A Great Depression era novel that began with the protagonist reuniting with his now homeless old friend whose family used to be rich - the father lost everything in the stock market and killed himself, shooting himself twice in the head with a low quality pistol from the pawn shop.

Absurdly, this is something I had to read in class when I was seven. I don't remember that much behind the rather jarring intro, but:

• The family of the (young male) protagonist himself struggles and has to move to a cramped apartment that reeka of cigarettes.
• I believe he has an older brother, and that he was the one who drove a rough condition Model T with over 100k miles on it.
• I vaguely recall a scene involving a strike or other type of protest.
• I could've sworn "hard times" was in the name, but it doesn't seem to be from the "oral biography" book that usually comes up with those key words given that this book I'm thinking of seemed to be realistic fiction and had one consistent plot.