How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"He was just an old reprobate who lived poor and died broke," Grandma said. "Nobody went near him because he smelled like a polecat. He lived in a chicken coop, and now they'll have to burn it down." (1.15)
When the kids go to stay with Grandma, they're exposed to a completely different way of life—one that's slower and also involves being surrounded by a great deal of poverty. It's eye-opening and helps to round out their perspective on the world.
Quote #2
You could see hard times from the window of the Wabash Blue Bird. The freight trains on the siding were loaded down with men trying to get from one part of the country to another, looking for work and something to eat. Mary Alice and I watched them as they stood in the open doors of the freight cars. They were walking along the right-of-way too, with nothing in their hands. (3.2)
The Great Depression is no joke, and Joey and Mary Alice get a front row seat to the harsh realities of poverty when they visit Grandma Dowdel. There are tons of people walking through the town in order to find work and food.
Quote #3
An old house without a speck of paint on it stood tall on the bluff. Its outbuildings had caved in, and the privy stood at an angle. There were still prairie chickens around in those days, and they were pecking dirt. Otherwise, the place looked lifeless. Rags hung at the windows. (3.91)
Things aren't looking good at old Aunt Puss's house. It's obvious that she was once well off, but she's fallen on hard times…and the state of the house reflects that.