The Worst of Times: A Story of the Great Depression

Jamestown's American Portraits

by James Lincoln Collier

When the Depression strikes America, throwing milions out of work, 12-year-old Petey Williamson's family seems safe. Hadn't the boss promised Petey's father that he'd always have a job? But during the Depression, promises cannot always be kept, and Petey finds his family sliding rapidly into poverty. When Petey's much-admired cousin Steve starts working as a union organizer in the battle to improve conditions for workers, poverty turns into tragedy. Jamestown’s American Portraits explores the growth of different generations and cultures through the lives of young boys and girls. These titles are told from a diverse group of boys and girls, coming from different and unique backgrounds that represent America’s own diverse population, spanning from the Jamestown Settlement to the Civil Rights Movement.

Titles in this
• This Generation of A Story of the Civil Rights Movement, by Fredrick L. McKissack, Jr.
• The Road to A Story of the Reconstruction, by Jabari Asim
• All For A Story of Texas Liberation, by G. Clifton Wisler
• The Worst of A Story of the Great Depression, by James Lincoln Collier
• Wind on the A Story of the Civil War, by Laurie Lawlor
• When I Dream of Angelina’s Story, by Steven Kroll (1895 Italian Immigrant in NYC)
• An Eye for an A Story of the Revolutionary War, by Peter and Connie Roop
• Sweet An Immigrant’s Story, by Steven Kroll
• The Corn A Story of the Jamestown Settlement, by James Lincoln Collier
• Revenge of the A Story of 1920s Hollywood, by Susan Beth Pfeffer
• To Touch the A Story of World War II, by Karen Zeinert

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

Paperback

First published February 12, 2001

About the author

James Lincoln Collier (born June 27, 1928) is a journalist, author, and professional musician.

Collier's notable literary works include My Brother Sam Is Dead (1974), a Newbery Honor book that was also named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and nominated for a National Book Award in 1975. He also wrote a children's book titled The Empty Mirror (2004), The Teddy Bear Habit (1967), about an insecure boy whose beatnik guitar teacher turns out to be a crook, and Rich and Famous (1975), sequel to The Teddy Bear Habit. His list of children's books also includes Chipper (2001), about a young boy in a gang. His writings for adults include numerous books on jazz, including biographies of Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. He has also contributed entries on jazz-related subjects to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

In addition to his writing, Collier is an accomplished jazz musician who plays the trombone professionally.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this, because my 12 year old did. This book does a great job of illustrating what The Great Depression was like, and how the hardships could have happened to any family. I highly recommend it for the "entitled" youth of today.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting and would recommend it to anyone who has wondered what the great depression was like.