Merle

This is a forgotten Pulitzer Prize winner from the 1930s, probably too obscure to call a classic. It depicts a family struggling to get by on their farm in the early years of the Great Depression, through the eyes of the middle of three daughters.

And it's a pretty good book: well written, and with some strong characterization, particularly of the two sisters and the neighbor who comes to live with the family as hired help. Still, although it's quite short, it took me awhile to finish: the author does a little too much telling us about the characters and their lives rather than showing us, and the themes are a bit heavy-handed. I can see how some people might connect powerfully with this book, but it never quite inspired that reaction in me. Still, worth a try if you come across a copy.