The+Hired+Girl

The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz (2015) Historical Fiction

Recommended by Lebanon Public Library

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

Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz brings her delicious wit and keen eye to early twentieth-century America in a moving yet comedic tour de force.

Fourteen-year-old Joan Skraggs, just like the heroines in her beloved novels, yearns for real life and true love. But what hope is there for adventure, beauty, or art on a hardscrabble farm in Pennsylvania where the work never ends? Over the summer of 1911, Joan pours her heart out into her diary as she seeks a new, better life for herself—because maybe, just maybe, a hired girl cleaning and cooking for six dollars a week can become what a farm girl could only dream of—a woman with a future. Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz relates Joan’s journey from the muck of the chicken coop to the comforts of a society household in Baltimore (Electricity! Carpet sweepers! Sending out the laundry!), taking readers on an exploration of feminism and housework; religion and literature; love and loyalty; cats, hats, and bunions. (summary from Amazon.com)

Comments:

On a personal level I loved this book but it hasn't circulated well among the YA and J Fic crowd.

The book centers around Joan's life in her new household, love, and relationships. It is a coming of age story that is female-centric. It has appealed mostly to middle age women in our library.

Sarah

Belmont Public Library

I enjoyed this book very much and thought the writing style was appealing. The one student that I convinced to read it did not get the same message that I got from the book. I felt as though the discussion of religion was a central theme, but the student did not react to that at all. Janet Weare Middle School

I think this book has an unfortunate cover. I can't imagine who thought that image would draw in teen readers! After reading the earlier comments, I almost didn't get to it, but I'm in the midst and enjoying it. I think the voice is very readable, and familiar without being out of synch with the historical setting. I think if we book talk it, noting that this is a prime example of "don't judge a book by its cover", it will be read and enjoyed - but it needs us to intro it. Sort of like "The War that Saved My Life" which is getting a strong vote here. Janet - Interesting point about the religious background of the story. I think it is both deeply woven into the author's message, and because the main is both curious and open, it textures the story without being perhaps obvious. Amy P - Barrington Middle School