Anna’s Fight For Hope

Anger and frustration flowed through Anna in hot waves. How could this happen? Why doesn’t somebody fix all the things that are wrong in the country so my friends don’t have to leave t heir homes?

Book: Anna's Fight for Hope: The Great Depression (Sisters in Time Book 20) by JoAnn A. Grote, Barbour Publishers, 2004

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 9-15

Subjects: Great Depression, Poverty, Showing love to others, Friendship, Family Relationships

Summary: When it gets down to one penny meaning the difference between starving or not you know things are bad! They are bad for people all over the place though. Anna and Fred’s friend Dot is facing the strong possibility of losing their home, even though it’s already a much smaller home than the one they had, even though they’ve already sold their furniture and anything else they could. Their friend Chet was asked to leave home and go find work because his family couldn’t afford to feed all their kids and he was the oldest. When Fred and Anna both ask their parents to take him in, they both receive the same answer: we have nothing left to give. They are already taking in other family members. They are already barley getting by. If something doesn’t change soon, not only will Fred and Anna not be able to help their friends, they will be just as bad off as them!

Notes: Anna’s Fight For Hope is the twentieth in the Sisters-In-Time series. This series features young girls living at various key points in American history, particularly around the wars. It always places the girls right at the edge of the teen years, coming of age.  The concept of the series it to not only show a glimpse of history, but to help young girls feel that the people back then weren’t that different than the people today.

Anna’s Fight For Hope takes place in 1931 during the Great Depression, the election of Franklin Roosevelt and the start of his plans to get America out of the mess they are in. The book focuses more on the perspective of Fred, cousin of Anna. Most of the story is told from his view. It shows young people finding any creative means they can to make a little extra money to support their families. It shows how hard it was for those who wanted to help others, but didn’t have enough to help themselves. Then it shows the hope that people clung to with the plans Franklin Roosevelt introduced, but also just a hint of some of the objections that people had to some of his plans.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 19:21 – Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."