Tree Twig Ornaments Molasses Crinkles Feather Earrings

At the age of twelve, Minnie Swift is living through one of the toughest times in America's history, The Great Depression. She keeps a detailed diary over the span of one Christmas month. Reflecting the sadness — but also optimism — that characterized the time, this is an intimate portrait of a midwestern family's days and nights, ups and downs, triumphs and losses. It is the story of one family's persevering spirit. The Christmas Spirit.

		December 4, 1932 This is going to be an odd Christmas, no doubt about it. Instead of sugar plums and stockings stuffed with goodies and stacks of presents under the tree — A Time of Bounty, I am thinking of this as The Time of Dwindling. Everything is diminishing — our money, the light of day, and the hours Papa works. But in my heart I know we Darlings are tough...I just know that somehow, some way, this shall be Christmas.