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Cheryl King
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Sitting on Top of the World Kindle Edition

by Cheryl King (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
Fourteen-year-old June Baker never in a million years thought she’d be dressing like a boy, sneaking into a hobo camp, and jumping onto a moving freight train to travel across the state of Tennessee. But that’s what she has to do to find work so her family’s farm can survive.

It’s 1933, and the Great Depression is spreading misery throughout America. Where once June was sitting on top of the world, now she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Once she was picking fruit from the pawpaw trees, and now she’s picking up the pieces of a family torn apart. Once she was climbing and falling from trees, and now she’s jumping from moving trains.

June knows the risks. What she doesn’t know is that the railroad bull she’s falling for has a devastating secret that will change the course of her life.

Journey with June in Sitting on Top of the World, a historical fiction tale about family, friendship, love, loss, and hope.

Sitting on Top of the World is a wholesome story appropriate for ages 11 and up and would be a fantastic addition to any school, library, or family collection.

Content warning: Some instances of physical violence, death, mention of suicide, mention of miscarriage, and characters encounter racial bigotry.
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  1. Reading age
    11 - 18 years
  2. Book 1 of 2
    Sitting on Top of the World
  3. Print length
    233 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    5 - 12
  6. Accessibility
    Learn more
  7. Publication date
    October 17, 2021
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1737785811
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From the Publisher

June never thought she'd be the one
to hold her family together
while the world falls apart

Editorial Reviews

Review

"King's moving debut, a historical coming-of-age story, follows young June Baker and her family in Maynardville, Tennessee, at the height of the Great Depression.

Overall, a page-turning, heart wrenching, occasionally thrilling read about one family's struggle to survive. Great for fans of Kristin Hannah's The Four Winds, Lauren Wolk's Echo Mountain, Jojo Moyes's The Giver of Stars."

-- BookLife by Publishers Weekly, Editor's Pick

"A rich and robust read sure to warm your heart and brighten your winter - or any season. This one's a keeper!

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, full of pathos and power. The writing is top-notch and features strong, solid characters.

I've read scores of fiction and non-fiction titles set during the Great Depression. Sitting on Top of the World is a stunner. It represents a towering achievement, especially for a first novel."

-- Reedsy Discovery, ★★★★★

2022 First Horizon Award Winner
2022 Winner in Young Adult
2022 Grand Prize Finalist

-- Eric Hoffer Book Awards

"Magnificently blending a story of misfortune with an inspiring tale of human ingenuity, Sitting on Top of the World is a superb intro to the events of the Great Depression for young readers. June is a courageous, relatable character whose strong first-person perspective and distinctive voice help set this novel apart from others that take place during this time period. Perhaps the biggest strength of the novel is King's complex and astute perspective on racism in the 1930s United States. All told, this is an original, meaningful, and powerfully told novel that will satisfy readers of any age." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★

"An incredible young adult historical fiction to rival Tom Sawyer." -- The Historical Fiction Company, ★★★★1/2

From the Author

 
Quotes from the book:
 
"This Depression's bleedin' us dry, and we're runnin' outa time."


"Bein' strong and tough don't mean you don't ever fall down. It means when you fall down, you get right back up and try again."


"The only way we get meat nowadays is to sell somethin', trade somethin', or shoot somethin'."


"Sometimes prayers ain't answered in the way you want 'em to be."


"Never in a million years could I have pictured all that's gone on since that June day in 1930 when I first saw the line of folks at the bank."


"It's funny how a whole town that's been starvin' and standin' in line for free food can come together like this for people that's sufferin'."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09DC1DQQY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Purple Marble Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 17, 2021
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 233 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1737785811
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 12
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Sitting on Top of the World
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 11 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

About the author

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Cheryl King

Cheryl King

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Cheryl King is a dyslexia therapist and longtime educator. Sitting on Top of the World and Under the Pawpaw Trees are her award-winning YA historical fiction books. Her short fiction has been published in various literary magazines and anthologies. And now she has also created some fun grown-up coloring books.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
20 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Stephanie Stephens
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoy Historical Fiction so this book had my attention from the very beginning and in the end far exceeded my expectations. June is met with tragedy and love. She wants so desperately to help her family. The cliffhangers throughout the made me not want to put it down.
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  • Mary E Perrine
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read & Historically Accurate
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Sitting on Top of the World is rich with history. Adventure and hope intermingle with the heartbreak of the 1930s and the Great Depression. Like many people who lived through that era, June Baker finds herself on a gutwrenching mission to save her family. While this book is intended for a young adult audience, it is a great read for adults. It is a great reminder of what the human spirit is capable of when it comes to family.
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  • Charla Wilson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Story of Survival During the Depression
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The Depression was a difficult time for most people, especially so for those that didn’t have much to begin with. June and Josy were sister and brother living on their small family farm with their parents. Their dad had an accident that led to the amputation of his left hand. Mom and Dad have a mortgage on the farm that keeps getting further behind. The entire town is having a hard time surviving and there’s no job to be had and no one can afford to buy any of the items the Baker family has made to sell. Josy decides to jump trains to go find work so he can help the family. He is eventually beaten badly by train Bulls and is brought back home in a terrible state. Junes Mom is terribly sick and the mortgage is getting further behind. So, June decided to disguise herself as a boy and jump trains herself.
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  • Jamie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s heartwarming and heart wrenching, full of rich history, love and tragedy and hope, and everything good about books. I highly recommend it! It’s middle grade / young adult, but great reading for adults too.
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  • Sherri
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book about courage
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Refreshing story of a family's struggle during the depression and one girls determination to survive in spite of her obstacles
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  • Pages and Paws
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023
    Some books just grab your attention. Slide down your throat. And wrap themselves around your heart. Sitting on Top of the World is one of those books.

    June Baker is a “girl with gumption.” The “almost fifteen year-old” has to be while she rides the rails in search of work as the family farm hangs in the balance. How she got there and why rounds out the first part of this delightful book. What’s happens next fills the second half. Both pick up steam quickly in this heartwarming, delicious read about family, faith, loss, love, desperation, betrayal, and hope during the Great Depression.

    Set in rural Tennessee in the 1930s, Sitting on Top of the World is the powerful and poignant story of a close knit family struggling to survive after the Stock Market crash. June is the youngest daughter. Her older brother is Joseph “Josy.” When their father is severely injured and the mother is gravely ill, Josy decides to “ride the rails” in search of work to help keep the farm – and his family – from going under. It’s dangerous and risky. But times are hard. The outlook is grim. And the family has lost almost everything else. When Josy leaves, tragedy follows. Will the family lose each other, too?

    There’s a lot going on in this book. Multi-layered and richly textured, it’s about much more than surviving the Great Depression. It’s also about family. About choosing kindness. Joy. And hope. Gently faith-flavored, the story also describes how those hard hit by the Depression find the strength and grit to pull through. And how even if life “may be missin' a whole lotta things that are supposed to still be with us, one thing we ain’t missin’ is love…”

    This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, full of pathos and power. The writing is top-notch and features strong, solid characters. The story comes to a thundering conclusion when… Oh, wait. To find that out, you’ll have to read the book. (It includes a surprise ending of the O. Henry variety.)

    I’ve read scores of fiction and non-fiction titles set during the Great Depression. Sitting on Top of the World is a stunner. It represents a towering achievement, especially for a first novel. (This book blows Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds right out of the water.)

    So if you’re ready to cozy up with a great read, then pour yourself a hot cuppa. Grab a warm blanket. Snuggle up with this vibrant and vivacious read. It’s sure to warm your heart and brighten your winter – or any season.

    I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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  • Melissa J
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful tale of growing up in The Great Depression
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2023
    I adore this book so much. Cheryl has done an amazing job of giving us believable, unique characters, a wonderful town, and exciting adventures. I love June's voice, and the theme of her having a 'sparkle.' The story is set in the beginning of The Great Depression and there is no shortage of heartbreak and unfortunate things that occur, but all through it June’s voice is still full of pluck and gumption. Truly every character felt authentic, even some of the minor characters like the adults in town. There’s a lot to love about this book. As an adult woman in my 30s, I wasn’t sure if a book aimed at middle schoolers would feel too simple or easy, but I was sucked in immediately and stayed up way too late to finish it—I couldn’t put it down, and I was so happy I waited until the sequel was out to read it, because I needed to immediately find out what happened next. Also in general I'm not much of a historical fiction reader, but Cheryl was able to help me easily and naturally visualize this world. You will not be disappointed! The compelling characters, engaging storyline, and thought-provoking themes create a captivating narrative in both this and the sequel.
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  • Jennifer Jolley
    4.0 out of 5 stars We need more Junes in the world!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2023
    I loved this book and love this author! I’m so proud of the world Cheryl King has created with this story. Readers are taken back in time to Depression days and Mrs. King has a talent for tapping into all your senses to bring you right into the thick of it. In fact, the details are so vivid, I almost wonder if it’s actually fiction or based on a real family story. I felt like I knew June and her family and could even hear my thoughts about them in a Tennessee accent once the book was over. It’s such a sweet story of a girl who loves her family so much, there’s no limit to what she’d do to support and defend them.
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