Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes - Homelessness & Poverty Juvenile Fiction | Historical - United States - 20th Century Jobs are scarce, and soon Sarah's father is forced to leave home to look for work. Sarah's parents have been forced to sell the farm, and Sarah is shocked to see that her new house is nothing more than a shack in the poorest part of town. But the year is 1932, and life in the midst of the Great Depression is far from easy. What will life be like in a real town? Will her house be bigger than the one on the farm? She can't wait to see her first movie at the Aladdin Theater and to make friends at her new school.

They said that despite this, 'Sarah is a strong female protagonist and the well-structured story fast paced, while Whitmore's evocation of the period allows readers to share the desperation of hard-working, decent people.This item is available now at an even betterīinding Type: Paperback - See All Available Formats & EditionsĪnnotation: As her family's Model T truck rattles along toward Waheegan, Sarah Ann Puckett wonders about her new home. However, they thought that her 'reactions to her parents' despair are both convincing and moving, and it's impossible not to admire her never-say-die attitude.' Kirkus Reviews felt that the novel was oversimplified, contained stilted dialogue, lack of development and unlikely events. Marcus, writing for the School Library Journal, thought that the 'Depression and its people come alive in this touching and well-crafted novel.' Publishers Weekly stated that the protagonist is 'a little too good to be true' and the 'setbacks Whitmore throws in are almost formulaic'. Zena Sutherland from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books felt that the novel 'gives a convincing picture of the way residents of a small town help each other.' She added that the 'characterization is sturdy, the structure modest but satisfying, and the writing has a smooth narrative flow.' Susan F. Ĭritical reception for the book was mostly positive. The Bread Winner was selected as a 'Notable 1990 Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies' by the National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council. Her parents quickly become despondent as money begins to run short, but Sarah resourcefully begins selling her award-winning bread to neighbors and eventually acquires a store front, all the while dealing with bullies and hobos as well as other setbacks such as a tornado. Protagonist Sarah Ann Puckett moves with her family to a small town after selling the failed family farm. The story takes place in 1932 depression era United States. The Bread Winner is a 1990 novel by Arvella Whitmore.

The breadwinner by arvella whitmore