Heartland

Sarah Smarsh grew up in a loving farming family from Kansas that was poor no matter how hard they worked.  Sarah and her mom, aunts, and grandmothers moved often to get away from abusive spouses and other bad situations leaving them looking irresponsible by other members of their communities. This book made me look at my prejudices about the idea that if you are white and poor you just aren't working hard enough.  There are so many more reasons than working hard that affect whether or not you are successful in this country and Sarah Smarsh does a great job of presenting them.