Denise B. (VintageNana) - , reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio...How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less on 3/11/2009 + 28 more book reviews

Evelyn Ryan was a housewife and mother in Defiance, Ohio who between the 1950s and 1960's (the contest era) entered every contest available. She wrote poetry, prose, jingles, short stories for the newspaper. With her winnings she managed to keep her family afloat and poverty at bay. Her husband was a typical man of the time; worked, drank, managed the money. By entering contests where ever she found them - TV, radio, newspapers, etc Evelyn was able to win bicycles, watches, washing machines, dryers, cars, trips and even a jutebox. She sold almost all of her prizes because her family needed the money. The story is about her upbeat, look at the good side of life personality. She raised ten kids who turned out to be strong honest hard-working people. I really liked the book and would recommend it to everyone.

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