Books that Bring Tears

Have you ever read to your child through tear streamed vision? 

Three books brought such a reaction from me.  I stumbled through the words of two of the books, barely reaching the end, and entirely quit the third.

The first book is 

The Story of Ruby Bridges. 
I cry every time I read it.  I even started to tear up at co-op when I heard the story being read by another mom to some younger elementary grade students.

Robert Cole sensitively writes about a time of turmoil in America's history, and does a fantastic job of allowing the reader an 'inside' view of it.  Through Ruby, I saw the world of that time in a way I could not have imagined. 

Ruby's faith and grace shine through the pages. 
It is her words and actions that bring the tears to my eyes each and every time. 

Another book that draws the tears is

The Hundred Dresses.

 Written by Eleanor Estes, this book weaves a tale of two elementary aged children who are cruel to a class mate.  Wanda, the class mate, is poor, and wears but one dress, a thin blue one.

Peggie and Maddie, the two children who make cutting remarks to Wanda, realize Wanda's absence from school one day.  Thus begins the story of their interactions including past memories and reflections on their behavior and cutting words. 

For me, the hardest parts were reading about those cutting remarks, hurtful words, and children who use this power of words for their own self gain, without considering other's feelings or situations.  Perhaps, I am more sensitive than most, but from my growing up experiences, I relate more to Wanda than to Peggy and Maddie. 

In all, the book is a fascinating read, interweaving remorse into the past and present settings of the book.    

My most abrupt failure was during my first read through of the Little House series,

particularly
On the Banks of Plum Creek.

I had told my daughters we would read through them together. 

The historical narratives are told in a plain matter of fact style with superb details.

When Laura tells of their poverty,

struggle after struggle,

then 

Pa's search for a job miles away,

walking in his one pair of boots...

why I couldn't go on!

I stopped right there,

apologized to my daughters for my tears, and set the book aside.

I could not read any more.

Several months later, I picked up the series and began again, alone.

I struggled through them all on my own,

stopping occasionally, but finally completing the set. 

Now, I want to finish the series with my daughters,

as I had told them I would. 

I am confident that I can now make it through

On the Banks of Plum Creek

and By the Shores of Silver Lake,

but I do believe there will be another struggle for me when we reach 

The Long Winter.