Hear My Sorrow: The Diary of Angela Denoto, a Shirtwaist Worker, New York City, 1909

Angela and her family have arrived in New York City from their village in Italy to find themselves settled in a small tenement apartment on the Lower East Side. When her father is no longer able to work, Angela must leave school and work in a shirtwaist factory. Against the backdrop of the birth of the labor union movement in the early 1900s, Angela plays a part in the drama and turmoil that erupt as the workers begin to strike, protesting the terrible conditions in the sweatshops. And she records the horrors of the Triangle Factory fire and the triumphs and sorrows of the labor movement.

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

It's 1909 in New York City, and fourteen-year-old Angela Denoto has just left school to get a job so she can help support her Italian immigrant family, even though secretly she longs to continue her education. Before she leaves, her teacher gives her a diary as a gift, and Angela begins to write in it. She describes how she gets a job at a shirtwaist factory and faces long working hours in terrible conditions. When the workers go on strike, Angela joins them, but in the end they accomplish little but to show their strength. She also describes personal tragedies, the loss of family and friends to illness, and then the devastating fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, where her sister and some of her friends work.

I really enjoyed this show more new book from the Dear America series. I recommend it to all readers who enjoyed other books in the series, or who enjoy historical fiction or who are interested in this time period in history. Deborah Hopkinson has done a wonderful job at bringing Angela's story to life. show less

Angela Denoto is helping her Italian family by dropping out of school and beginning to work. She is very upset about leaving school and wishes to continue. Her teacher gives her a diary and she uses it. The story follows the young girl as she works, becomes mature, and deals with tragedy. I think this series is awesome. It teachers children history through a perspective they might be able to relate to.

The touching story of an Italian Immigrant family who are touched by the tragedy of the sweatshops of the early 20th century. Rec. Grades 5-8

Forced to drop out of school at the age of 14 to support her family, Angela, an Italian immigrant works long hours and for low wages in a garment factory and participates in the shirtwaist workers' strike of 1909.