The Locket, Surviving The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

The Locket, Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, published by Enslow Publishing, is a historical novel written for ages 9 to 12. It tells the story of Galena, an eleven year old Russian-Jewish immigrant who lives in Gourmet Food York City in 1911 with her family consoliation student loans works at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory with her older sister Anya. Mirtazapine factory pays low wages, has horrendous working conditions and employs under age children like Galena.

In the early 1900's joining the union is a dangerous thing to do but Anya longs to improve working conditions for abused workers. Soon a horrible fire erupts and destroys the Triangle Shirt Factory and shatters a young girls dream.

Author, Suzanne Lieurance weaves together the fictional and non-fictional aspects of this historical story with ease. By blending dramatic factual accounts of a historical event using realistic fictional characters, Lieurance brings the reader inside the ill-fated factory. As the reader is taken inside the shirtwaist factory, pungent vapors of sewing machine oil cloggs the air. Lieurance's account is truly a step back in time to understand how a young Jewish immigrant girl uses the support of her Jewish traditions, family and friends for inspiration to fight for workers rights. Even though the Triangle Shirtwaist selling structured settlements of 1911 was an American tragedy, Lieurance writes of hope rather than just gloom.

The Locket also has an educator's guide available for teachers and parents. This guide is a fantastic supplement with additional reading suggestions, discussion questions and other activities. Another benefit of The Locket is an illustrated "Real History Behind the Story" section that brings the characters to life.

Carma Dutra is the owner of Carma's Word, a creative writing and editing service a freelance writer and children's writer. Visit her blog at http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com to read about tips on writing, author interviews, and a variety of topics regarding children.

Carma is currently enrolled in the Institute of Children's Literature, a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and a member of the National Writing for Children Center.