I purchased this book at The Dollar store. Even though it was a First Edition, I had originally passed it up because it had a remainder mark on it. But in returning something to the dollar store I picked it up because they don't give refunds. However, you can choose something else. So I went back to the book section and despite its remainder mark I went ahead and got it as there were no other books - nor was there anything else I was interested in at the dollar store.
I am really glad I ended up with this book because the characters are very strong women. Women surviving by themselves not only through the Great Depression, but also through a time in Texas' history when there was 8 years of drought and horrifying dust storms that killed people, towns, and devastated any crops that the farmers may have been desperately trying to grow.
The core group of women are Elizabeth, Mayme, Jeanine and Bea. Elizabeth is the Mother and while she is the flakiest of the bunch, she does her part by giving her daughters love and understanding. Mayme is the financial provider. She finds a job and brings home the paycheck. It is her that they all rely on to pay the mortgage and the back taxes on the home that they live in.
Bea is the youngest daughter and while she doesn't really help in anyway towards the family income, she attends school, reads and writes stories. Throughout the book she has a strong presence and even gets one of her stories published.
The book truly revolves around Jeanine. It is Jeanine that holds the family together. She cooks for them, cleans and sews for other people to bring in a little extra money. She runs the farm and even tries her hand at horse-racing. It is her inviolable strength and her compassionate heart that carries the farm and this book.
There is only one problem that I find with this book and it is that everybody in the book gets their heart's desire in the end. To me, that is not reality. However, I still really enjoyed the book and because I read so many other books that don't end well, for this one, I'll give it a pass.
Don't worry. There are other, numerous and quite interesting details I haven't talking about that happen during this story. I haven't ruined the plot line in any way by telling you what I just did.
Rating: 8 / 10
ISBN: 978-0-06-053732-6
Publisher: William Morrow
Edition: 1st
Remainder: Yes