Chig and the Second Spread (by Gwenyth Swain)

Chig may be quiet, but she notices things, such as the way the contents of her classmates' lunch buckets are dwindling, often to just a biscuit with one spread -- ketchup. And the time is coming when her observations and her readiness to speak out come together in a surprising way.

Unlike many other novels about this period, the harshness of the Depression is kept mostly at bay. As seen through the eyes of a rural child, though food is tight and pennies scarce, life is still good, and the biggest problems are those that children deal with in any era. But in the context of a gentle, engrossing historical story, first-time novelist Gwenyth Swain introduces many interesting ideas for readers to consider, from the importance of stature to what makes a person become mean.

Chig is a winning heroine. And though the good news comes a bit too thick and fast, the ending will be satisfying to young readers, as Chig becomes visible without sacrificing who she is.