The Hired Girl

By: Laura Amy Schlitz

Narrated by: Rachel Botchan

Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Ever since the untimely death of her mother, 14-year-old Joan Skraggs has been desperately unhappy. Under the thumb of her cruel father and three sullen brothers, Joan lives like a servant on their farm just outside of Lancaster, forever cooking, cleaning, and attending to the many demands of the home. But she has little freedom and less support from her family for her love of reading and blossoming interest in education. But when her father tells Joan she can't go to school anymore, it sets off a journey that will see her become first a runaway, then a hired girl on $6 a week, and finally her very own young woman.

Set in America during the optimistic years before the First World War, and told through a series of journal entries, The Hired Girl is the story of a young girl in search of real life and true love. It takes in feminism and housework; money, religion, and social class; literature and education, romanticism and realism, first love and sexual yearnings, cats, hats, and bunions. And it's a comedy.

©2015 Laura Amy Schlitz (P)2015 Recorded Books

Lovely for girls of all ages

Although this is written for pre-teens /YA readers, it’s absolutely a great story for girls and women of all ages. ( I’m not sure boys/men would relate to it ). Joan/Janet is a delightful character, reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables, although this book isn’t that innocent. The only negative ( and it’s rather a glaring one IMHO) is the over-emphasis and lengthy discussions of religion, Catholic vs. Jewish. It became a little preachy. I’m guessing that the author was using this story to teach religious tolerance.
The narrator was just perfect for the first-person voice of Janet.

So GOOD *SPOILERS*

I really liked this book! I related to Joan because she loved books I liked hearing her story. I wish there was a sequel. It’s so good. But boy do I hate David now but I guess he was decent he didn’t use her. But she deserves better. ✌️Peace out

simply wonderful

Excellent & entertaining historical fiction. Awesome characters! Well done. The synopsis just doesn't do it credit. Don't hesitate - great listen.

Nice story about a young girl who works for a Jewish family.

I enjoyed the pace and all the little twists and turns. Appropriate for approximately ages 12 and up. Hints at adult situations without any inappropriate content. Discusses issues of Catholicism versus Judaism in an innocent way. Great character development and story line overall and provides a little insight into what it might be like to live and work in a Jewish home.

enjoyable listen

I may actually go back and listen again, which is something I don't often do. the character was strong and naive. reminded me of another favorite Midwifes Apprentice with humble beginnings and enobling finish...

Disappointing and not disappointing?

I love stories about jewish families from another time, and at first I really enjoyed the progress of Joan’s character. But when she continued to make incredibly dumb moves over and over again, even predictable dumb moves, I became frustrated.

Then, instead of a little pay off where we see Joan develop into a woman who lives up to the intellect other people describe her as having, we just get sped a year forward and left with a 15 minute summary.

I ended the book satisfied with the way things turned out for Joan, but also left wondering what the point was of the book I just listened to.

Very entertaining

I'm not sure if it's because it's being told through in the words of a 14 year old girl or what, but the mispronunciation of a few words struck me very odd. For instance, Beatrice was pronounced "Be-ah-trich-ay" (maybe it was pronounced like that in this time, I don't know) and Beatified, as in made a saint, was pronounced "Beetified". There was another one, but I'm forgetting it now. Other than that, it was entertaining.

Wonderful.

The story was almost impossible to put down, and the reader was incredible. Loved it.

Nice story

Normally I don't read much YA but I did enjoy this book. I think I'm going to recommend it to my nieces.

finally a Jewish book with a good reader!

I often encounter readers mispronouncing Yiddish or Hebrew words when I listen to Jewish books on audible. I was so impressed by the good voice acting in this one! Story line was a bit cliche but an enjoyable listen overall.