This book tells the story of thehardships that are endured by a poor family of sharecroppers as seen throughthe eyes of 10 year old Savanna, in a small rural town in eastern Arkansas,during the late 1930's to the late 1940's.¿The familyconsist of father, known as "Chain Down the Lion", and his wife Dora,who is simply known as "Mama"; they had twelve children.¿ Ransom and Elizabeth known as "Grandpa" and"Big Mama" were "Chain Down's" parents.¿They owned the farm and lived in the big house down the hill.¿ Savanna and her siblings sufferedman afflictions at the hand of their father, who was both physically andmentally abusive.¿ The children weresubjected to hard labor and were made to work the fields from dawn until duskeveryday except Sunday.¿ The childrenwere not permitted to attend school.¿Since "Chain Down" had no education himself, he saw no reason why hischildren should be educated.¿¿ Manytimes, Savanna would slip off to school against her father's will and passed onwhat she learned to her siblings.¿ Mamaand the children found solace in each other, which resulted in an everlastingbond between them.Although the children were veryafraid of their father, on the other hand they were very protected by theirmother.