The Great Depression
At first glance, a reader can get an idea that this novel in stories is just a pleasure reading. However, such serious topics as the Great Depression and the most notorious gangsters from Chicago’s Prohibition Era are no less frequently mentioned in it. Massacres, criminals and people who go bankrupt almost every day become a new normality. People no longer feel safe at their houses, because there is always someone who is eager to get some extra money by stealing. For instance, Mrs. Dowdel owns a shotgun and she is always ready to use it. Her bravery and confidence in herself help her to cope with every hardship on her way, but there are many others, who just don’t have enough strengths to continue to fight.
ding e ling e bling.
amogus
Coming of age
Every kid dreams about a day when he or she becomes an adult. Joey and Mary Alice are not an exception. At first they are reluctant to come to their Grandma’s place, but even they understand that it is temporary. Time flies too fast and their wish to become adults comes true, but it doesn’t make them happier. For instance, Joey is going to see the horrors of the World War II with his own eyes. The train that he takes to get to a military base goes through his Grandma’s town. He waves at it, his Grandma and his childhood. This is a bittersweet farewell.
Loyalty
The best adjective to describe Mrs. Dowdel is loyal. She is that kid of a person who puts down roots really deeply. Mrs. Dowdel loves her house, her yard and her town so dearly that she is always ready to face any problem that is thrown at her. She is even loyal to her enemy! When Miss Effie Wilcox leaves the town, Mrs. Dowdel helps her to get her house back. She is a person of action, not words. Her loyalty doesn’t know measures.
