The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz

The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz

It’s 1911. Fourteen year old Joan’s mother has recently died, and she’s left with her three brothers and angry, verbally abusive father on their rural Pennsylvania farm. After Joan’s dad burns her few remaining books as punishment, Joan summons the courage to run away to Baltimore. There, she realizes she is in way over her head -- but is rescued to a wealthy Jewish family. Joan is big for her age, and tells the Rosenbachs she is 18 -- old enough to be on her own in the big city, rather than her real age of 14, which would get her sent back to the farm.

Joan’s love of books and willingness to work land her a job as the family’s hired girl, where Joan helps with chores the family can’t do on the Sabbath, and assists the very old and very grumpy housekeeper.

The book is told through Joan’s diary, and through that lens we see Joan’s doubts, insecurities, and wonder at her new world. In one memorable scene, Joan catches her hair on fire while reading by candle light -- it’s 1911, and even the wealthy Rosenbachs still don’t have electricity in the house.

The Hired Girl is a fascinating book both for a historical perspective of daily life at the turn of the 20th century, as well as a coming of age story of a young woman who was strong and determined enough to write her own story in an age when few women could.

Check out The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz.