Like I've said before, it seems as though certain vintage books just find their way into my life. On a table at November's flea market there were at least 100 books all spread out and this little blue one caught my eye. Maybe it was the sweet little illustration on the cover, but whatever it was, for only a dollar I couldn't pass it up and it has been a joy to read!
If I remember correctly, the book takes place in 1940 or 1941, and the "trio" consists of siblings. Big sister Anne is the oldest at 21 and is recovering from a terrible bout of pneumonia. Brother Roger is 18, and baby sister Maleta is 15. Their parents have died, and they have left their drought-stricken farm in South Dakota and are traveling to their Uncle's old homestead in Idaho that has been sitting empty for years. He's offered it to them as he now lives in Florida. They are traveling with a nifty little homemade trailer that Roger built with his own two hands.
They stop in many places along the way including the small, government built towns of Mason City and Engineer City, built to house those working on the Grand Coulee Dam (which I discovered are all real places!) Here Roger was to work until they had the funds to move over to Idaho and their Uncle's land.
But they end up leaving the dam and this takes them to many different fun places where they become farm hands, fruit pickers and dish washers. The characters are very likeable, and since this is a "teen" book a romance blossoms between a college student (also traveling) and Anne.
It reminds me a little bit of the Box Car Children.
One of my favorite chapters is when they find themselves in an old fashioned farm yard and they knock on the door looking for odd jobs to do. The friendly farmer's wife gives them little chores to do in exchange for food from the garden and a couple of meals. These jobs include helping with weeding the garden and washing dishes for the harvest crews. This chapter has a cute illustration.
The farm women gives them her old, wood burning, cook stove that she threw out to the trash heap just a while ago (because she'd won a new stove in a contest). They pack the old stove into their trailer and head on down the road.
When they get to their destination (uncle's homestead land), they fix up the little cabin on the property, and create a new start for themselves.
I loved this little book and plan to read it again as it is such an easy read. It's no worse than sitting and watching one of those cheesy Christmas movies onTV for the fourth or fifth time, right?
That's all for now. Until another time have a happy vintage day!
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