Little Heathens

[eleny]

I just read Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish. http://www.little-heathens.com/

And I really enjoyed it. It's about her growing up on a working farm in Depression-era Iowa. It's straightforward with no sadness or sugar coating, either. Just the facts in her "comfortable with yourself" style.

Since this is DU - there's a quote I liked from when the kids used to say the Pledge in her school:
"..and to Richard Stands, one nation and a dirigible, with freedom and justice for all."

Funny but interesting in a way. Here's the greatest generation who lived and served during the Great Depression, WW2, the Korean War and saw their children serve in Vietnam. Their foundation had no "under God" business in the Pledge but they managed to somehow become an historic example of patriotism.

Well, that's about it. If you read the book, you won't regret it.

[cyberswede]

1. I just started it!

I gave it to my mom for x-mas, with the intention of borrowing it after she read it. She grew up in rural Minnesota during the depression, so I thought she'd appreciate it. I know that living through the depression affected her life afterward - she saves everything! We re-used bread bags all through my childhood - no Baggies at our house! LOL!

Glad it's a good book...can't wait to get farther into it!

thx - cs

[eleny]

2. Same here about my own mom

She was born in 1917 and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Many a school lunch of mine was packed in bread bags - and then I even brought them home. When mom did get the new baggies, she'd wash them out. Many still do that.

I borrowed this book from the library and had to renew it once. I'd set it down for a couple of days and then pick it up when I finished another book in between. I wanted to savor it. Some chapters are so short that you have time to think about the details of her life. I always had respect for kids who worked so hard growing up on the farm. But adding up all the things kids did even before going to school in the morning ~ Give your mom a hug from me!

I might have to treat myself to a copy of this when it finally goes on sale. It's a keeper.

[Branjor]

3. "..and to Richard Stands, one nation and a dirigible,

HAHA!

That's funny. Reminds me of what kids in my school used to sing while walking out of the auditorium after assembly. "Glory glory Hallelujah, the teacher hit me with the ruler..."

[Branjor]

4. Yes, I noticed that too.

***Funny but interesting in a way. Here's the greatest generation who lived and served during the Great Depression, WW2, the Korean War and saw their children serve in Vietnam. Their foundation had no "under God" business in the Pledge but they managed to somehow become an historic example of patriotism.***

I have a dvd with a patriotic Mickey Mouse cartoon from the WWII era on it. It goes through the Pledge and explains the meaning of everything in it. No "under God" in it.

My mother was born in 1919 and lived through the Depression too. I probably would have had a bread bag for my school lunch excepth that I came home for lunch!

[eleny]

5. We used to go home for lunch a lot

But there were days mom wanted us to stay at school, especially in the winter. I loved going home, though. Amazing how fast we could walk home for lunch and then dawdle going home at 3 o'clock when school let out. :)