Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker has lived a drifter's life until the summer her father sends her to live with his friends in Manifest, Kansas. Filled with questions about her father and his connections to the town, Abilene begins an investigation that leads her to layers of secrets from the past. The narratives runs in parallel stories about Manifest in 1918 and in 1936. This is the best kind of historical fiction: filled with details and events that offer a window into the past, but driven by a strong narrative and engaging characters. The reader discovers the truth about Abilene's father along with her, and by the end of the book, I was as reluctant to finish the story as Abilene was to leave her new home.
Target age: 10-13 years

Little Audrey by Ruth White

Little Audrey by Ruth White
Oh my, I loved this book. At 11, Audrey is the oldest of four sisters, living in a coal camp in 1948. The author shares Audrey's honest feelings as she deals with extreme poverty, an alcoholic father and a grief-stricken mother. Despite her struggles, Audrey has a hopeful spirit that shines through, even in her darkest moments. This book, based upon the author's own childhood, is a fascinating view of life in a company town, and an inspiring tribute to human resilience.
Target age: 10-14 years.

Connections:
At Home in the Heart of Appalachia, by John O'Brien (2001) (Adult)