In 1937, during the Depression, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice, initially apprehensive about leaving Chicago to spend a year with her fearsome, larger-than-life grandmother in rural Illinois, gradually begins to better understand and admire her grandmother's unusual qualities.

"A history of the Great Depression, based on primary source documents and other historical artifacts. Features include period art works and photographs; excerpts from litery works, letters, speeches, broadcasts, and diaries; summary boxes; a timeline; maps; and a list of additional resources"--Provided by publisher.