Cricket Readers Recommend

This amazing Virgina Reader's Choice book by Joyce Moyer Hostetter takes place in the days of FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and WWII. Ann Fay's father is sent off to war leaving her with her two little sisters and her little brother with their mother in North Carolina. They live a pretty nice life, doing chores around the house and playing in their wisteria garden.

Suddenly, the polio (a disease which paralyzes the legs usually) epidemic strikes sending many people to the hospital in increasing numbers. Ann Fay's little brother Bobby suddenly gets the disease and is sent away with Ann Fay's mother leaving her with her little sisters and big shoes to fill in. She not only has to act as the mother now, she has to be her father. But even with all the hardships like burning Bobby's items, his ending is tragic.

This is a beautiful story which will leave tears in your eyes. Even I cried when I read it. It perfectly shows that even when hardships strike and there's a bleak feeling of happiness prevailing, there's always a chance of joy at the end.