The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz

The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read The Hired Girl as part of my YA twitter chat with #2jennsbookclub to be discussed 3/7 at 8pm, join us for an exciting chat about a young girl in the early 1900s who barely escapes harsh farm life, caring for her family and their house, and enduring her father's ire after her mother's death. After her father pulls her out of school (FOREVER) Joan runs away and is able to find work as a hired girl with a Jewish family. I liked Joan; she was dramatic, funny, forthright, and writes daily in her diary. She is 14 but tells the Rosenbach family she is 18; she wins over the obstinate cook, Malka with her hard work ethic and begins an eventful life with this Jewish family that owns a department store. I admired Joan's pluck (she calls herself Janet as part of her new life) her constant drama (much of which she brings upon herself) and her wish to be educated. She also strives to better herself by reading, attending classes to become a Catholic, and reading books suggested by kind Mr. Rosenbach. A great coming of age book as this hired girl works hard to better herself, to better understand herself and be a positive addition to the Rosenbach family as friend and servant.

View all my reviews