Have you ever wondered how you would make it through life if you lost everything except your family and a special treasure?
Blue Willow, written by Doris Gates, is a historical fiction Newbery Honor Award book written about the Dust Bowl Era. Janey Larkin and her family had to leave their home so Dad could be an itinerant farm worker. Moving from farm to farm, the family lived in shacks near their work. Janey rarely got to make friendships, the schools were not usually of high quality, and the family barely made ends meet. What a difference drought and wind had made in her life.
Blue Willow is very different from the books commonly read by children today. There are lots of references to Bible stories and verses. I even needed to look up a verse I didn’t remember reading. The family deals with the almost homeless situation in different ways. Mom seems serious and stressed, though she demonstrates faith that the Lord will bring them through. Dad is always the positive one, looking for the bright spot in everything.
Janey meets a friend across the way. She goes to school while her dad works, but not the school where her friend goes. Janey is also a wanderer, a dreamer. She finds a place by the water that reminds her of the blue plate she cherishes. She also finds a dishonest overseer who mistreats her family.
Hope and faith are the main themes in Blue Willow. Hope for tomorrow and faith God is taking care of them. Children will find lots of things to increase their knowledge of history and faith. Here are a few things children may want to explore.
- What is the Dust Bowl, and how did it affect families?
- Causes of the Dust Bowl.
- Bible stories and how they relate to our lives.
- Discuss family treasures and what makes them special.
The biggest takeaway for readers is how God worked through all their hardships for their good when it seemed there was no hope.
Trying to look for the good in every situation, knowing God works all things for our good to those who love Him.
Blessings, Gail Cartee
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#Newbery Honor Award, #homeschool, # Childrensbooks
