First published 2008
Mildred Armstrong Kalish opens her memoir by returning to her grandparents' Iowa farm during the Great Depression. She considers herself fortunate despite the era's hardships. Her grandparents carried forward the pioneer spirit of earlier generations, while inspiring teachers became her friends and mentors. The barnyard offered animals that she and her cousins could tame and cherish. Kalish and her siblings worked alongside their cousins, but they also found time for spirited play. The author weaves practical recipes and instructional advice throughout her recollections. She paints a picture of economic struggle softened by family bonds, acts of compassion, and modest joys. Her storytelling glows with warmth and wit as she demonstrates how even the most challenging periods can feel like adventures when viewed through a child's eyes.
Genres: family-life, 20th-century, autobiography, memoir, biography-memoir, americana
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, warm
Tropes: found-family, nostalgia
Setting: Iowa
Period: Great Depression
326 pages · Library Binding · Center Point Pub