The Great Depression

Most of the book takes place during the Great Depression. This period of time affected every aspect of American life. The effect of the Depression is in almost every story told, from the drifters going through town and the distrust of the banks to the foreclosure of a main character’s house. Whether referred to or not, the Depression is always present in the book.

Family

The main theme in the book is family. Joey and Mary Alice travel each summer to visit their Grandma. The reader can see how their relationship grows through the years. Family is always strong and can even be seen in the relationships between some of the minor characters.

On their first trip, the kids have never even met Grandma Dowdel. Each year their ties with her grow even stronger. The kids never question her love for them and they seem...