Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

Deza knew her father was going to Flint to get a job, but she never expected him not to return...

Wendy Lamb Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It was published January 10th, so you can grab a copy at your local bookstore.

Mr. Curtis wrote an earlier book with Deza titled "Bud, Not Buddy", which I haven't read.  This adventure with her was a very good read so I'm sure the earlier book was also.

This story is set during the Great Depression, and her father has lost his job in Gary, Indiana.  Between being out of work and losing a friend in a fishing accident, he heads out for Flint to find a job and he will send money home.

Mr. Curtis invested a bit of himself in this story.  He was born in Flint, Michigan.  He writes a story that is depressing but full of hope.  It's how life was at that time and black people were treated with even less respect than poor white trash.  It's a way to share history with your child in an interesting story that will hold their attention.

Deza's family survives, but they have a lot of work to do to get back to normal.  I have faith that they will do that.  The Malone family doesn't give up.

This would be a very good read aloud book where the family could discuss this time period and the challenges of a black family.

Happy reading.

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