Twopence to Cross the Mersey

I really enjoyed this book but oh how it hurt my heart, the selfishness and recklessness of the parents of these unfortunate, poverty stricken children in Liverpool. I haven't been so frustrated with a set of parents since The Glass Castle.

This book chronicles the fall of the Forrester family from riches to rags, as a result of the 1929 stock market crash. Unfortunately, it was not only the vicissitudes of the great depression that Helen had to contend with. Her parents were simply too selfish to handle the changes in life style, their situation necessitated. To her credit, Helen was able to look back on this time with little bitterness or self-pity, and relate how she struggled through this period of her life. I recommend this book to everyone.

I have read and reread these books since I was a child in Ireland. The beauty of these books is the simplicity with which she pulls you in to the story. She writes and weaves a story that if you have any type of imagination you will feel like you are in that bare room covered by a coat and having scruff in your hair and shoes with patches. A teenager could easily read and understand her work and someday I will give them to my kids to read.

What a beautiful sad story. I really felt like I was there the whole time. It really makes me think about how lucky I am compared to her.

Twopence To cross The mersey is an outatanding book in which a great struggle is displayed, it made me feel like I was a part of Helen's life.

Haunting story of the great Depression in northern England from the viewpoint of a young girl. You share the hunger and bewilderment and struggle to survive. Told beautifully.