** spoiler alert ** Katie Nolan is one of my favorite literary characters. I am touched by her dedication to her family: to feeding them, educating them and raising those kids right. I love her desperation for success at the birth of Francie, her commitment to her mother’s wise advice and her fierce loyalty to Francie as a baby, even though others call her sickly and wonder if she should be living. I love that when Francie gambles away her tickets at the political party Katie doesn't pity her, but tells her she's lucky to learn the lesson now. I love that she is unresentful of her husband's choices and wishes she only didn't see the fault-even though I certainly do believe in personal accountability. I love that when he dies, she hugs her children tells her children, "I am now both your mother and your father," filling the role that he leaves empty with her physical touch, even though it's not her strength. I love that Katie does whatever she can to educate her children, knowing that education is what will pull them from poverty, despite her belief that with that education will come a distancing between them as they become embarrassed at her lack of education. There are so many things to love about this book. Read it!