AS STATED IN THE AUTHOR'S COMMENTS, THE BOOK IS ABOUT AN ORDINARY ILLINOIS FARM FAMILY OF THE 1930'S WHICH SURVIVED THE BAD ECONOMY OF THE DEPRESSION YEARS AND THE STRESSFUL PERIOD LEADING UP TO AND DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. IT IS WRITTEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A YOUNG BOY WHO SLOWLY MATURED DURING THAT PERIOD, DESCRIBING SOME OF THE STRESSES AS WELL AS THE PLEASURES OF LIFE UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES BY GIVING TRIBUTE TO THE GOOD THINGS DONE BY HIS PARENTS FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY, AND THAT HE WOULD NOT TRADE HIS EXPERIENCES OR FAMILY FOR THAT OF ANY OTHER.