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jolierice99's review
5.0
so good! i loved the free verse and the power that the poetry was able to convey, the story that was so detailed with so few words, an amazing badass lady true events based story, loved it!!
kawarwick's review
4.0
I liked the story. I'm always looking for a good historical fiction for my library but I'm thinking this one might be a hard one to get kids to read. Not sure if I liked the story being in verse.
lizaroo71's review
4.0
Clara Lemlich and her family is displaced in their home country of Ukraine because of their Jewish heritage. The family flees and arrives in New York in early 1900's.
Upon arrival, Clara's father adheres to the social norms of their home country and continues to study the Torah with his sons while Clara is told to get a job. She finds a job in the garment district, but quickly realizes the conditions are deplorable.
Clara doesn't choose her battle, it chooses her. She makes it her mission to join a union and to lead a strike that will require less hours, fair wages, access to a bathroom when needed and a clock that is present so that the boss can't fudge the time.
I love Clara's tenacity and her willingness to stick to her convictions and stand up for what is right. She can't help it! When her father told her the family will not speak Russian, Clara found a way to learn on her own. When she arrived in America, she knew she had to learn English. She did so after a long and dreary day at work.
She's a warrior and she continued to fight for the underdog until her death at 96. I like the notes at the end and I love that this is in verse.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography-clara-lemlich/
Upon arrival, Clara's father adheres to the social norms of their home country and continues to study the Torah with his sons while Clara is told to get a job. She finds a job in the garment district, but quickly realizes the conditions are deplorable.
Clara doesn't choose her battle, it chooses her. She makes it her mission to join a union and to lead a strike that will require less hours, fair wages, access to a bathroom when needed and a clock that is present so that the boss can't fudge the time.
I love Clara's tenacity and her willingness to stick to her convictions and stand up for what is right. She can't help it! When her father told her the family will not speak Russian, Clara found a way to learn on her own. When she arrived in America, she knew she had to learn English. She did so after a long and dreary day at work.
She's a warrior and she continued to fight for the underdog until her death at 96. I like the notes at the end and I love that this is in verse.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography-clara-lemlich/
rdyourbookcase's review
3.0
I read Audacity because I had heard good reviews on it and that it was being considered for awards. Honestly, it was well-written, but it didn’t seem unique. It didn’t have that special something that most award-winners have. All of that aside, it was an inspirational story about a woman who helped change the world. Because of people like her, I have a lot more opportunities available to me today. I’m glad this book was written to help young people learn about women who made change happen. Maybe it will even inspire other young ladies to help make the world an even better place.
readwithpassion's review
5.0
This is an inspirational book in verse based on the true story of Clara Lemlich. She was a Russian Jewish immigrant who was forced to work in horrible factory conditions in the early 1900s. Clara stood up for her rights and fought with the union. What I liked most about this book is the author gives so much information about Orthodox Judaism, unions, and feminism, but she doesn't hit readers over the head with the information. I don't enjoy reading books about religion, and I don't particularly seek out books about feminism (or unions, for that matter), yet I found Clara's story to be both fascinating and compelling. All types of readers will love this story, and it is very teachable.
Teacher's Tools for Navigation: I would love to teach this book. It offers great opportunities for building background knowledge about history. I wish this book existed when I used to teach The Jungle because the connections are innumerable. If I taught this book, I would use a jigsaw, research, and/or webquest activity where students spent time researching the 1900s, Russian immigration in the 1900s, unions, feminism, schooling in the 1900s, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and Orthodox Judaism. This knowledge would provide a rich reading of this text. Discussion Questions: How do Clara's parents and siblings view her actions?; Make a list of your top five values. Then, make a list of Clara's top five values. Are they the same? Different? Do you think your values differ from hers because of your personalities or because of the different time periods you live in?
Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5626
Teacher's Tools for Navigation: I would love to teach this book. It offers great opportunities for building background knowledge about history. I wish this book existed when I used to teach The Jungle because the connections are innumerable. If I taught this book, I would use a jigsaw, research, and/or webquest activity where students spent time researching the 1900s, Russian immigration in the 1900s, unions, feminism, schooling in the 1900s, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and Orthodox Judaism. This knowledge would provide a rich reading of this text. Discussion Questions: How do Clara's parents and siblings view her actions?; Make a list of your top five values. Then, make a list of Clara's top five values. Are they the same? Different? Do you think your values differ from hers because of your personalities or because of the different time periods you live in?
Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5626
falana's review
5.0
Inspired by the story of the real Clara Lemlich, Audacity gives us a glimpse into the garment sweatshops on New York City during the early 1900’s. After traveling to America to escape religious persecution, Clara finds work in a garment shop. Although Clara was brought up to work hard and be quiet, she can’t help but voice her opinion and organize other young women in the sweatshops to stand up for better working conditions.
Audacity provides a great introduction to Clara Lemlich and the struggle for fair labor laws for men and women at the turn of the century. Clara’s inspiring story is written in free-verse, which lends itself to the story and makes it a quick read. Perfect for older reluctant readers with an interest in feminist historical fiction in an urban setting.
Audacity provides a great introduction to Clara Lemlich and the struggle for fair labor laws for men and women at the turn of the century. Clara’s inspiring story is written in free-verse, which lends itself to the story and makes it a quick read. Perfect for older reluctant readers with an interest in feminist historical fiction in an urban setting.
teganbeesebooks's review
5.0
YES. Clara is amazing. Wonderful novel-in-verse about an amazing woman. Fellow VCFA grad.
xoxolibro's review
5.0
Great read, especially for young girls!
Audacity is a novel of a young girl who constantly strives to better herself, to gain an education, and to help others, even though her religion and her family may not always agree. I found myself rooting for Clara Lemlich and hoping that I would display such courage and tenacity if I were faced with such situations.
I'm also finding that I'm a big fan of this structured poetry trend. They're quick reads and the poetic rhythm makes the story line flow.
Audacity is a novel of a young girl who constantly strives to better herself, to gain an education, and to help others, even though her religion and her family may not always agree. I found myself rooting for Clara Lemlich and hoping that I would display such courage and tenacity if I were faced with such situations.
I'm also finding that I'm a big fan of this structured poetry trend. They're quick reads and the poetic rhythm makes the story line flow.
meganac's review
5.0
But I know one thing now:
I will not be
the pheasant
quivering
hiding
from the hunter
who crushes the slender reeds
to flush out
his prey.
I will never
cower
like this
again.
Although some have said the way this historical novel was written in free verse was distracting and difficult for them, I thought it was a beautiful way to tell this thinker's story and made it quite a quick read. I get it, though. Sometimes it just comes down to writing style.
I didn't learn much about the early women's unions in school. I remember hearing Clara's name, but more attention was given to the women's Suffrage movement as a whole than to the women who worked in sweatshops and demanded better treatment and pay. That's sad. Clara's work, and the work of the women by her side, changed the way capitalism works in America for the better. These women were beaten, arrested, jailed, and blacklisted by employers because they peacefully protested the standard of the time - long hours, pathetic pay, sexual harassment. We owe much of what is "normal" for women in the workplace to the determination of these women. We should know their stories.
I loved seeing Clara's point of view as a Russian Jew immigrating to America. I often wonder how women of different personalities deal with living in oppressive settings, and this book did not disappoint. I highly recommend it.
I will not be
the pheasant
quivering
hiding
from the hunter
who crushes the slender reeds
to flush out
his prey.
I will never
cower
like this
again.
Although some have said the way this historical novel was written in free verse was distracting and difficult for them, I thought it was a beautiful way to tell this thinker's story and made it quite a quick read. I get it, though. Sometimes it just comes down to writing style.
I didn't learn much about the early women's unions in school. I remember hearing Clara's name, but more attention was given to the women's Suffrage movement as a whole than to the women who worked in sweatshops and demanded better treatment and pay. That's sad. Clara's work, and the work of the women by her side, changed the way capitalism works in America for the better. These women were beaten, arrested, jailed, and blacklisted by employers because they peacefully protested the standard of the time - long hours, pathetic pay, sexual harassment. We owe much of what is "normal" for women in the workplace to the determination of these women. We should know their stories.
I loved seeing Clara's point of view as a Russian Jew immigrating to America. I often wonder how women of different personalities deal with living in oppressive settings, and this book did not disappoint. I highly recommend it.
jennifermreads's review
4.0
As a Russian-Jew, Clara is witness to horrific violence against her people. When her family immigrates to New York City, she observes a new kind of violence: substandard working conditions in garment factories. Rather than run, as she feels her family did from Russia, Clara decides to take up the fight and become a leader in the labor movement.
From the section titles (tinder – spark – flame – fire – blaze) to the beautiful verse, this is an eloquent story of a regular girl that became an extraordinary leader. Prior to reading this novel, I had not heard of Clara Lemlich and this was an expressive way for me to learn of her and of the labor movement.
From the section titles (tinder – spark – flame – fire – blaze) to the beautiful verse, this is an eloquent story of a regular girl that became an extraordinary leader. Prior to reading this novel, I had not heard of Clara Lemlich and this was an expressive way for me to learn of her and of the labor movement.