The Hired Girl

By: Laura Amy Schlitz

Narrated by: Rachel Botchan

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

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

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.

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.

My go-to listen every year!

I love this book! it's clean, funny and quirky. like Ann of green gables. I listen to it every year, when I want something entertaining and lighthearted.