Rosie in New York City: Gotcha!

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

Life in New York City’s Lower East Side is mostly fun and games for
Rosie, until her mother falls ill with pneumonia and Rosie needs to
leave school and take her mother’s place at the shirtwaist factory.
Rosie’s dad has invested all their savings in a new nickelodeon
business, and Rosie needs to bring in some money to help support the
family. Rosie knows that her mother worked hard to bring unions into the
factory and that she often complained about the working conditions, but
Rosie really didn’t understand how bad the conditions were until she
experienced them for herself. When there is a call for a strike, Rosie
knows she has to continue her mother’s fight for safer and more humane
working conditions for the clothing workers.

It is from the perspective of a spunky and vibrant 11-year-old that the
reader gains insight into the conditions of the shirtwaist workers in
New York City during the strike of 1909–10. Rosie’s character is
irresistible, and her story is thought-provoking, informative,
entertaining, and enjoyable. The book works on all levels: it has great
characters, an exciting plot, and an interesting subject and historical
setting. The reader will be left eagerly anticipating Rosie’s next
adventure. Highly recommended.