Chasing Eleanor by Kerry Chaput is an endearing tale of resilience and hope set during the Great Depression. It follows Magnolia Parker, a young woman struggling to provide for her two younger brothers amidst widespread poverty and despair. Despite the hardships, Magnolia's unwavering spirit and determination to find a better life shine through.

Chaput's writing is evocative and descriptive, capturing the harsh realities of the era. However, the novel's pacing can be uneven, and the character development of supporting characters could have been deeper. Overall, Chasing Eleanor is a heartwarming and inspirational story that will leave readers with a sense of hope, a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity.

This was a wonderful historical fiction story. Based during the Great Depression, you are taken on a journey through heartbreaking situations. The characters are well developed and I grew to love Magnolia (Maggie). She is such an amazing young lady who is determined to keep her family together despite having no mother, no father, and no job. But she does not give up. This was a good coming-of-age story, most enjoyable.

A masterpiece. This story will linger long after the pages have been turned. .
Many thanks to Black Rose Writing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a wonderful historical fiction story. Based during the Great Depression, you are taken on a journey through heartbreaking situations. The characters are well developed and I grew to love Magnolia (Maggie). She is such an amazing young lady who is determined to keep her family together despite having no mother, no father, and no job. But she does not give up. Her love for her brothers is inspirational. When she is presented with the rare opportunity to meet Eleanor Roosevelt, she is in awe. And Eleanor’s quotes help her to keep the faith and trudge along. I loved the way Eleanor Roosevelt was represented and her efforts to help women and their role in society. Then when Maggie meets Hop and Red, life takes a turn. They band together and the relationship develops. A coming-of-age story, this one will have you cringing at what the various characters endure, encouraging them as they struggle to live a simple life, cheering them on as they travel physically and emotionally through the difficult days of the depression. A great adventure sprinkled the pages. While not a light read, you will have your heart lifted when you get to the end and see Maggie’s life unfold in an amazing way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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3.5 stars. I originally received this as an ARC from NetGalley and started reading it on my Kindle, butI found myself feeling as if I was slogging through it. I then realized, it was available through my library via Hoopla. I started the audiobook from the beginning , as soon as I finished what I was currently listening to. Although it seemed a bit slow at the very beginning, it quickly picked up after I got a bit further into the story. All in all, I am glad that I found the audiobook via Hoopla and continued with this story. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review; all these thoughts are solely my own.

A Story of Heartache, Darkness Despair Love and Hope
Chasing Eleanor is a heart wrenching Historical Fiction book by author Kerry Chaput and the book was inspired by the words of Eleanor Roosevelt. 
The book is set during the Great Depression in the1930s, during a time when much of the world was struggling with, unemployment, malnutrition, and loss of income. Magnolia Parker is seventeen years old and finds she grows up quickly during these challenging times as she witnesses her drunken father leaving home and her mother's devastation after this as she takes to her bed. She is so angry that spits vemon at Magnolia Day and night. Magnolia does her best to take care of both her two younger brothers and her mother. When her mother dies Magnolia finds that her two your brothers are now left in her care.
Magnolia gets a job as a housekeeper in a hotel to try and support them and whist there she meets Eleanor Roosevelt whom Maggie adores and follows through newspapers. After taking Eleanor Rosavelt a cup of tea, she is shocked to find Eleanor Roosevelt has asked to speak with her after dinner. After their discussion Maggie is given a letter to say if she is ever desperate all she must do is write to her and she will help in whatever way she can. But when Maggie returns home that night late there is a fire and Maggie desperately tries to protect both her brothers. Suddenly by the next day she discovers that both brothers were taken into care.
Life changes quickly for Maggie as her mistrust toward others is more than understandable. She goes on to fights at every turn, trying to find her brothers as her fierce love she feels for them both means she will stop at nothing until she finds them. Maggie never gives up, and her faith is strengthened by the young friends she meets along the way.
The author has done a wonderful job of depicting what life was like during these troubled times and Maggie and her friends will take you on an adventure full of, heartache, darkness despair love and hope never giving up during some very harrowing times. A very professionally written book and the story was depictured beautifully in the era in which it was written. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to Net Galley and Black Rose Writing for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is a. somewhat sad story that takes place during the Great Depression. Even though the main characters go through hard times, they never give up. There is always hope along the way. I thought this story was very well written with a lot of adventure. I also liked the connection to Eleanor Roosevelt. She gave a lot of hope to Magnolia and helped her get through hard times. I really enjoyed this story, and I was rooting for the three vagabonds throughout the story!

Excellent book! One of my favorite 2023 reads. Great character development, the plot was interesting, it was just an all around enjoyable book. I appreciate the chance to read the ARC.

These pages rake through hopeless situations and seemingly endless stumbling blocks in a fight of determination and a sibling love, which inspires.

Magnolia does the best she can to keep her two brothers, dying mother, and herself fed. While they have a type of roof of their heads, she knows they're hanging on by a last, frayed thread. With the mother's death comes, at least, the chance for Magnolia to land a job. Not that it really pays the bills, but work of any kind is a blessing and rarity. A miraculous twist of fate brings her face to face with her idol, Eleanor Roosevelt, who promises to help her if ever the need. But the moment Mrs. Roosevelt travels to the next town, disaster strikes in all the worst ways. Magnolia finds herself with nothing. Even her two brothers have been taken away, but she's not about to give up and sets out on a journey to get her brothers back...if there's even the slim chance she can.

This tale is set during the Great Depression and begins in a small town, where poverty is ruining many lives. There is nothing happy about the beginning situation as Magnolia struggles to keep everyone alive. This hits with grit as she faces a verbally abusive, dying mother while trying to help two younger brothers, who aren't in a great place themselves. Plus, it sets the tone for the rest of the read, one which holds raw moments and tough paths. The reader can't help by root for Magnolia as she fights at every turn, and her mistrust toward others is more than understandable. This isn't a sunshine read, but rather drags through the dark corners of poverty and greed. Still, there are moments of light, and that's what helps Magnolia (as well as the reader) pull through.

While the plot has Magnolia in more than a few rough places, there's a constant message of inspiration and encouragement. Especially Eleanor Roosevelt's quotes push Magnolia forward and help her grasp the inspiration to continue through even the most desperate moments. The same ideals Eleanor Roosevelt publicly supported carry through the adventure and show how far women in society have come and what battles. It also promotes support for children and those less fortunate. It's a message, which urges people to continue forward and find the strength to carry on. And of course, it addresses more than a few problems, details, and personalities of that time frame, making it a rich historical journey as well.

I’m afraid I hadn’t realised this book was for a YA audience so my review is probably not very relevant as it’s been many many years since I was a YA. However I read it so review I will. An interesting period in USA history with the depression causing so much heartbreak to so many families. However, this book did edge into maudling too much for me.

I received a copy of "Chasing Eleanor" from Netgalley. The book starts out during the great Depression. Magnolia who goes by the nickname Maggie is seventeen years old. She is newly orphaned and has two younger brothers left in her care. She tries to take care of the boys but one brother has mental issues and her other brother has physical issues. she tries to work at a hotel where she meets Eleanor Roosevelt. she gets to spend a couple hours with the first lady who offers Maggie emotional support. When Maggie is injured by her brother the kids up in hospital care. The boys are taken and transported states away. Maggie tries her best to travel across the USA to find her brothers. Along the way she makes friends with Hop a migrant worker. And Red a young teen who is on the run after being accused of murder. Over the next year the trio travels to protect Red and find Maggie's brothers. Maggie is also convinced if she can meet up with Eleanor Roosevelt the first lady will help her. along the way the trio meet their share of bad people who are out to hurt them and some good people who do help. A good read. I found myself rooting for Maggie and her friends for a good ending to their stories.

"Seems everyone is fighting to let go of something awful. And trying to grasp onto something good."

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Magnolia is a teenager living with her mother and two brothers in poverty. Her father, a drunk, ran off and left her as the one responsible for her mentally ill mother and the boys. They have barely enough food to eat and when things go from bad to worse and their mother dies, Magnolia must find a way for them to survive. She has the will and resilience inspired in her by reading the writings of Eleanor Roosevelt. She has the opportunity to meet her just as her life has hit its worst. When her family is split up, she undertakes a dangerous journey across the country to try to cross paths with her idol and hopeful savior again. She finds herself riding the rails with a migrant worker and a young girl on the run. Over and over she faces danger and will stop at nothing to reunite her family. She learns a lot of lessons along the way about the world, what family means and what she is truly capable of.

I’d say this one is The Lincoln Highway meets The Four Winds, both five star reads for me, so I really enjoyed how this story unravelled. There were so many developments that I hadn't expected and while I felt bad for all of the strife that Magnolia dealt with, I appreciated her arc as a character. The glimpses of Eleanor and the idea of what she may have meant to young women at the time. But what I liked the most was the adventure of it all, we got so many vignettes of life during the Great Depression, how it impacted so many lives and how different people found different ways to survive. Truly a lovely historical fiction novel.

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.

This is an excellent book following the trials and tribulations of some particular organs during the great depression. The Eleanor in question is none other than Eleanor Roosevelt who they know can save them.
This book tugs at your heartstrings. Lovers of historical fiction will truly enjoy this book.

Chasing Eleanor on the outside seems to be a story about chasing a dream, but it's really a story of discovery.

Taking place during the Great Depression, Magnolia Parker is taking care of her brothers and invalid mother well after her father has left the home. Due to her mother's condition, Magnolia (Maggie) is the sole responsible person in the household. Suddenly, Maggie's mother passes away and she finds she has the ability to do the things her mother and her mother's illness would not let her do - like work. And during this time, she found inspiration in everything she read about and written by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Maggie does get a job and does get to meet her idol and speak to her. However she loses the job, but does receive a letter from her that gives hope. However, things go from bad to worse due to an unexpected incident - the family get split up.

After she's able, Maggie uses her letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to search for her brothers. We then go from there and learn everything - from where she came from all the way to what becomes of her.

I found this to be a poignant coming to age story happening through a period of great diversity where a simple letter (directed to Maggie) along with words from one woman, not directed specifically to Maggie, keeps a young woman fighting when others give up. But, is she fighting more than one thing, and if so, are both worth fighting for?

If you are young and left with your own devises to survive, and provide for yourself and your remaining family, do you have the strength to rise to the occasion in a harsh world? This is the basis of the story that unfolds. The people you meet along the way engulf you from the moment you meet them. Kerry Chaput has a way of taking you on a journey, wrapping you up into the young characters as if you were right there with them experiencing the struggles, hardships and tragedies. You don't want to step away from reading for fear of missing something. Her descriptions of the people and towns during the depression and dust bowl are heart breaking. People being pushed to their limits. Yet, there is this underlying desperation and hunger for hope of finding what you are looking for, of something better out there. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Eleanor Roosevelt. She gave such hope to people by listening and using her wise words and actions to fight for the common people. She gave the main character Magnolia the belief she needed to make it through life with the strength and comradery of other women. To rise up and make it better for yourself and other people. A book you won't be able to put down if you like historical fiction.

3.5 stars
This book packs a punch. Heart-rending historical fiction, set in the time of the Great Depression. The author did a great job of depicting what life was like during this troubled time in our country.
Y.A. is the intended audience, but there are some very adult themes that might need adult guidance.

“In this life, you’ll meet people who will heal you. All the ugly this world has put in your heart will turn beautiful if you give yourself a chance.”
How true this is but most times it's so hard to trust anyone even in today's times. People will either break you or make you. It's who you learn to trust that makes it all the worthwhile.loved this novel so very much!
I've felt like I've gotten to know the real Eleanor Roosevelt who's heart is in the right place. I wish I could have met her in real life but through this heartfelt novel I was able to.
Magnolia is a true heroine! She fought for what she believed in and showed people in what she could do if determined. I found myself rooting for her all the way through this fast paced novel.
The boys were what my heart hurt most for. Johnny and Oscar. Their conditions made me sad. It's hard to believe that some families still live like this.
My favorite thing about this book was that it was told from Magnolia's point of view. I felt that I could connect to her most this way.
Hope is the theme of this book. After all, if we don't have that then what do we have?
This is a can't put down book and Magnolia will make you want to weep at times in the way they were treated
I loved this story so much for what it was. I didn't want it to end.
Magnolia and her brothers will leave you thinking about them long after this story is finished.
One more quote
“Here’s the thing about women. The world can try to shove us into the dark and break our bones and steal our pride. But they can’t touch our spirit. "That is something we all have. "
My heart was full and satisfied.
5 stars for a job well done and for an awesome story!
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.