I've read Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, Random Family, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, White Oleander and more I can't remember offhand. Can you reccomend good books about poor people?

Bastard Out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison comes to mind, although that came out quite a few years ago.
Sleeping Arrangements by Laura Cunningham is a wonderful one, a memoir where the author talks about her life with her single, gypsy mama, growing up sleeping under people's dining room tables. I don't think she necessarily felt the lack of anything, though.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver has issues of poverty in Africa, along with many other themes.

I listened to Angela's Ashes on audiobook, I love Frank McCourt's voice!

If you are interseted in nonfiction at all, I would recommend "the myth of the welfare queen" , "stories from the alley" and "Sweet Charity"

the Last Resort - Scenes from a Transient Hotel by Aggie Max is completely gripping and challenging.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0811812855/qid=1089477881/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-9073980-6426361?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

If you're looking for non-fiction, books by Jonathan Kozol are good. He tends to not give a very balanced view on some things but are an excellent read.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3Djonathan%252520kozol%26store-name%3Dbooks/104-9073980-6426361

Amber

Excellent thanks for the suggestions.
I've read the Poisonwood Bible(years ago), also very good!
Anyone else?

Jen

I thought of another one: Push, by Sapphire. (I saw her read in NY, it was amazing.)
I'm gonna check out some of these suggestions, too.:)

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons

About a young girl growing up in the south

Not sure if this is what you are talking about really.
But it is a good book anyway!

Ellen is poor.
Her mom WAS rich, but married into poor white trash.
Talks about share cropping in the south in the sixties.

There is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie based on the book.
It does not really go into the race relations like the book, sort of sugar coated, but still a tear jerker!


Hope

Also, you can go back and read some classics.
Lots of poor people in them!

Grapes of Wrath comes to mind.


Hope