Tumbleweed Skies by Valerie Sherrard 150 pages

Paperback books tend to gather dust on the shelf in the children's department unless they are part of hyped popular series (like Capt. Underpants, Geronimo Stilton, or Rainbow Magic). This gentle historical fiction novel, deserves a better fate. This is written in the style of Gates Blue Willow Plate and MacLachlan's Sarah, Plain and Tall. When the economy dives in the 1950's, Ellie's father is forced to leave her with his deceased wife's mother on her cheerless farm in Saskatchewan. His goal is to make enough money as a traveling salesman to pick her up and find a new place for the two of them. Ellie's Grandma Acklebee has to be the most bitter grandmother I have come across in children's lit. Unmarried Uncle Roger, who runs the farm, is much kinder. Over time Ellie discovers the reasons for Grandma's behavior and it is based in pain, disappointment and guilt. The ending is not sugar-coated and it is believable and has an element of hope.