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Book cover of The Hired Girl

The Hired Girl

2015602 pagesThorndike Striving Reader

Synopsis

Fourteen-year-old Joan Skraggs dreams of more than just farm chores and a life dictated by her cruel father and brothers. When her father forbids her from attending school, Joan seizes the opportunity to run away and forge her own path. Told through her journal entries, this is the story of a young girl seeking independence, love, and her own version of 'Real Life' in the hopeful years before World War I.

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About the author

Laura Amy Schlitz is an American author of children's literature. She is a librarian and storyteller at The Park School in Brooklandville, Maryland. Photo credit: http://inkwellmanagement.com/client/laura-amy-schlitz

Genres

Characters

Joan SkraggsProtagonist
Major Major Major MajorAntagonist

Subjects

Places

Edition

Book cover of The Hired Girl
4 editions available

Frequently asked questions

  • Does The Hired Girl have any literary awards?

    The Hired Girl was awarded a Newbery Honor in 2016, recognizing its distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

  • How does The Hired Girl compare to Laura Amy Schlitz's other books?

    While many of Schlitz's books feature historical settings, The Hired Girl stands out for its epistolary format, told entirely through the protagonist's journal entries. This offers a more intimate and immediate perspective compared to her third-person narratives.