[.ca] Kit Learns a Lesson: A School Story, 1934 (ISBN 158485121X)

Nice story, but fails as a history lesson:
I have enjoyed most of the "American Girls" books and can applaud the way they make American history come to life for girls, but I was upset by the classroom scene in "Kit Learns a Lesson" in which the teacher and children discuss Thanksgiving. It is not only sad that Kit explains Thanksgiving as the day when the Pilgrims thanked the Indians (instead of the day when the Pilgrims thanked God), it is inaccurate, and no 1930s teacher would have let it pass. It is too bad that the author felt the need to revise history to make her book P.C. Otherwise, Kit is a fine, lively heroine, the plot is exciting and the setting basically believable.

NOT ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS ABOUT KIT...:
The second book in the Kit series, this one is not all the best of the lot. Kit seems to be very much snobbish and rude, not to mention constantly complaining about the "bothersome boarders." I was, to say in the least, bored with this book about Kit, which to me seems inaccurate, especially Kit's comment about the Pilgrims and Indians. The other five books in the series do a much better job than this one, which does very little to develop the characters in the series. Perhaps the only good thing about this book is the scene where Kit gets a shock at the soup kitchen, and changes her attitude. I bought this one so that my collection doesn't have a hole in it--otherwise I would not have even bothered. The other School stories in the American Girls Collection that were written by Valerie Tripp--the ones about Felicity, Josefina, and Molly, do a much better job than this one. Candace

Excellent book!:
In 1932 Kit finds that she has hard lessons to learn about the Great Depression, both at home and at school. Like the first book they have to have boarders living in their house because of the money situations. Her father lost his job and Kit is praying that her father will get a job. Every day Kit's father pretends to go on job interviews so Kit thinks that it will turn out all right (even though he doesn't.) At school one day Kit was asked to take the Thanksgiving basket to the food pantry and there she finds out that her father is depending on the food pantry for food. She is ashamed that this is true. To find out if her father gets a job you have to read the book.

Excellent book!:
In 1932 Kit finds that she has hard lessons to learn about the Great Depression, both at home and at school. Like the first book they have to have boarders living in their house because of the money situations. Her father lost his job and Kit is praying that her father will get a job. Every day Kit's father pretends to go on job interviews so Kit thinks that it will turn out all right (even though he doesn't.) At school one day Kit was asked to take the Thanksgiving basket to the food pantry and there she finds out that her father is depending on the food pantry for food. She is ashamed that this is true. To find out if her father gets a job you have to read the book.

Another great Kit book:
This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Kit Kittredge, a nine-year-old girl living in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is 1934, the Great Depression is deepening, and Kit begins to find out just how bad things are. Having spent her time waiting for her father to get a job, so that they can send away their intrusive boarders, she visits a soup kitchen and makes a disturbing discovery. As with the other Kit books, this one gives a frank look into life during the Great Depression, while also teaching a lesson. In this book, Kit learns that a lesson in cooperation and thankfulness. Again, Walter Rane_s illustrations are excellent, and add greatly to the story. Also, the final chapter is about school children during the Depression. As always, my daughter and I love this book, and recommend it to you.