In 1934, Kit faces a very different Christmas because of her family's financial problems and allows her pride to estrange her from her best friend.

"A comprehensive guide to Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket, Adult and Child Surprise Jackets, and Circular Stranded Surprise Jacket, plus the brand new: Surprise Dress, learn-to-knit Surprise Scarf, Bolero/Shrug, Snuggle Suit, and many more variations." -- Back cover.

Following her mother's institutionalization, Laurel takes the Orphan Train west. Although adopted by a loving couple, she is eventually compelled to search for her roots.

If Kit Kittredge could write her own story about how the Depression affected her family, she'd make sure it had a happy ending. But the reality is that she and her family are living through the Depression one grim day at a time. The Kittredges' boarding house brings in some money, but it may not be enough to keep them from losing their house. Kit struggles with an endless list of chores that keeps her constantly busy at home. But she knows that there are people who have lost even more than her family has because of the Depression, and she looks for ways to help. To her great surprise, Kit discovers that along with hard times come good times, too. Book jacket.

From debut author Kit Mayquist, a propulsive and atmospheric modern gothic with all the splendor of The Great Gatsby . . . and all the secrets, lies, and darkness that opulence can hide Med school dropout Lena is desperate for a job, any job, to help her parents, who are approaching bankruptcy after her father was injured and laid off nearly simultaneously. So when she is offered a position, against all odds, working for one of Boston’s most elite families, the illustrious and secretive Verdeaus, she knows she must accept—no matter how bizarre the interview or how vague the job description. By day, she is assistant to the family doctor and his charge, Jonathan, the sickly, poetic, drunken heir to the family empire, who is as difficult as his illness is mysterious. By night, Lena discovers the more sinister side of the family, as she works overtime at their lavish parties, helping to hide their self-destructive tendencies . . . and trying not to fall for Jonathan’s alluring sister, Audrey. But when she stumbles upon the knowledge that the Verdeau patriarch is the one responsible for the ruin of her own family, Lena vows to get revenge—a poison-filled quest that leads her further into this hedonistic world than she ever bargained for, forcing her to decide how much, and whom, she's willing to sacrifice for payback. The perfect next read for fans of Mexican Gothic, Tripping Arcadia is a page-turning and shocking tale with an unforgettable protagonist that explores family legacy and inheritance, the sacrifices we must make to get by in today’s world, and the intoxicating, dangerous power of wealth.

For use in schools and libraries only. For more than 15 years, The American Girls Collection has captivated readers with its tales of heart, hope and history. Millions of girls have fallen in love with the series' strong, appealing heroines.