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Hear My Sorrow: The
Diary of Angela Denoto, a Shirtwaist Worker, New York City, 1909
Deborah Hopkins Scholastic, Inc © 2004 |
This book is about a girl who is an immigrant from Italy. At the age of fourteen, most immigrants are told to leave school and get a job. This is so they can help support their family. Angela is a bright student and would like to continue school, but she must get a job. She has three siblings (a younger sister, an old sister, and a younger brother). Her older sister helps her get a job as a shirtwaist worker. At this job, Angela works in a factory helping to make shirts. After a couple of months working at the factor, the shirtwaist workers go on strike. Though Angela's sister does not agree, Angela decides to join the union. This causes conflict between Angela and everyone in her family. Angela's younger sister ends up catching a terrible cold and ends up dying. Angela feels that she is to blame for her sister's death because she went on strike and could not help her family buy wood and coal to heat the house. Life must go on, though, so Angela and her older sister return to work at the factory.
I enjoyed this book very much, even though it was sad. I could not imagine having to drop out of school and having to get a job in a factory at the age of fourteen. This book kept the reader engaged in the story. It was really a story of love and devotion to one's family. I also have read other books in the "Dear America" series and have enjoyed them all.
~ Ceara Carney, grade 7, St. Christine's School