Laura Compton

The Stairstep Girls Laura Compton

This brief book brings the reader along as a Senior reminisces about growing up a family of nine girls on Prince Edward Island, Canada during the depression. It shares the hardships as well as the enjoyment of those years. Ways to stretch food supplies as well as improvising clothing give a sense of what life was like. Mixed in is a liberal dose of fun (mischief) and responsibility as the aukthor is given responsibility for her siblings when her parents had to be away working. Being hired out at age 14 shows some of the contrasts between poverty and wealth. The book shows an underlying struggle for survival mixed with light-hearted moments. It makes the contrast to modern childhood most pronounced.