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90th out of 136 books
—
545 voters
R My Name Is Rachel
Rachel, Cassie, and Joey live in the city with their Pop, until Pop's search for work lands the family on a run down farm. Dreamy Rachel loves to read, and doesn't know much about the country. Times are hard there, too—the school and library are closed. When Pop gets work near Canada, he has to leave the children on the farm alone. For two months! But Rachel's the oldest,...more
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
August 9th 2011
by Wendy Lamb Books
(first published January 1st 2000)
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Jun 12, 2012
Heidi
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Grades 4th-6th
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
juv-fiction
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Working part time at a library as a "page", being a voracious reader and having a 10 year old niece named Rachel who is also an accomplished reader can be bad for your back. As in, leaving the library loaded down with must reads.
I picked this up to share with my Rachel and polished it off in one setting. I hope she'll be as delighted with it. It is a quick read and takes you back to the time of the Depression in stark fashion. You feel the hunger of this family, the despair of the widowed father...more
I picked this up to share with my Rachel and polished it off in one setting. I hope she'll be as delighted with it. It is a quick read and takes you back to the time of the Depression in stark fashion. You feel the hunger of this family, the despair of the widowed father...more
Sometimes I feel that Patricia Reilly Giff is overlooked in conversations about excellent authors of juvenile fiction. Maybe it's just that her first name belongs to so many other superb writers for young readers: Patricia MacLachlan, Patricia Polacco, Patricia Hermes, Patricia Lauber, Patricia McCormick, Patricia C. McKissack... and the list doesn't end there. It's my opinion, though, that Patricia Reilly Giff should be able to hold her own in comparison to any group of writers, even ones not...more
I can see this book filling the need for a book about the depression for the 3rd through 5th grade (maybe 6th grade) age group, It portrays an adequate picture of life during the depression, with a picture of a family struggling to survive and the father having to go off and work on a road crew leaving his three children (ages 10, 12 and 13) to fend for themselves. I guess the book just isn't something I will ever consider memorable as I do Pictures of Hollis Woods, my favorite Patricia Reilly G...more
For a book that describes the realistic consequences of the Depression on the life of an average American family, this story fits the bill. It outlines the sacrifices that families had to make to simply survive - experienced and educated career professionals abandoned all pretense to get any paying job available. Children had no choice but to make do with what they had - cutting the toes off shoes so that they could wear them longer, adding inches of cloth to pants and skirts for the same reason...more
I really would like to give this another half star. Giff pays a lot of attention to detail. Her books aren't lyrical but she does a great job creating setting and believable characters and she doesn't talk above her target audience. This book would be great as an ebook with hotlinks (so you can hear "happy days are here again" or pictures of "Hoovervilles" etc etc.....Dealing with the Great Depression it is of course very topical, if only to show how incredibly hard things were then (24 states c...more
It is the Great Depression and lots of people are out of work, including Pop who has lost his job at the bank. He decides to move his three kids to the country in the hopes that there will be another job available. So Pop, Rachel, Joey and Cassie leave the city and Miss Mitzi and move to a farm in the middle of nowhere. But times are hard in the country too; the school and library are closed and there are no jobs for Pop. So he leaves the kids to take a job building a road far away. Rachel, Joey...more
Rachel and her family have to move away from their city home during thhe Great Depression, because their Dad lost his job.
Her father is supposed to be getting a banking job far out into the country, but once he gets there, the job is taken.
"Pop" has to leave his family (Rachel and her 2 younger) siblings and go far away to find work on the Railroad.
Rachel and her siblings go through a lot of rough patches, and it is hard to believe they survived.
A good historical fiction book for those that want...more
Her father is supposed to be getting a banking job far out into the country, but once he gets there, the job is taken.
"Pop" has to leave his family (Rachel and her 2 younger) siblings and go far away to find work on the Railroad.
Rachel and her siblings go through a lot of rough patches, and it is hard to believe they survived.
A good historical fiction book for those that want...more
I'm a big fan of families moving out into the country into rundown houses, and growing vegetables to make end meet. Especialy when, as is the case here, the children are left on their own for much of the book. And Giff's story of a family in the Great Depression hit all those notes, so I was predispossed in its favor. I just wish she had given us More--more actual work on the house, more time with the mysterious boy who lives nearby, more harvesting and housecleaning, more of the sibling releati...more
During the Depression, Rachel and her family move to a farmhouse in the country where her father is promised a job. When that job falls through, he must leave his children alone to work a construction job. Rachel and her two siblings must learn to work together to survive.
This was basically The Grapes of Wrath for grade-schoolers. One depressing thing after another fell on this poor family. But, this is probably pretty accurate for the time period. There is a postive ending and it can make any r...more
This was basically The Grapes of Wrath for grade-schoolers. One depressing thing after another fell on this poor family. But, this is probably pretty accurate for the time period. There is a postive ending and it can make any r...more
Great historical fiction. Rachel's father is forced to move the family from the city to the country during the height of the Great Depression. Drawn by the promise of a job, they leave everything behind. The farm where they end up has no electricity or running water, and the nearby town has no school or library. Everyone must work hard to help cook, clean and survive. When the promised job falls through, Pop must leave the children behind to go find work. Can they make it on their own until he r...more
A touching historical fiction piece that takes place during the Great Depression. The main character, Rachel, is being raised by a single dad. When her father decides to move to a remote town in order to support the family, their struggle becomes even harder. Rachel's main support is Miss Mitzi, a friend from her former town whom she writes letters to constantly. A wonderful novel that gives insight into how families dealt with the difficulties of the Depression.
Giff is always a good read. This one has some great family dynamics and even some suspense. Set in the Great Depression, the setting becomes a major character. Rachel's dad is desperate for work to care for his motherless children. Rachel has to "grow up" a bit early to help with the family farm and finances while her dad is gone. It's well written and poignant. But too predictable to be called marvelous.
As always, Giff understands the longings of a young girl who wants her family to be safe during a time of uncertainty. It's the depression and Rachel's father moves his children to a small farm in the hope of finding work. Rachel and her two siblings leave behind a city, with friends and a way of life they understand, for a lonely farmhouse, a goat and eventually, a chance to have a better life.
A gentle Depression story. Rachel's father loses his job and the family is forced to move from New York City to a derelict farm close to a job lead. When the job falls through, Rachel's father is forced to help build a railroad, taking him away from the family. Rachel and her siblings are left alone to fend for themselves, where they have to overcome their differences for their very survival. Rachel must deal with the fact that the school and library are closed, leaving her with no books to read...more
LOVED THIS! Patricia Reilly Giff never disappoints, and I love how her MANY main characters ALL have their own unique voices. This is a great snapshot of life during the depression, and Rachel is a sympathetic, admirable protagonist. I would certainly recommend this book for 4th - 8th graders, and of course for adult readers of YA fiction who enjoy YA fiction as much as I do.
I thought this was a great book. It sites specific presidents during the great depression. Kids will get a great idea of how hard it was on everyone. Rachel's dad is a banker and is out of work. Explains the hardships Rachel and her family go through to provide a roof over their heads and food on the table. The whole family must help out to overcome this hardship. Great easy read.
Sep 06, 2011
Augusta Scattergood
added it
This new novel of Giff's is a love story, a survival story, a family story. The writing is exquisite.
It's also quite short. Very easy to read. A page turner. And includes a big shout-out for kids who love to read, as Rachel does in the story.
The link to my blog review:
http://ascattergood.blogspot.com/2011...
It's also quite short. Very easy to read. A page turner. And includes a big shout-out for kids who love to read, as Rachel does in the story.
The link to my blog review:
http://ascattergood.blogspot.com/2011...
Apr 22, 2012
Veda Sorrells
added it
"Wild Girl" and "Pictures of Hollis Woods" are two of my favorite books, especially by Patricia Reilly Giff. Now, I am adding "R My Name Is Rachel" to that list. It's a story about a family in the time of the Great Depression, and what it means to be a family. I highly recommend it to any young girl. (Yes, another children's book)
A good book,I actually took this book out since I saw the letter R and since my name starts with the letter R as well. I feel sorry for Rachel as she has to take care of everyone in the family, and how poor they are, and how there is not enough food to go around for everyone.
Would recommend to childern!!
Would recommend to childern!!
DCF Book Award List 2012 - 2013. Rachel, her Pop, brother and sister have to leave the city to move to a farm during the Depression. Then Pop has to leave the kids alone there to go find work. Rachel writes letters to a woman friend they left behind in the city telling of their experiences.
An account of the depression in 1933 by 12-year old Rachel, who must move with her father and siblings from the city to an abandoned farm near the small town where her father is trying to find a job. There are tender and poignant moments in this book for 9-12 year olds.
An endearing tale of courage in the lives of three children and their father as they face extreme hardship during the Great Depression, Rachel is not perfect but her strength and love of books and poeple endure and she is complemented by the character strengths in her siblings.
This is a wholesome read by a talented storyteller about living during the tough times of the Great Depression. Rachel's mom died years prior to the story beginning and her father is...(click here for the full review: http://storysnoops.com/detail.php?id=... )
May 02, 2013
Mary
added it
Good story but may not appeal to intended 4-6th grade audience. Historical fiction, depression era. Rachel, her father, and siblings leave their home in a big city apt. to go to rural area and dilapidated farm house. in hopes that father can secure a job.
This book is perfect for my 3rd-5th grade girls, giving them a peek into life during the Depression from the vantage point of a girl their age. Rachel's love for and appreciation of books is particularly appealing here, and the way she savors new vocabulary words is wonderful!
Listened to this - only 3 cd's long. Another one about children growing up in the Depression and the hardships they had. Since it was so short, there wasn't too much chance for things to go really badly and everything wrapped up nicely in the end.
A pleasant but ultimately too-juvenile read for me. The author accurately but tenderly relates the hardships of the Depression for one family in particular while giving glimpses into the state of the country as a whole. Tween girls who are interested in history would probably like this one. Not much for boys in this one.
A wonderful book - about a girl helping her family survive when they have to move during the Depression. Reminded me a lot of two other books I've loved: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Sarah MacLachlan and The Secret School by Avi.
I really enjoyed listening to this one. I think it was maybe a bit too short, but the audiobook took 3 hours, which made it feel longer. I think in this case, the audiobook was probably preferable to the text, especially since the narrator does such a good job of bringing everyone to life.
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| R my name is rachel | 2 | 1 | Jan 07, 2013 06:01pm |
![R My Name Is Rachel [With Earbuds]](http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347484511s/14565832.jpg)
PATRICIA REILLY GIFF is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan...more
More about Patricia Reilly Giff...
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