Newsgirl

12-year-old Amelia Forrester can't wait to reach San Francisco, where her mother and mother's companion hope to set up shop as seamstresses. But the male-dominated "Phoenix City" proves a challenging place to make a new life for three women on their own. Amelia quickly finds that out on the frontier, news from back east sells for a premium. But even peddling newspapers from home causes Amelia grief - the pack of boys who make a living off the papers do not take kindly to a girl horning in on their turf. Undeterred, enterprising Amelia hacks off her hair and dresses up like a boy, a bold decision that leads her on a harrowing adventure winding through unfriendly city streets and hard mining towns, filled with accidental hot air balloon show more rides, kidnapper-sailors, and fire. Exploring fatherlessness and gender-roles within the context of the gold-rush towns of 1851, Ketchum deftly side-steps the lure of the sanctimonious. Amelia, an imperfect and relatable protagonist, comes to terms with her own identity and her unconventional family as she struggles to overcome discrimination and other hardships. The plot does take some time to pick up speed; however, the final third of the novel speeds along, and Amelia's growth as a character happens naturally. Highly recommended. show less

Set against the backdrop of the 1851 California Gold Rush, Newsgirl follows young Amelia, who disguises herself as a boy in order to sell newspapers and support her family. Amid adversity and gender-based obstacles, she demonstrates grit, resourcefulness, and courage—embodying resilience in a time when girls were rarely allowed to speak out. A heartfelt historical novel that explores gender roles, independence, and perseverance in a richly imagined era.

This book is rich in historical detail and rich in California history. Young girls will find a hero in Amelia. The story addresses sexism, women's rights, and even homosexuality. It is an easy and fast read with a lot of social issues prime for discussion and debate. It appears to paint an accurate picture of what life was like for women and immigrants during the Gold Rush era of California. Fantastic for fourth grade California history, but equally valuable to introduce women's suffrage and even 21st century gay rights issues.

This is historical fiction at its best. Amelia Forrester is a twelve year old girl who has moved with her mother and a family friend from Boston to San Francisco. Her mother has plans to make men’s clothing. Amelia, trying to sell the Boston newspapers they had packed all their belongings in has found it is a man's world. Combat this issue she cuts her hair and dresses like a boy. Kids have an opportunity to learn a lot of period history including how women fought for equal rights. I believe the plot is exciting enough to keep my reluctant readers reading.

When Amelia arrives with her mother and her mother's friend in San Francisco, they are looking for a new start. Little do they know that life will be so very different in this new, western town. Life is hard for the few women in this dusty town and Amelia must dress as a boy to sell newspapers and earn money.

I so wanted to love this novel, but it just moved too slowly to be entirely enjoyable. There's a great deal of historical detail and a wonderful author's note, but I just didn't find the characters or plot entirely compelling.

I didn't care for this book, but that being said I think this book could be a great book for kids to see that you don't always have to be the stereotype that is associated with your gender. Its ok to be different.

Genre - Chapter Book
Classification - Historical Fiction
Approximate Age Level - 10 & up
Multicultural Classification - Melting Pot
Personal Reflection - This book was a slow read for me but it was a great portrayal of the Gold Rush time period and women's right. It was definitely well-researched. It was also definitely a nice change to see a female as the heroine. This book could be used to discuss gender stereotypes, family relationships, and character changes. After reaading the novel, students can pretend to be "newsgirls" or "newsboys" and write their own newspapers.