| Francie Nolan spends her young years struggling with poverty, and her father's alcohol abuse. Her mother and grandmother stress the fact that education is the only way to beat poverty and make Francie and her brother Neeley read a page from Shakesphere and from the Bible every night. This novel describes the courtship between Francie's parents Katie Rommely and Johnny Nolan and relates it to their current position. Francie begins school and hates the way she is treated because she is poor. She has her Dad lie and tell the principal that she was moving in order to get her into a better school. Here she strives for good grades and becomes the best writer. A few months before Neeley and Francie's graduation their father dies. Francie is heartbroken and her writing begins to reflect her depression. Her teacher speaks to her about it, but Francie decides not to complete the English work for the reast of the year. She barely passes the class and her mother decided to attend her brother's graduation instead of Francie's.
Now Francie's little sister Laurie is born and her mother Katie tells the children they cannot afford to keep both Francie and Neeley in school. Katie decides that Neeley must go back to school because he would not go unless forced. Katie tells Francie that she is sure Francie will find a way to go back so she will go to work. Francie struggles to find a way to provide for her family and make her dreams of an education come true. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - upbeat Time/era of story - 1900-1920's Poverty, surviving Yes Kind of living: - general poverty story Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - a teen Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - a teen How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 10 () United States Yes The US: - Northeast City? Yes City: - New York Writing Style Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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