was easy to give my younger kids some info on it. I liked the info, but don't love FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt's economic policies, which are still sinking the US into debt. It was a better read-aloud than others I could've chosen, however, for the subject, because it was pretty short, fairly interesting, quite informative (named other big names of the time, like Amelia Earhart and Babe Ruth), and not as depressing or sad as some others I'd read, which I couldn't read aloud to the younger kids as well.

[Dawn Roberts]

Not as good as other titles we've read on the Sonlight reading list. This one seemed a bit incoherent, but it is sweet that the author based the story on real experiences of her grandparents during the Great Depression.

[Crystal W.]

I read this aloud with my 9 and 11 year old and we all really enjoyed it. It kept their interest as well as taught them history and virtue. It gave them a better picture of what the depression was like for America families and painted pictures of several heroes and heroines of that time. First, a family sticking together with sacrificial generosity, courage, and hope. Then, Eleanor Roosevelt’s encouragement through responding to hundreds of letters of struggling Americans. Then, A few famous Americans such as Amelia Earhart and Babe Ruth, and lastly, everyday heroes such as teachers, grocers, and friends. It was really touching and I cried at several places!

[Abigail Westbrook]

This book gives a peek at what it was like to be a kid during the years of the Great Depression, the age of my grandparents. I liked that the author based the story on experiences in her own family. My kids enjoyed it well enough, but I found the writing style unclear and even confusing in places. The characters are not clearly drawn and it was hard to care much what happened to them. It is definitely not up to the level of many classics we have read aloud. In retrospect, I would choose to hand it to my kids to read on their own instead of using our limited read aloud time on it.

[Bridget]

I read this story aloud to kids for our studies in 1930’s America, during the Great Depression. I thought this was a very well written book about how the depression touched even small, eastern communities. Highly recommend reading if you’re studying this time period.

[Mary Goodell]

Absolutely beautiful story.

[Bo]

This book, while definitely fiction, is inspired by true events from the author's own family.

The further I read, the more I liked it. It was heartwarming to see a family pulling together, along with the caring between neighbours. An interesting twist toward the end.

A couple negatives for me - towards the beginning of the book, there is a bit of superstition, with one character blaming the Depression on the devil, in conjunction with the sighting of a shooting star; and there are some negative feelings towards the Gypsies, although this seems to be negated a bit as the book progresses.

Overall, an enjoyable book for children, while also learning a bit about history.

[Nikki in Niagara]

Reason for Reading: Read aloud to ds as part of our history curriculum.

This is a fictional story but the author's note at the end lets us know that it is based on a true story of her grandfather who wrote to First Lady Roosevelt and received help from her. The story takes place in Pennsylvania, 1933, just in the beginning grips of the Depression. Margo's family is feeling the affects of rationing and slower business, but Margo feels secure even though she's seen one family on her street evicted from their house and her best friend, Rosa, across the street has recently had a Sheriff's Notice put on her house. They don't talk about it though. One day at school they are given an assignment to write a letter to someone who is inspiring and Margot hasn't a clue who to write to, while Rosa knows right off that she's writing to Amelia Earhart. That day as they walk home after school, Rosa quickly says goodbye as she was the first to notice that upon Margo's door had been plastered the dreaded Sheriff's Notice. Will they lose their house and everything they own?

This is a short little book that packs a big wallop within its pages. The story is told through the eyes of Margo and from her point of view we learn a lot about life during the Great Depression for a regular merchant family. Papa is getting by because he is accepting forms of payment other than money, but the bank doesn't accept this type of business when it comes to house payments and things look bleak. Margo becomes determined to find a way to save the house and her admiration for Eleanor Everywhere, the First Lady, puts an idea into her head. Thus we also learn quite a lot about Eleanor Roosevelt throughout the course of the book as well. The story is emotionally tense at times; it gripped my son too mightily at anxious moments (though he is a sensitive lad). Margo has a little brother who was underdeveloped as a character but otherwise it is a wonderful family story to see the parents confiding in Margo, the mutual respect, and Margo's honour towards her parents.

[Kristin- Kristin's Bookstack]

This is a very easy read, probably 3-4 grade level. It is a fictional story based on a real experience that happened to the author's family. The story is about a girl named Margo and her life experiences during the Great Depression. It reminded me of what is happening in the financial world today.

[Aimee Fuhrman]

This short chapter book is great for elementary school. It gives a peek into the Great Depression from the perspective of a girl while not being too emotionally burdensome for young readers since all ends well. DeYoung does well with capturing the uncertainty of the time and the emotions common to all children.

[Meredith Henning]

Violet's reading page: http://happyheartsmom.typepad.com/swe...

Read in a day, it's a quickie :)

[Nour Books]

I remember reading this when I was younger and loving it and I still do

[Lynn Jacobs]

Mrs de Young and I recently struck up a conversation in front of her daughter’s house in Manchester, Connecticut. I had just left work at Marty Cheney Library and when I mentioned it she happily told me she had written a book that was published years ago. She was so nice and fun to talk with that I checked and a few libraries in the state had it, so I inter-library loaned it. It’s a well written, middle school aged book about a family during the depression. It’s a charming book and I am so pleased that I chanced upon the author.

[Lauren]

A decent introduction to the Depression for younger kids, but probably best to combine with something else to get a better idea of it.The story didn’t have the smoothest flow, but it is told from the perspective of a (slightly dramatic) 11yo girl, so it isn’t too jarring. I did like that it’s based on the lives of of the author’s grandparents. Content considerations: rumors of Gypsies kidnapping children, Margo’s best friend’s parents have fights and her father ultimately leaves them to find work. 8+

[Susan S.C.C.L.]

A short little book about life in a Pennsylvania neighborhood during the Great Depression. Taken from the author's own family memories, this was a touching story about the struggles so many faced when their jobs were lost. Of how families and friendships were affected when the dreaded "SHERIFF SALE" signs appeared on the front doors of homes on Maple Street. Inspiration, hope and friendship are a wonderful part of this story.

[Stacy]

I read this to my 9 year old son as part of My Father’s World 1850-current history. This book was fairly short and easy to read. I loved that the author used real facts that actually happened to her family and kept the town the same. She fictionalized parts of it to make it more interesting and a bit longer of a story which was very clever. I think my son got a realistic view from this book about how hard times were during the depression.

[Bob]

The way the book wraps up is fun. Most of the book is definitely a downer: descriptive of the Depression no doubt, but also not fun to read. The writing style seemed choppy and awkward to me, and there were a few odd story choices (we get a whole digression about her brother getting lost that took up several chapters and really had nothing whatsoever to do with the main story, at least not as far as I could tell). Anyways, not a bad book, but definitely not our favorite.

[Haley Whitehall]

Great introduction to the Great Depression for younger readers or for middle grade readers looking for a quick book. This would also make a good read aloud. This book gave a different perspective on the Great Depression. I picked this book up at a used book store and am glad I did. It is worth the read. I would actually give it 3.5 stars.

[Dorothy Vandezande]

I was only going to give this 4 stars because my girls liked it but it seemed a little too unrealistic to me... But then I got to the end and read the author's note and discovered that this story is based on the actual experiences of her father and grandparents! Very sweet and a great depression-era history lesson for younger children.

[Anne]

Powerful short chapter book showing the difference one person can make. Though the book is historical fiction set during the beginnings of the Great Depression, it is loosely based on a real story that happened to the author's grandfather.

[Danielle Bordeau]

My children enjoyed reading this novel based during the Great Depression. It brings this era to life through a child’s eyes. It is a story that shows children they can make a difference when they put their mind to something in an overwhelming adult world.

[Michelle]

So, I really wanted to like this book. I've started it twice and made it 2/3 the way through the last time. It's a good story about how the depression was hard, but I just loose interest after a while.

[Emily]

A sweet story set during the Great Depression, A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt shows what hard work, courage, and hope can do. I thought it was very slow to start and the writing a bit disjointed - but it kept my kids attention, even the ones who weren’t assigned this book.

[Stephanie Salyer]

Great book for kids about what the depression really looked like for families in the US and what one letter can do. There's always something we can hope for and hope in. I'm glad I got to read it with my kids.

[Reading Fury]

Truly beautiful. And what a surprise to find out that politicians (and their wives) once cared about people and actually took real action to immediately help them. Thank you, Eleanor Roosevelt. And thank you C. Coco De Young for sharing your grandfather's real life story!

[Abigail]

This is a simple, well-written look at the Great Depression through one child's eyes. I thought it was a helpful story to pull together some of what my kids have been learning about this time period and make it more personal.

[Lala Guse]

great mid-elementary read

I enjoyed this book and think it would be great for 3rd grade student as it keeps the story interesting throughout and delivers the facts of the historical period simply enough.

[Blaise-Noel Lawrence]

finished in one day bc of hw assignment. Not bad, better than the other history assignments I've read.
I liked how the Margo sent the medal even if she was going to get into trouble
I also liked how Mrs. Roosevelt wrote back.
I did not expect the teacher to be the famous writer!!!

[L Ruggles]

One indicator of a good book is when a chapter ends and I begin to close the book, my children protest and beg for me to keep reading. This book was one of them! A perfect blend of history and fiction, we enjoyed this story from the Great Depression.

[Kathleen]

This was a fast and easy read that even my younger children enjoyed.