Christopher Paul Curtis is one of my favorite authors so I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Mighty Miss Malone. The narrator of the story, Deza Malone, is from his book - Bud, Not Buddy - but you do not have to read Bud first to enjoy the story. The story takes place during the Great Depression as the family travels from Gary, Indiana to Flint,Michigan. Deza is a smart girl who takes her academics seriously. Her brother, Jimmie,is an amazing singer with a unique voice. At the beginning of the story, hard-working Deza explains how much her teacher, Mrs. Needham, has influenced her life. Times are tough for the Malone family as their father has trouble finding work. When a horrible accident changes Mr. Malone's life, he decides he must go to Flint to find work to help his family. When Mrs. Malone loses her job and months have passed without hearing from Mr. Malone, she takes the kids to Flint to search for their father. They must travel illegally by hopping on railcars and living with other homeless people on the journey. Once in Flint, Jimmie decides to use his voice to make money. He is determined to save his family. This poignant story describes the hardships that many children face even today as the result of poverty. Read The Might Miss Malone to find out how the Malones conquer hard times and the heartache of not knowing where your loved one is. Other wonderful reads by Curtis include The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963; Bud,Not Buddy; Bucking the Sarge; Elijah of Buxton; and the Mr. Chickee's series. Click on the video below to hear the author tell you about this book.
