"the picture I have of the Depression is based mostly on John Steinbeck novels (bleah) it seems completely bleak, without the bright spots of hope and human dignity."
I did not homeschool mine, (my lack of organizational skills is frightening), but I have tried to make darn sure that they learned to get ALL sides of the story. I still remember the day my eldest came home with this really sad version of a particular historical event. I listened and said, "Gee, that sounds terrible. But do you think that maybe there was something more to the tale? I mean, it is hard to imagine it happening that way, just out of spite." He got home, did some research, went back to school and educated the class. And the teacher, I am sure :P
Heh... yes, we were encouraged to find out the whole story. The Depression just didn't interest me.
Now, pre-American history, the Revolution, the Reformation, or WW2 - those I know a lot about.