This book takes place during the great depression when Hebert Hoover was president. A girl name April is a hard working young girl who does nothing more than do chores for her mother. Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains is what all the families do; work just to make it. President Hoover decided to build a school for the children of Blue Ridge and April is just ecstatic about attending, only if she is allowed. Her mother is not all for the idea since her brother’s death her mother prefers her home doing chores but April’s grandmother Aunt Birdie knows better for April. April finds a friend in their new teacher Miss Vest but the relationship with her mother grows dark after her mother hears the truth of death of April’s brother. The book just describes the lifestyle of people during the depression and the adversities a young girl had to over come.

I enjoyed reading this book it was very touching. I story line was so surprising I just didn’t know what was going to happen. The fact this was based on a true story just makes it that much more interesting. The author was so descriptive and I could just see the images in my head as I read.

This would be a great book to have students read when discussion the great depression and how children then had to live. Students could also draw a scene from the story to show what they believed to see when reading. ( )