School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Mary Harris "Mother" Jones worked relentlessly as an advocate and organizer for workers' rights. Mother Jones sought to highlight the plight of working children by organizing a march from Philadelphia to New York City and then to President Theodore Roosevelt's summer home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. This work recounts the experiences of two young fictional child workers, Aidan and Gussie, during that march. Camping out in the woods, riding a train, and visiting Coney Island, Aidan and Gussie learn lessons in generosity and activism as they meet thousands of supportive people along the way. Finally arriving at Oyster Bay, with her few ragtag crusaders, Mother Jones was turned away and never met with the president. However, the march raised national awareness, and within a few years the first child labor laws were passed. As an introduction to the idea of activism and the concept of the individual's ability to make a difference, this is a suitable work for students. Color illustrations highlight the march from Aiden and Gussie's viewpoint but show almost exclusively white children and adults. Information is included about Mother Jones and her crusade as well as facts about current problems of child labor throughout the world, with a few suggestions for possible actions that may be undertaken by readers. VERDICT As a classroom read-aloud, combined with discussion, this can be used as an overview of social justice and activism.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
In 1903, children are forced to work long days in dangerous factories. Mary Harris Mother Jones, a labor activist, takes a stand against these working conditions by organizing a march to Oyster Bay, New York. On the way to the summer home of President Theodore Roosevelt, she is joined by Aidan and Gussie, two fictional children working in a cotton mill. The details of the actual march are altered and fictionalized to connect with a young audience, with Aidan's and Gussie's observations of speeches and events forming the cornerstone of the narrative with invented dialogue and impressions. Full spreads of rapt crowds listening to Mother Jones against cityscapes are depicted in a muted palette of colored-pencil-and-watercolor drawings. An extensive closing author's note takes on the following topics: Who Was Mother Jones? Child Labor Today, and In Mother Jones' Footsteps. Finally, a Take Action section provides resources to learn more about present-day child labor, though there is no supporting bibliography. Regardless, this approachable title makes for a good entry point to a unique historical event.--Ginman, Karen Copyright 2016 Booklist
