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Readers follow Edie Murphy from the
age of 14 in rural Newfoundland, Canada, as she moves to New York City, where
she witnesses the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911.
Edie’s first-person perspective
paints a picture of life in her small hometown as the eldest daughter in a
large, poor family. She jumps at the opportunity of a domestic position in a
wealthy St. John’s home but later moves to New York City, working at the Global Shirtwaist Company. There she befriends girls who speak Yiddish, Italian, and other
languages—some of whom express themselves in distractingly broken English. The
young women begin attending secret union meetings, joining the historic 1909
Uprising of the 20,000 to demand better working conditions. The Triangle
Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 changes everything, and Edie wrestles with the decision
of whether to return home. The book touches on the oppressive sweatshop conditions,
police brutality, and entrenched socio-economic divisions, evoking sympathy for
the young women’s cause. Information about the garment industry unions,
agitation by Jewish workers, and the work of activist Clara Lemlich adds depth
and interest. Patient readers will be rewarded as they learn about details of daily
life, fashion, and the technology of the time. All characters are presumed
white.
Those who appreciate
character-driven stories will enjoy the feeling of watching history in action. (Historical
fiction. 13-17)
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