"Peggy Dymond Leavey has written an engaging and moving story of a likable, imaginative girl. I kept reading late into the night, empathizing with Ivy and wanting to know what happened next. The realities of the Great Depression are brought to life with authentic, well-researched details. -- Willow "Her inclusion of crisp, historical details makes this book believable. It is a suitable read for a middle-grade (Grades 7 and 8) reader who enjoys a sweet story about an intelligent girl." "Ivy is not the only wonderful character in this fine book, but this is definitely her story. The writing is commendable, the characters lively and likeable, the setting strong and the sense of community vibrant. I read late into the night wanting to know what would happen to these people that I had come to like so much.

I enjoyed every page and recommend it highly. It would make a great read in an intermediate classroom and is certain to encourage discussion of the hard times that so many faced in the 1930s." "Peggy Dymond Leavey has mastered the art of "showing" rather than "telling. In the early part of Growing Up Ivy, actions speak louder than words, giving readers a subtle yet clear picture of Ivy Chalmers's life with her mother, Frannie, in Depression-era Toronto.".