Laura Amy Schlitz, the Newbery-Medal-winning author who is a librarian at The Park School, has a new book that is set in 1911 Baltimore–in Bolton Hill, Reservoir Hill, Druid Hill Park, and the Howard Street shopping district.
The Hired Girl, which will be available for sale on September 8, tells the story of Joan, a 14-year old girl who runs away from an unhappy life in Pennsylvania. She arrives in Baltimore and becomes the hired girl in the home of the Rosenbachs, a well-to-do Jewish family on Eutaw Place.
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.
The Hired Girl is an exploration of feminism and housework; religion and literature; love and loyalty; cats, hats, and bunions. It has earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal.
Publishers Weekly noted: “Schlitz has crafted another exquisite literary gem, one told entirely via Joan’s vivid, humorous, and emotionally resonant diaries…. Schlitz frankly discusses class, religion, women’s education, art, literature, and romance.” More information on the reviews can be found HERE.
This is another remarkable book by Laura–and one that will certainly connect with Baltimore readers, both young adults and adults. And the release of The Hired Girl marks an important anniversary for Laura—the beginning of her 25th year at The Park School.
The Children’s Bookstore is hosting a reading and signing with Laura Amy Schlitz on September 19 at 4pm. The bookstore is located at 737 Deepdene Road in Roland Park.
