DERAILED

In Cryan-Hicks’ middle-grade historical novel, a young girl longs to become a reporter as she deals with the death of her mother.

It’s 1911 in West Village, and 8th-grader Gretta Anderson is eager for more than just household work. Before her mother died of tuberculosis, she planned for Gretta to go to high school and then Teacher’s School, but Gretta’s father wants her to work in the mill. “That’s the easiest thing to do. Just work in the mill like your mother did until you get married,” he says. Gretta, who isn’t sure she actually wants to be a teacher, wonders if her father may be right. But then Mr. Daniel, the editor of The Daily Sun, comes to visit Gretta’s class, and Gretta realizes what she actually desires: to become a newspaper reporter, just like the famous Nellie Bly. Gretta’s aunt informs her that almost 3,000 women are marching for the right to vote. This fuels Gretta’s resolve, but she struggles with how to tell her father about her new dream until a train carrying the popular “Two Bills Show” exotic animal show derails outside the West Village, spilling animals out into the street, and Gretta must summon a courage she’s never known to help restore order. The narrative offers an engaging exploration of women’s rights in the early 1900s as the author explores societal norms of the time. (“My mother said there are only three things girls can be besides a mother: a nurse, a secretary or a teacher.”) The well-paced plot makes for a captivating and sometimes heartbreaking read as Gretta struggles with the loss of her mother and her relationship with her grieving father. The protagonist is relatable and easy to root for—though she’s young, readers of all ages can find something important to take away from her story.

A tender and charming tale about finding your courage in times of social change.