Synergy: Farm Security Administration

The Farm Security Administration (FSA) was part of the Great Depression-era New Deal program. The FSA became famous for its photography program that depicted rural poverty. Between 1935 and 1944, about 175,000 black-and-white images were generated by the eleven photographers. Dorothea Lange and Gordon Parks were among the photographers.

Read the recently published nonfiction history for youth then learn more at the website.

PICTURING A NATION by Martin W. Sandler shares the story of the FSA photographers who brought the challenges of rural living alive for America. Filled with stunning photographs and quotes from both the photographers and others, the book features many lesser-known images to help young people understand the impact of the Farm Security Administration’s photography program. After introducing the program, the book explores photographs from each region and concludes with an overview of each photographer.

The FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION digital collection at the Library of Congress shares thousands of historical photos along with articles and essays about the FSA-OWI photographic unit.

To visit the black and white collection, go to https://bit.ly/3FBBZHi

To visit the color collection, go to https://bit.ly/3Igrbjs

ABOUT THE FSW is a video from the Library of Congress that introduces the Farm Security Administration collection.

To watch the overview, go to https://youtu.be/00UaD8_UpkE

ARC courtesy of Candlewick Press.

Book: Crash: The Great Depression...

CRASH: THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THE FALL AND RISE OF AMERICA by Marc Favreau is a work of nonfiction telling the story of life in the United States during the 1930s.

Told through short, engaging narratives, Favreau draws readers into the events surrounding the stock market crash, depression, and recovery. The author uses the stories of both ordinary people along with well-known figures to help readers understand the challenges of life during the Great Depression. By featuring the stories of people across racial, ethic, gender, and geographic lines, the book is effective in demonstrating the widespread impact of the crash. From the New Deal to the dust bowl and labor strikes, the key events are also addressed.

The book is divided into four parts with short chapters. A wide range of primary source documents including photographs, letters, banners, and other materials keep readers interested. The book concludes with source notes, a bibliography, primary sources, a timeline, and glossary.

Librarians will find this book to be a welcome addition to the nonfiction collection. Use it in a nonfiction literature circle featuring other works from the same time period.

Look for this title on the “best of nonfiction” lists for 2018.

Published by Little, Brown, an imprint of Hachette on April 10, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Stella by Starlight

STELLA BY STARLIGHT by Sharon M. Draper provides a realistic portrayal of life in the segregated South during the Great Depression.

The author skillfully conveys the reality of life in a world where people are treated unfairly because of the color of their skin. From a random beating to a house burning, the scenes that demonstrate the terror instilled by members of the KKK are chilling. Through her use of age-appropriate examples, Draper is able to create convincing scenarios that convey both the injustice as well as the courage needed to survive in this period of intolerance and fear.

Many readers will empathized with Stella’s desire to be a writer as well as her difficulty in translating her thoughts into words on paper. Her use of the donated typewriter to write news article may inspire some budding authors.

Aimed at the middle grades, this outstanding work of historical fiction should be added to your school library’s growing collection of quality works dealing with African American life in the 20th century.

Like the works of Christopher Paul Curtis and Jacqueline Woodson, Draper is able to draw on both African American culture as well as universal human themes. This combination makes it a great book for literature circles, social studies, and language arts activities.

The year is just beginning, but put STELLA BY STARLIGHT on your Coretta Scott King Book Award short-list for 2015.

Edelweiss ARC used for review