Child of the 90's...the 1890's, that is...

I have a feeling this book is not going to hold the attention of the Nintendo generation. It has references to Shakespeare's "The Tempest" that even their parents might be unfamiliar with. It has a large cast of characters, and presents some very adult situations for the young heroine. But it's a fascinating look at the life of a child in New York in the 1890's, and might appeal to a little girl around age 10.

Ruth Sawyer wrote ROLLER SKATES in 1936, when children were still "seen and not heard", and had such things as bed times and restrictions on their behavior around adults. The story follows Lucinda, left behind in the city for the summer when her parents head to Europe. She isn't too sad to see them go, since she'll be staying with her favorite teacher instead of her stuffy, pretentious aunt and four prissy cousins. She tours her new neighborhood on her roller skates, which are the symbol of her freedom.

This new freedom brings Lucinda many new friends, whom she might otherwise have been barred from, including Tony from the fruit stand, Patrolman M'Gonegal, and a hansom cab driver. (that would be a horse-drawn carriage cab- note that I didn't mean a "handsome cab driver"!) They all figure in to separate story lines that weave the book together, each chapter being a mini-look in to the lives of Lucinda's friends.

You'd think the story would be all about her glorious adventures, but she finds that with freedom comes danger. When Lucinda meets a lovely "Turkish lady" in her building, she also meets her abusive husband. There is a shocking end to this friendship, which is a little strong, even for me- reading it again as an adult.

Lucinda also faces the reality of death in another way. She befriends the only child of a poor couple in her building, and plays with the tot throughout the summer, noting that the child is frequently ill. The girl's death changes Lucinda, and she writes in her diary " death is something grown up people try to keep children from knowing about...What is hard to understand is how death divides you in two...something goes and something stays". The thing that goes for Lucinda is a bit of her youth, but what stays is her love of people and her willingness to help them when she sees a need.

This is a very vivid book, and Lucinda is written as an ebullient and astute child. With most books, I can say "this reminds me of so-and-so book", but this one stands alone.