Historical Fiction: The Hired Girl

Schlitz, Laura Amy. The Hired Girl. Candlewick, 2015. ISBN 978-0763678180

Plot summary/ critical analysis

Written as a diary that is based on the diary of the author’s grandmother, The Hired Girl

tells the tale of a 14 year old named Joan. Her mother has passed, and her father makes
her leave school to do the “women’s work” on their farm. She ends up running away to
Baltimore where she is hired by a wealthy Jewish family in a time of new inventions and
changing social norms. Joan’s diary tells of her many ups and downs in her experience
working for her own money, and being mentored by Mr. Rosenbach. Her innocence of the
world is on display throughout the book, but she strives to learn,to become a better writer,
and to make her teacher back home proud. Adventures abound for the country girl, and we
come to find out that Joan will have an excellent education and a shot at the future her
mother wanted for her.

The Hired Girl does a wonderful job showing the struggles of women and young girls in the
early 1900s, as well as the ambition that Joan has to make a better life for herself. This title
has won an award for the authentic portrayal of Jewish people, and avoids stereotyping
while addressing attitudes and issues of the time. An author’s note discusses the vocabulary
used and that some terms that were used in 1911 may be pejorative today. Artwork that
portrays Joan’s changing life is featured in each section and is cited in the end notes.

This is a quick read that captures the challenges that many young women face now, and it
is easy to remember your own feelings and experiences from age 14 through Joan.

Awards and Review Excerpts-

Winner of the 2016 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

A 2016 Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award Winner

Winner of the 2016 National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature

NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book

YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults

“A memorable novel from a captivating storyteller. The award-winning, best-selling Schlitz
seems to have the Midas touch. Expect her latest to have a golden shine as well”
.--Phelan, Carolyn Book List 2015

“The diary format allows Joan's romantic tendencies full rein, as well as narrative latitude
for a few highly improbable scenarios and wildly silly passion. Tons of period details,
especially about clothing, round out a highly satisfying and smart breast-clutcher from this
Newbery-winning author.” -- Kirkus Reviews 2015

Connections-

Other works by Laura Amy Schlitz:

Splendors and Glooms

The Night Fairy

Comments

Review: Wolf in the Snow

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Historical Fiction: Between Shades of Gray

Sepetys, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray. Philomel Books, 2011. ISBN 978-0399254123 Plot summary/ critical analysis 1941, Lithuania: Lina and her family are taken by the Soviets in the middle of the night. They are separated from Lina’s father and taken to train cars that will eventually take them and other Lithuanians, Estonians, and Latvians to Soviet labor camps. Lina takes every opportunity to draw, finding both a release and purpose; she hopes that her drawing will make their way to her father so they can be found and rescued. Lina manages to form relationships with other prisoners, even falling in love at one point. Underneath all the trauma is a story of continuing to have hope and to fight even when it’s hard. Sepetys tackles the trauma and confusion in a straightforward way. It is depressing and necessary storytelling of a time in history that was covered up and ignored for decades. The descriptions are vivid and heartbreaking; you...

Traditional Lit. Review: The Three Little Javelinas

The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell and Jim Harris 1. Bibliographic- Lowell, Susan. The Three Little Javelinas. Ill. by Jim Harris. Arizona: Rising Moon, 1992. ISBN 0-87358-542-9 2. Summary- Three sibling javelinas (southwestern relative of pigs) set off on their own journeys to live life and make a home in the southwest desert. As each sibling attempts to build their homes - one of tumbleweeds, one of saguaros ribs, and the other of adobe- a trickster coyote follows them, trying to get a good meal. The coyote destroys the first two javelinas’ homes, and they run to their sister’s adobe brick house. Together they withstand the coyote’s attack, and send him howling into the desert. 3. Critical analysis- A twist on the classic three little pigs, the Three Little Javelinas teaches about patience, cleverness, and perseverance of the siblings running from a coyote. This tale is set in the Sonoran desert, and it moves quickly in its descriptions of t...

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