The Rich Little Poor Boy

"The Rich Little Poor Boy" by Eleanor Gates is a story from the early 1900s focused on a ten-year-old named Johnnie Smith, who navigates a tough life in a tenement, with foster father Big Tom Barber. To get away from his difficulties at home, Johnnie uses his creativity to imagine a better, more exciting life, he is also very close with his stepsister Cis. The book starts by showing Johnnie's difficult world, including his too-big, worn-out clothes and the scary presence of Big Tom, who orders him around and makes him afraid. Despite this, Johnnie has a strong imagination, picturing himself as living a noble and free life. He and his stepsister Cis share a special connection, communicating secretly because of Barber’s mean behavior. Right from the start, the book shows Johnnie's personality, his challenges, and how he escapes into his imagination, setting the scene for a story about strength, dreams, and searching for kindness in a difficult situation.