Chapter Book 21: January 1905

Author: Katharine Boling
Title: January 1905
Illustrator: None
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: Sibling rivalry
Theme: Getting long, respecting each other
Primary and secondary characters: Arlene and Pauline
Award(s):
Date of publication: January 1, 2006
Publishing company: Sandpiper
Brief summary: This is a wonderful look into the lives of people in the early 20th century. There are two twin girls, Arlene and Pauline. They are only eleven and one is already working in a mill with the rest of their family to make ends meet. While a limb deficiency keeps Arlene at home Pauline must go work in terrible conditions. This was not uncommon among the families in this small town. The girls despise each other. They are jealous and feel that the other gets all of the attention. The story is told from both of girls perspectives. When an unforeseeable event occurs at the mill Arlene is forced to go to work. She loves the idea. The coming events force the girls to see each other in a new and flattering light while they help to keep their family going.

How you would use the book with students.: I would use this book to discuss the aspects of the early 1900's. I would use this to discuss diversity to students in the sense of physical disabilities. It would also be very useful to use this to teach students about child labor and to show them how terrible child labor is.