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The Hired Girl
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
Winner of the 2016 Scott ODell Award for Historical FictionA 2016 Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award WinnerWinner of the 2016 National Jewish Book Award for Childrens and Young Adult Literature. 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 herselfbecause maybe, just maybe, a hired girl cleaning and cooking for six dollars a week can become what a farm girl could only dream ofa woman with a future. Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz relates Joans 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.
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Brandy522
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
Pickpick

Title: The Hired Girl
Author: Laura Amy Schlitz
Published: September 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Awards: Scott O' Dell
Summary: This is a story about a 14 year old girl who runs away from home and gets a job because she wants for herself.

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Djspens
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book. It‘s written as a diary, I thought it was a fun format as the young girl shares her daily life, thoughts and dreams. A sweet story! Side note—I made the bookmark from the “blind date with a book” wrapping 😃 book #1 of 2020 complete 👍🏼

Freespirit That bookmark is fantastic❤️ 5y
BookNAround Great idea for a bookmark! 5y
43 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Djspens
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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#blinddatewithabook gift from a great friend for my birthday! Historical fiction with humor, anxious to start this one! Thanks Jen 🥰 #bookstagram #grammaslibrary #bookphotography #lauraamyschlitz #thehiredgirl

24 likes1 stack add
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suvata
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pickpick

This is the diary of a young girl who runs away from an abusive home in 1911. When she gets to the big city she lies about her age so that she can get a job as a servant to a wealthy family. There is a lot of talk about religious issues because Joan, the hired girl, is Catholic and the family that takes her in is Jewish. I really appreciated this element in the story because religion wasn‘t a bone of contention and I did learn a lot about both.

63 likes2 stack adds
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ravenlee
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz

I hosted a bridal shower this afternoon. The bride is the eldest child of a good friend. For the last few years I have been sharing my love of books with this family (seven kids who all like/love to read!), giving books for Christmas to each and opening my library for sharing.

During a trivia game about the bride, I found out her two favorite books are A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and The Hired Girl - both from me. I melted.

Sace A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 6y
CoffeeNBooks That's awesome! 📚 6y
Ericalambbrown 🥰 awwww, that‘s lovely! 6y
Bklover ❤️❤️ 6y
30 likes4 comments
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ravenlee
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
Mehso-so

I wanted to like this much more than I actually did. I enjoyed the early storyline, the escape, but I expected there to be repercussions that never happened. I felt that the religious message of the remainder was pretty heavy-handed, and found the type and quantity of diary writing far-fetched. Cont below *spoilers.

ravenlee I found it incredibly disappointing when the story devolved into a romance, and I thought significantly less of Joan for falling in love with a wastrel like David. First part gets a solid 8/10, but remainder is only a 5. Love the theme of education=freedom and being a self-determined woman though. 7y
11 likes1 comment
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E.gordon
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Having a bad day so curled up on the sofa starting a new book

2 likes1 stack add
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HotCocoaReads
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pickpick

I really liked this book of historical fiction. It was well-written and it read easily. This is a good clean YA book that I would easily pass on to a young teenager. I wasn‘t sure how this could end with everything working out, but it did. The ending was just right!

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rubyslippersreads
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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A book I loved (and I think @RestlessFickleBookSlut did too) is a #kindledeal today.

Sace YES! Take advantage of this if you haven't read it already. 7y
66 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Joriebooks
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Found this cute little bookshop while having a day out with the hubby. The Book tagged is on my TBR list now. We bought some books for my little daughter.

RealLifeReading Looks delightful! 8y
54 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Sace
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pickpick

Soooo good! And a wonderful ending! Now I want to read all of this author's books.

Hollie This has been on the shelf in my office half the semester, I really need to carve out some time for it! 8y
Sace @Hollie it's a quick read. Perfect escapist reading. 8y
rubyslippersreads I loved this book too! 8y
See All 8 Comments
Sace @rubyslippersreads I checked it out from the library after seeing it here on Litsy. So glad I did. 8y
Laura317 I really liked The Hired Girl. @Liberty picked it for me, and was 👍🏼 8y
Sace @Laura317 ooooo! A Liberty pick! 8y
CaramelLunacy So glad you enjoyed it, too! 8y
Sace @CaramelLunacy it was just delightful. 8y
60 likes5 stack adds8 comments
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Sace
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Why can't I just stay home and read today? I'm less than 100 pages from finished. I suspect it won't be a happy romantic ending, but I'm almost positive it will be a hopeful ending for Joan/Janet.

Reviewsbylola I've had this one on my radar for awhile! 8y
Sace @Reviewsbylola I'm pretty sure it's for younger readers (maybe middle school and high school?) but it's really engaging. 8y
53 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Sace
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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😢😢😢😢😢

Librarybelle 😢😢😢 8y
CaramelLunacy That part upset me so much, I had to take a break from the book. 8y
Megabooks 😢😢😢 8y
See All 8 Comments
Sace @CaramelLunacy It was like getting punched. 8y
Sace @Librarybelle @Booksandcooks Yes it was heartbreaking but I powered through and the book has me smiling for now. IT'S SO GOOD! 8y
KaatjeH 😱😣😢 8y
CaramelLunacy @Sace So glad you are enjoying! The author has also put together a driving tour of Baltimore with photos from the time that is worth a look (but after finishing as it can be a tiny bit spoilery) 8y
Sace @CaramelLunacy thanks for the info! 8y
52 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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CaramelLunacy
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pickpick

An enjoyable read, and one that feels a lot like a more dramatic Anne of Green Gables or Little Women.

Romantic Joan who wants to escape her life of drudgery on her family's farm, runs away and become the titular hired girl in a Jewish household in Baltimore. Her love of books leads to a fair amount of trouble, but coupled with her lack of guile also tends to get her out of it. I have to admit, though, I spent a LOT of the book cringing.

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CaramelLunacy
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Just picked this one up from the library about a girl who leaves her life of drudgery on her family's farm to work as a hired girl in Baltimore. I am enjoying this very much so far.

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Hollie
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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While visiting with a professor in the English department about a joint presentation we are giving next week for Women's History Month, she gave me this book to read. I had never heard of it, but I love it when I randomly acquire books people think I will like! I 💜my job! #teachersoflitsy

JacintaMCarter Was it Sharon Wilson? 8y
Reviewsbylola I have had this on my TBR for awhile. It sounds so good and I love the cover. 8y
Suzze @Reviewsbylola @Hollie I've had this on the TBR for awhile too. Need to read constantly. 😜 8y
See All 7 Comments
Hollie @JacintaMCarter yes! I actually saw your photo in her office today! We are going to try and team teach a historical fiction class next year 😁 8y
Hollie @Reviewsbylola @Suzze it is definitely on my TBR now! It sounds really good! 😀 8y
JacintaMCarter @Hollie I told her she's never allowed to get rid of my picture, because everyone who comes into her office needs to know that I'm her favorite student. 8y
Hollie @JacintaMCarter that's hilarious! 8y
32 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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JacintaMCarter
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pickpick

#2017Book1
Told through diary entries, The Hired Girl follows Joan, a young Catholic in 1911, as she runs away from her cruel family, makes her way to Baltimore, and becomes a hired girl for a devout Jewish family. An expected amount of hijinks occur, mostly due to clashes of faith. The story also contains a lot of heart and effectively portrays people struggling to stay strong in faith and dignity, while also finding a place in the world.

BookMusings Oooo I have this on my shelf! Need the read! 8y
46 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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stacylee
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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#childprotagonists #photoadaynov16

One of my favorite books of 2016.

@RealLifeReading

9 likes1 stack add
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JacintaMCarter
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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This is my not-so-secret stash of leftover Halloween candy. #BooksAndFood #Novemberland

annahenke Loved this book! 8y
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Nitpickyabouttrains
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Mehso-so

A little preachy about religion, great characters and scene settings.

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Laura317
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pickpick

I loved this book! Thank you @Liberty for picking this as my book. This quote was near the end, and it made me smile. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟#biblioweekend is done for me!

SaraFair Lol! 8y
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Laura317
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Next up - because @Liberty picked it just for me! #biblioweekend

rubyslippersreads I loved this! 8y
annahenke This is such a great book! 8y
SaraFair Looks good! 8y
55 likes8 stack adds3 comments
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Laura317
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pretty excited that I'm up next for both of these. The Hired Girl is the book @Liberty picked for me to read! I've also wanted the Lumberjanes forever! Squeeee!!!

queerbookreader You'll love Lumberjanes 💜💜💜 8y
Laura317 @lemonlime799 I'm next in line to get it from the library! I can't wait!! 8y
28 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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booksareallyouneed
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
Pickpick

I loved this book so muchhhh!!! It reminded me a lot of Anne of Green Gables, but not in a way that made me feel like it was just copying. We feel Janet's (or Joan's XD) emotions and connect with her so well. This made the book heartbreaking but usually uplifting. So many emotions! Read itttt

2 likes1 stack add
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ErinC
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Mature observation from a 14 year old girl.

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annahenke
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Pickpick

What a delight! This is a sweet coming of age story set at the turn of the 20th century. Joan runs away from the farm and finds work in the home of a well-to-do Jewish family. She's earnest, hardworking, has a passion for literature and a big heart. Loved it!

10 likes3 stack adds
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annahenke
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
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Tonight's reading. I'm so excited that YA historical fiction is becoming more of a thing! I've been looking forward to this one for awhile.

3 likes4 stack adds
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alsmithberger
The Hired Girl | Laura Amy Schlitz
Mehso-so

I don't get the hype, it was okay.

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