This book was very well-written, with vivid descriptions and language both child and adult can enjoy. A lot of Cleary's childhood is inspiration for her books, and it always made me smile when I read a bit that had been adapted into one of her stories. Cleary grew up during the depression, and this book covers that time until she leaves for college (where her next book picks up). For addressing a sometimes-difficult childhood, the book lacked emotion, which might be because of the distance from her childhood, or because she's learned to let a lot of hurt feelings go. A must-read for any Cleary fan, as well as those who have an interest in the Depression era.