I first came across this book about fifteen-years ago when I was in the fourth grade. It was library day, and this was the book that I picked to read. I read the first chapter in the library, and spent the remainder of the day hiding the book underneath my desk, so my teacher wouldn't notice that I was reading. I got caught anyway.

Anyway, this is a great collection about a weathly nine-year-old girl named Samantha who is growing up in the year 1904. In the first chapter we learn that her grandmother is raising her because her parents were killed in a motorboat accident. We learn more about that tragedy later on in the Samantha book series.

One day Samantha sees a girl about her age doing the laundry at the house next door. Samantha's neighbors are also well to do, and they have a spoiled son named Eddy, who likes to tease Samantha.
After Samantha talks to this girl she finds out that her name is Nellie, and that her family sent her to work as a servant girl because in New York City Nellie was working long hours in a dusty, factory. This was before child labor laws.

Another thing that Samantha witnesses is that her grandmother's seamstress, Jessie has left her job. Jessie, nor her grandmother will tell her why. One night, Nellie and Samantha hatch a plan to go to Jessie's house to find out why. In the next chapter you get to deal with racism in the early 20th century.

I think this is a wonderful book for a parent to buy, and read to their kids. The book tells a story about a young girl growing up in the early 20th century. It gives a lesson about child labor, and paints a picture of racism. The child will learn that these two subjects are very wrong.

I just hope that one day the books in this series are not edited like so many of the classics have been.