I’ve been searching for this book for years. I cannot remember all the details but the basics:
Farm kids during the great depression, I think a boy and a girl. They go exploring a cave nearby and pretend its their mansion. So they don’t get lost they use breadcrumbs but birds eat it. They decide to use string instead. A mystery of some sort is solved. I seem to recall mention of the Hobos that would come around looking for work, and their family took one in and fed him a meal. At the end of the book he left markings on their fence that was code for “friendly family” or something like that. Other details: I THINK they took a canary into the cave, there was something to do with the underground railroad, and ration books were mentioned.
I read this book when I was in 6th grade, possibly 1977/78. It was an old book at the time, hardbound with the old fabric book covering. I think it had illustrations but can’t quite remember–I read a LOT in those days. This book belonged to my mom who was born in 38–sadly its been long lost.
I definitely remember a book about a family offering a hobo a meal, and he makes markings by their gate signifying a friendly family. The neighbors didn’t like it, but the parents insisted that it was a kindness to help those who were struggling even more than they were. (I think the mom offered the hobo a fresh baked pie that was intended for someone else and he ate the whole thing?). I wish I could remember more about the book — frustrating
You are the first person to ever acknowledge this books existence so this gives me hope. I thought it had strawberry in the title but that’s not giving me the right results so I’m probably off on that.
The only book I can think of with strawberry in the title is “Strawberry Girl” by Lois Lenski. But the cave plot would not match. Do you think you might be confusing plots from two different books?
No. It’s more likely I have the strawberry wrong. Def not that book.
I remember that one of the markings was a cat, and there was an illustration. Does that ring a bell with you? I looked up hobo markings, and a cat means “kind lady here.” That would correspond to my memory of the mother giving the hobo a whole pie.
Yes I do believe there was a cat. If memory serves that illustration is at the very end of the book
Possibly Spiderweb for Two by Elizabeth Enright? I think the hobo marks are from a story told to the kids by Mrs. Oliphant, and the cave is the younger kids looking for a treasure left by the older kids when they’re away. It might be one of the other Melendy stories though…
This is a possibility. I just purchased it on Amazon so stay tuned! Thank you!
It is not the right book sadly!
It reminds me of The Secret of the Strawbridge Place, but not all the details are the same, so it might not be the same book.
https://forgottenstoriesweb.wordpress.com/2017/06/09/the-secret-of-the-strawbridge-place/
Secret of the Strawbridge place definitely mentions canaries in caves. No breadcrumb trail, and no ration books as that doesn’t fit the Depression era. Otherwise it sounds like a match.
This definitely sounds like the right book. I would have read it in 78 so I could have details confused. I just ordered it on eBay. I’ll update next week!
Thank you SO much Tracy and Mama Squirrel. The book arrived today and I’ve skimmed it enough to know it’s DEFINITELY the book- I just had some details mixed up. I’ve been trying to find this book for AGES. I can’t wait to read it and relive this memory!