Blue Willow

i read this book when i was about 8 or 10 and it stuck with me all these years ( about 50) and my husband bought it for me for christmas to read again .....it was so good...makes you appreciate all you have when the girl gets a nickel for the fair and is so excited.. I actually bought a blue willow plate to remind me of her!

Blue Willow is a bittersweet story that is an invaluable read for young people. Though the main character is a 10 year old girl, the realistic portrayal of the deprivation and pain experienced by the working poor during the Dust Bowl/Great Depression draws the reader (whether boy or girl) into the story.Janey's treasured Blue Willow plate is her means of hanging onto the past with hope for the future. The plate recalled days when her family owned their own home and farm, and when her own mother was alive. It gave to Janey hope that she might once again have the joys of stability, sufficient food and clothing, and rest from the grinding poverty that oppressed her, her father and step-mother.This book has excellent lessons to teach: of friendship that reaches across cultural and financial borders; of learning to love and accept someone who doesn't always show their love back to you; of exciting horizons that a caring teacher opens up to a knowledge-hungry pupil; and the meaning of courage defined by faithfulness in hard times, regardless of the cost.Janey is 10 at the opening of the story; I would recommend the book to those nine and up. It is a touching classic that needs to be read by young people, to provoke a deeper thoughtfulness about life, and thankfulness for what they have.

It's difficult to find the right words to properly convey the impact this book has had not only on me, but on every child I have gifted with this book.When I was a little girl, I found this book in my school library. I had a rough life, but nothing like this little girl. In the days before Caesar Chavez, these migrant worker camps were just down the road. The life lesson I learned from this book, has been learned by every child I have given this book to, it's that good. When my youngest grandchild developed and interest in my library, I went to get him a copy of this book, only to find I had given my last copy away.In this day and age of interactive technology, there is still something transporting about paper. The feel of the page between your fingers, the weight of the book, there is something comforting and calming about old technology. Books are fragile and I have found that books teach respect. So, when kids look through my library they engage, if they fall in love with reading great, with paper books, even better.What gets them is, like the Boxcar Children, these are real people, just like them.

I am the father of 9. Reading ahead of them to keep the crap out of their head. Wish me well.This book? I have read a LOT of YA. This is terrible. How in the world has this gotten the acclaim it has? Some interesting scenery language, but drags.Written by a older librarian. Reads like it. You're gonna tell me in the hard scrabble life of this kid a PLATE is going to be precious? Tell me another one. Not believable or interesting. Maybe the librarian really loves plates?Your life, and the life of those you love is short. Skip this one. Unless you reeeaaally love plates.

A wonderful children’s book that has received the Newberry award. I read it when I was a child and I just had to buy it because I sought on Amazon and read it again. It talks about migrant workers and their struggles and how poverty touches so many different cultures. It takes place during the dust bowl. It’s a beautiful story about a little girl Named Janie Larkin Who is very poor and moves all the time with Her family to pick whatever is available to pick in California at the time. Her mother is dead and the only thing she has left and her mother is a blue little little plate which she cherishes beyond other possessions. It’s a really beautiful story.

This book was published in 1940 & was my favorite book when I was very young. I just re_read and I still love it.

In the 1940s I was a third grader in the Seattle area. I discovered the book Blue Willow. My father had wanderlust and I had lived in many places and slept in many different types of bed. I felt a connection with Janey and Blue Willow became one of my favorite books for life. Well, life has strange quirks and I ended up in the 60's moving to the area where Janey lived. I have been able to explore the Fresno area and have found many of the places mentioned in the book. The children section of the main Fresno Library is named for the author Doris Gates.

Forty years ago, when I was 10 years old I read a book that touched my heart and I never forgot it. Well, except for one important detail, I couldn't for the life of me remember the title of that once favorite book I read. Over the years I have thought of that book and always wished I could just remember the title. Today, by accident I came across this book after all these years and it brought back so many wonderful memories of how much I loved this book. I'm buying it (of course) for my 10 year old son to read it too. Unfortunately my daughter is much older, but I think even as a older teenager she might still enjoy it. I know I plan to read it again as soon as I receive my copy.My son is homeschooled and this book will fit perfectly with our study of CA history.

Rather dated and light for modern tastes, but worth the read.

Excellent

What a wonderful story, great insight to that time period, my Granddaughter will enjoy it too!

Das Buch kam doch schneller als erwartet, für mich praktisch da ich es brauchte um einen Aufsatz für die Uni darüber zu schreiben. Die Qualität war gut und top für den Preis.