Another Book Review.....

You MUST read this book:  The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan. I picked it off the shelf at the library because a librarian had recommended it and wrote a little review of it for all to see.  Those librarians know a good book when they see one, so I gave it a try.

It takes place in the 50's and 60's when companies would have contests and would award some pretty amazing prizes to those whose jingles got chosen.  This lady "raised 10 kids on 25 words or less".  She was married to an abusive alcoholic who drank away his paycheck instead of giving it to his family, so she entered contest after contest, and with her wit and talent won prize after prize.  Appliances, sports equipment, cash, even 2 cars!  I loved this book because of her ability to press on despite the turmoil in her home.  She was able to try, and try again, finding optimism I am not sure I could if I were in her situation.  Her contest entries were witty, and full of sunshine.  Her children loved her and loved how much she sacrificed for them.  I think I need to own this book.  It is a keeper.

A Book Review: Factory Girl by Barbara Greenwood

I found this book as I was walking to the check-out desk at the library.  The old picture of these girls caught my eye, so I decided to take it home with me.  I loved it!  It is filled with the most amazing pictures taken of factories and the people, including children that worked there in the early 1900's.  What an eye-opener!  What hard lives they had!  Working long, horrible hours, doing repetitive work, over and over.  They had very little rights at all.  Their pay could be withheld if they didn't meet their quota for the day, or if the boss just decided to NOT pay them that day.  It is a book written in an interesting way: fiction and non-fiction, all in one book.  A fictional story goes throughout the book, and in between those chapters, she has put facts and photographs about the time period.  It was a great read; probably suitable for upper grade levels and older, but younger kids will learn a lot from how other kids lived at that time.