Kit Kettridge
in the American Girls Book Series about Growing Up in 1934 during
the Great Depression
Each of the six books about
Kit in the American Girls Series is described below. These stories
tell about a girl growing up in 1934 during the Great Depression.
The book is beautifully illustrated. At the back of each book
is a "A Peek into the Past" that includes photos,
drawings, and sketches about people, places and things during
the Depression that relate to the specific book. Relevant for
growing up then and growing up now. Recommended for Ages 7
and up.
Book
One - "Meet Kit, An American Girl"
 "Kit
Kittredge is a nine-year-old girl with a nose for news. But since
most of the news in the early 1930s is about the hard times of
the Depression, Kit writes her own newspaper stories. She reports
on what happens at home while Dad is at work -- like the day
Mother invites fussy Mrs. Howard and her son to stay with them.
Kit is excited to have a boy her own age to play with, but Stirling
is a disappointment -- and he causes Kit nothing but trouble.
Then, when Dad loses his business because of the Depression,
Mother gets a brainstorm that turns the Kittredge household upside
down."
8.5 x 6 inches, 80 pages
Book
Two - "Kit Learns a Lesson, A School Story"
 "Kit hopes Dad will find a new job soon! When
he does, things in the Kittredge household can go back to the
way they were before Dad lost his business. Kit won't have to
get up early every morning before school to help Mother with
chores for the bothersome boarders, the people who pay to live
in the Kittredges' house. Best of all, Kit will have more time
to write newspapers for Dad, like she used to. But when Kit helps
deliver her class's Thanksgiving food basket to a soup kitchen,
she realizes the Depression has changed some things permanently
-- and she learns a surprising lesson about being thankful."
8.5 x 6 inches, 80 pages
Book
Three - "Kit's Surprise, A Christmas Story"
 "Kit overhears terrible news just before Christmas
-- her family may lose their house. Even with the rent from the
boarders, the Kittredges don't have enough money to pay the bank.
Then Kit's pride causes her to have a fight with her best friend
Ruthie. On top of it all, Kit has to spend all her free time
caring for grouchy Uncle Hendrick and his cranky dog Inky. Kit
wonders how much worse this Christmas can get! But when Kit finds
hope in an unexpected place, she plans a surprise that fills
Christmas with light and love."
8.5 x 6 inches, 80 pages
Book
Four - "Happy Birthday Kit!, A Springtime Story"
 "Keeping up with boarding house chores means
there's no time to plan a birthday party for Kit's tenth birthday.
Besides, there's no money either, since Dad still doesn't have
a job because of the Depression. Kit knows she shouldn't even
be thinking about a party, but it's hard not to hope. Then, when
Aunt Millie shows up unexpectedly at the Kittredges' front door,
Kit finds new reasons to hope. And Aunt Millie is so full of
good ideas and surprises that Kit loves having her there -- until,
that is, one of Aunt Millie's ideas doesn't sound so good to
Kit."
8.5 x 6 inches, 80 pages
Book
Five - "Kit Saves the Day, A Summer Story"
 "Kit is ready for an adventure. Actually,
she is ready for anything -- as long as it doesn't involve chores,
which are all she's been doing all summer long. When a young
hobo named Will stops to work in the Kittredges' garden in exchange
for a meal, he tells Kit about life on the road. Kit imagines
Will has the life of freedom and adventure she longs for -- on
the move, seeing the world, sleeping under the stars. Then Will
leaves without taking food to share with the other hoboes in
the hobo jungle. Kit is determined to visit the jungle -- and
Will. But when she does, she gets more than she bargained for!"
8.5 x 6 inches, 80 pages
Book
Six - "Changes for Kit, A Winter Story"
 "Cranky Uncle Hendrick and his horrid dog
Inky have come to stay with the Kittredge family. Kit gets stuck
running errands and writing letters for Uncle Hendrick almost
every day. Soon his fiery letters to the newspaper and stinging
words to Kit have her losing hope for better times. Then a visit
to a soup kitchen inspires Kit to do something to help children
who are homeless because of the Depression. But what? It is Uncle
Hendrick who unknowingly gives Kit a great idea -- and proves
the importance of hope."
8.5 x 6 inches, 80 pages
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