Poor Is Just a Starting Place

by Leslie J. Wyatt

Book Overview

It is the Great Depression, and twelve-year-old Artie Wilson is tired of being poor and wondering where her family's next decent meal will come from. She doesn't understand why her mother doesn't push... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823418847
• ISBN13: 9780823418848
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Holiday House
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

First and Fabulous!

For her first novel, Wyatt successfully proves herself as an up-and-coming writer of children's novels. It is 1930 during the Great Depression in rural Kentucky, and Artie is tired of being poor, hungry and working in the fields on the family farm. She daydreams of hopping the train to Louisville for a better life than what she has now. She realizes that determination, despite the odds against her, is the ticket to a better life. The characters are well-rounded and the interactions between the family members are realistic. A suspenseful twist keeps the novel from being too predictable.

Main character's determination is sure to please readers

Twelve-year-old Artie Wilson attends a one-room schoolhouse in Buck County, Kentucky during the Great Depression. She longs to attend high school, but is hindered by her father's lack of responsibility, her mother's illness, and her family's poverty. When the teacher in her one-room schoolhouse announces an essay contest on the topic of heritage that offers a $25.00 prize, Artie determines to win the money and use it to pay for her living expenses so she can attend high school. Rich girl Sarah Jane Bratcher is Artie's chief rival. Sarah Jane has everything Artie does not: a rich family, cars, horses, nice clothes, and a family heritage she claims stretches all the way back to England. Artie's older brother Ballard announces to the school that one of the Wilson ancestors buried a treasure in the woods, so Artie goes on a treasure hunt. Always practical, Artie digs for roots while in the woods so she can sell them to buy food for the family and save for high school. To her shock, she discovers Sarah Jane digging for treasure in the woods as well. Artie is furious. Why does a rich girl need to steal the poor Wilson family's heritage? Artie's struggle structures this novel. She cares for her ailing mother and fights for the life of her newborn baby brother. Using whatever spare time she can wrest from her chores, she works on her essay and tries to find meaning in the struggles and failures of her ancestors. And she uncovers the mystery of her arch rival, Sarah Jane. This first novel is rich in the family history of author Leslie J. Wyatt's own family story. Historical details are woven into the story with a light touch. Readers get a real feel for life in this backwoods community but the details never slow or stop the story. This is a very satisfying read. I'm looking forward to more books by the author. The ending seemed a bit forced so I'm giving it four stars, but it is well worth reading! Artie is a warm character who will win your heart with her sheer pluck and determination. The publisher aims this book at readers 11 and older, but younger readers who are interested in history will enjoy reading it for themselves or having it read aloud. Teachers will find it useful for showing rural aspects of the Depression years - parts of chapter 3 (plowing) or chapter 5 (driving to the 'May meeting' could be read aloud as stand-alones to show aspects of rural life.)