Ellen, Book 1: Hobo Jungle

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

The Depression has changed Ellen’s life dramatically. Her father lost
his job and her parents had to move across the city to live in her
grandfather’s house. Ellen hates her new life. Her grandfather is
grumpy; she has no friends; and there is no money for the smallest
treat, let alone a new dress for school. Ellen dreams about traveling
away from her dreary life, but when she befriends an out-of-work man who
lives by the railway tracks she learns just how desperate life can be.
Ellen’s romanticized notions about the life of a hobo are dissolved
when she experiences the reality of their situation, and she comes to
appreciate just how fortunate she really is.

This title in the Our Canadian Girl series is a work of historical
fiction that young girls can relate to. The introduction sets the
historical context for the story, describes the situation that Ellen
finds herself in, and invites the reader to compare life as it was then
to the way it is today. Ellen is thoughtful and tries to make sense of
the changes that the Depression is causing in the lives of those around
her. She discovers that when people help each other, it’s easier to
survive difficult times. The soft, traditional quality of the cover
illustration sets the tone for this thoughtful and sensitive story. The
overall concept and quality of the work is first-rate. Highly
recommended.