BONUS FEATURES: Exclusive author interview and a profile of Lewis Hine! 1910. Pownal, Vermont. At 12, Grace and her best friend Arthur must leave school and go to work as a “doffers” on their mothers’ looms in the mill. Grace’s mother is the best worker, fast and powerful, and Grace desperately wants to help her. But she’s left handed and doffing is a right-handed job. Grace’s every mistake costs her mother, and the family. She only feels capable on Sundays, when she and Arthur receive special lessons from their teacher. Together they write a secret letter to the Child Labor Board about underage children working in Pownal. A few weeks later a man with a camera shows up. It is the famous reformer Lewis Hine, undercover, collecting evidence for the Child Labor Board. Grace’s brief acquaintance with Hine and the photos he takes of her are a gift that changes her sense of herself, her future, and her family’s future.
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"A wonderfully researched and extremely moving and vivid (fictionalized) account of life in the Vermont textile mills in the early 1900s. This book also provided a pleasantly surprising homage to documentary photographer Lewis Hine and his work. Grace is a dazzling and resilient narrator, trying to survive the poverty in her French-Canadian village and family while still clinging to a future when she will be liberated from mill work. She is caught between trying to do right by her family and continue the tradition of mill work and realizing that their is a world and future beyond the mill. Her teacher, a child advocate who brought Hine to the mill to photograph them beside the dangerous machines, eventually convinces her that through education she can achieve a better life. A true tribute to the working people and immigrants who contributed to this country's growth and success."
— Nomi (5 out of 5 stars)
" A nice book based on the real-life photographer, Lewis Hines, who brought America the face of child labor at the turn of the century. The story is a fictionalization of what the life of one of Hines' subjects may have been like. 12 year-old girl Grace, who is very good at school but forced to quit in order to take her place in the mill (illegally) so that her French-Canadian immigrant family can get by. I thought the book was pretty fair minded - really showing how a lot of these families didn't want their children working in such dangerous conditions but had no other choice. "
— Anne, 2/19/2014" A great historical fiction book for children. "
— Vicky, 2/12/2014" A lovely story, compelling and well written. A little more in the ending would have been nice.... "
— Rebecca, 2/12/2014" Heart rendering insight into the abuse of children in the textile mills of the early 1900's...story based on a photograph of a young girl in a group of children workers outside the mill. "
— Sally, 2/10/2014" A sad and touching story. I loved it. It was lent to me by Sally P. "
— Kayla, 2/2/2014" This is a book that I will recommend to the teachers and students in 5th grade since they study the industrial revolution. This is the well told story of a girl working in a mill in Vermont in the early 1900's. The author used a famous photograph of a girl in a mill as the inspiration for the story and included the actual photographer as one of her characters in this work of historical fiction. I think that this is written appropriately for a 5th grade audience and includes the conditions in the mill and the child workers rights' movement without getting in the way of the plot. "
— Catharine, 2/2/2014" A friend of mine recommended this book (and actually loaned it to me), but I didn't get around to reading it until this summer. I'm so glad I did. This is a story that deals with immigration, standards of living for immigrants, and the child labor issues from that period of time. Now I need to return the copy I read to my friend and buy my own book! "
— Karen, 1/30/2014" I heard an interview with the author and immediately wanted to get this book... "
— Angela, 1/4/2014" A wonderful story about how life may have been like for children working in the factories. Recommend it for 6th grade and older. "
— Jen, 12/31/2013" this is boring at the beggining, but don't stop reeading after you start it, cause it gets really good, it's kinda sad "
— Gillian, 11/25/2013" Excellent historical fiction for young adults. "
— Maria, 8/24/2013" Another "youth section" book that is work the read. A historical fiction from the early 1900's about child labor. It was neat to have a glimpse into the life of the young children and the work and education battles they faced. "
— Delena, 4/18/2013" Terrific Historical Fiction based on real events. Set in the Vermont cotton mills, this book tackles child labor at the turn of the century. Great characters and a wonderful teacher! "
— Marcia, 9/28/2012" I adored this book! First of all, I love the character Grace and how she handles life's obstacles throughout the story. A great historical fiction read. "
— Torense, 5/22/2012" Anyone who wants to show their kids how good they have it should make them read this book. This is a novel about the children forced to work in places like textile mills back in the early 1900s. Just heartbreaking. "
— Laurie, 3/16/2012" This is an easy read, but it has a very difficult and real plot in the story. "
— Aika, 2/2/2012" A good book for all ages. Makes you realize how easy life is now days. "
— Suz, 1/4/2012" Not exactly upbeat, but it's based on a true story from our history, which is why I give it 4 stars. I didn't like the part where a bright boy intentionally mutilates himself to escape the child labor environment in hopes that he can return to school. "
— Susan, 7/25/2011" This book so far is really interesting. Graces' teacher kicks her out of school, her grandfather wants to run away, and all that. A lot of action at the beginning! But so far, it's really captured my interest. "
— Madeline, 6/25/2011" Good story about a mill girl in the 1800's inspired by a photography taken by Lewis Hines. Sometimes, I have trouble with fictional stories based on real people whose lives probably didn't have as good an ending. "
— Cheryl, 6/13/2011" This was not a bad book though there is a sad part. Her parents are not very good parents. It was an interesting read, though... "
— Lily, 6/9/2011" Interesting story about a time period/location that I know almost nothing about. I think it would be pretty sad for younger children, though. "
— Rachel, 5/3/2011" <br/>I loved this book, Grace is a great character and the girl on the cover reminded me of my daughter. The narrator was excellent. "
— Tracey, 4/8/2011" Great historical fiction for kids. Loved that Louis Hine was part of the story! "
— Maura, 3/22/2011" Audio book from UHRL. "
— Chel, 1/21/2011" Good story about a mill girl in the 1800's inspired by a photography taken by Lewis Hines. Sometimes, I have trouble with fictional stories based on real people whose lives probably didn't have as good an ending. "
— Cheryl, 12/9/2010" child labor in textile mills, vermont, Louis Hines photographer for child labor movement "
— Jan, 12/2/2010" It makes our day to day issues seem so benign............. "
— Mary, 10/12/2010" Interesting story about a time period/location that I know almost nothing about. I think it would be pretty sad for younger children, though. "
— Rachel, 6/2/2010" Getting spacy in my old age. I think I already recorded comments on this book, but I must not have hit "saved." "
— Judy, 4/21/2010" Heart rendering insight into the abuse of children in the textile mills of the early 1900's...story based on a photograph of a young girl in a group of children workers outside the mill. "
— Sally, 4/21/2010" I would probably only give this book 3.5 stars but I really liked the ending. The historical information about the girl on the cover was even more interesting than the actual fictional story. "
— Alison, 4/6/2010" A Young Hoosier Award nominee. Not a bad way to introduce kids to turn-of-the century child labor practices. Happy ending...not too gritty details. "
— Amanda, 2/8/2010" This book so far is really interesting. Graces' teacher kicks her out of school, her grandfather wants to run away, and all that. A lot of action at the beginning! But so far, it's really captured my interest. "
— Madeline, 12/11/2009" I really enjoyed listening to this on audio! I loved learning about the history behind children working in mills in New England. The book was very well written. "
— Tasha, 8/4/2009Elizabeth Winthrop, the author of over sixty works of fiction for all ages, was born in Washington, DC. Her award-winning titles for children include the Castle in the Attic series. Her short story “The Golden Darters” was a selected for Best American Short Stories by Robert Stone. Under the name Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop, she is the author of the memoir piece Don’t Knock Unless You’re Bleeding. She is currently working on a personal history about her parents’ love affair during World War II. The daughter of Stewart Alsop, the political journalist, she divides her time between New York City and the Berkshires.