By: Joanne L
Pennsylvania, Grade: 4

Since the Dust Bowl began, my family and I had to leave and go to California. We're living in a ditchbank camp, with an old tent set up for us for shelter, and Mama, Papa, and my older sister Mary are all working hard. So am I. I work for a farmer and I'm not paid much, but food's cheap. I'm so hungry all the time because we only have a little fruit, some bread and chicken. I'm suffering from both hunger and sadness in this Great Depression. But there's hope. Hope will always be with me wherever we go, and it'll be my friend forever. Maybe, just maybe, the Great Depression will end soon.