The Hired Girl
📘 About This Book
Winner of the 2016 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction A 2016 Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award Winner Winner of the 2016 National Jewish Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz brings her delicious wit and keen eye to early twentieth-century America in a moving yet comedic tour de force. Fourteen-year-old Joan Skraggs, just like the heroines in her beloved novels, yearns for real life and true love. But what hope is there for adventure, beauty, or art on a hardscrabble farm in Pennsylvania where the work never ends? Over the summer of 1911, Joan pours her heart out into her diary as she seeks a new, better life for herself—because maybe, just maybe, a hired girl cleaning and cooking for six dollars a week can become what a farm girl could only dream of—a woman with a future. Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz relates Joan’s journey from the muck of the chicken coop to the comforts of a society household in Baltimore (Electricity! Carpet sweepers! Sending out the laundry!), taking readers on an exploration of feminism and housework; religion and literature; love and loyalty; cats, hats, and bunions.
📖 Summary
Set in 1911, The Hired Girl follows fourteen-year-old Joan Morrissey, who lives on a struggling Pennsylvania farm with her abusive, grieving father and two older brothers. Overworked and denied any formal education, Joan finds solace in the lives of the saints and in her secret passion for reading. When her father burns her cherished book, Joan reaches her breaking point and decides to run away. With a few stolen dollars, she boards a trolley to Baltimore, determined to reinvent herself as a modern, educated woman. In Baltimore, Joan finds a position as a maid in the household of the Rosenbachs, a wealthy, cultured Jewish family. Initially, Joan is stunned by their urbane lifestyle, but she quickly falls in love with their comfort, art, and books. As she settles into her new role, she encounters a world vastly different from her Catholic upbringing, challenging her rigid biases and provincial worldview. Throughout her time with the Rosenbachs—particularly under the gentle guidance of the family's patriarch and the young master, David—Joan grows intellectually and spiritually. She begins to view the world through a lens of empathy and critical thinking rather than simple dogma. However, Joan’s journey is not without internal conflict; she struggles with balancing her newfound independence, her Catholic faith, and her romantic fantasies about David. The narrative, structured as Joan’s diary, captures her evolving voice—from an uneducated farm girl to a reflective, aspiring young woman. Ultimately, The Hired Girl is a rich, coming-of-age story that explores themes of self-determination, religious tolerance, the transformative power of art and education, and the courage it takes for a young woman to claim her own destiny in the early twentieth century.
🎯 Key Lessons
💬 Notable Quotes
"You can leave your past behind, but it leaves its marks on you just the same, like ink on your fingers."
"A girl should have a trade. A girl who can sew is never at a mercy of anyone."
"Reading is an escape. But it's not just an escape—it's a way of finding out what you're capable of."
"I wanted to be good, but goodness seemed to consist entirely of things I didn't want to do."
"Beauty is not a sin, but to worship it is a terrible mistake. Yet how can one help loving it when it is all around us?"
"A house without books is like a room without windows."
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Vivid, historically accurate depiction of 1911 urban and rural life.
Compelling and authentic diary-style narrative voice that captures Joan's rapid maturation.
Thoughtful exploration of religious tolerance and cultural exchange.
⚠️ Cons
Some historical attitudes and language reflect the period's antisemitism and biases before being challenged.
The pacing in the middle section can feel slow as it focuses heavily on domestic life and art appreciation.
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
Is this book worth reading? +
Yes, it is a critically acclaimed, Newbery Honor-winning novel known for its rich character development and engaging historical setting.
How long does it take to read? +
At around 390 pages, it typically takes the average reader about 4 to 6 hours to complete.
What is the main message? +
The main message centers on the liberating power of education, art, and open-mindedness in overcoming prejudice and finding one's true identity.
