Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Philomel Books (2015), Edition: 1, 400 pages
Description
"A historical fiction novel in verse detailing the life of Clara Lemlich and her struggle for women's labor rights in the early 20th century in New York."--
Library's review
"Audacity" may be on the Young Adult list but I would very quickly add it to Adult Reading, too. It tells a story that needs to be heard and appreciated and remembered. It is an excellent picture of the place of the young Jewish girl in her Orthodox family and what life in America was like at the
Show More
time of that family's migration to our country. The fact that the book is written in poetry only adds to the pleasure of reading a good story well told. - Betty S. Show Less
Awards
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (Fiction — 2015)
National Jewish Book Award (Finalist — Young Adult — 2015)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2018)
Cardinal Cup (Winner — 2016)
Colorado Book Award (Finalist — Young Adult — 2016)
SCBWI Crystal Kite Award (2016)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Middle School — 2019)
NCTE Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels (Verse Novels — 2016)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten — 2016)
Nerdy Book Award (2015)
Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 (Selection — 2016)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Teens (Fiction — 2015)
Reading Olympics (Middle School — 2024)
Language
Lexile
1120L
User reviews
LibraryThing member TBE
A gorgeously told novel in verse written with intimacy and power, Audacity is inspired by the real-life story of Clara Lemlich, a spirited young woman who emigrated from Russia to New York at the turn of the twentieth century and fought tenaciously for equal rights. Bucking the norms of both her
Powerful, breathtaking, and inspiring, Audacity is the story of a remarkable young woman, whose passion and selfless devotion to her cause changed the world.
Show More
traditional Jewish family and societal conventions, Clara refuses to accept substandard working conditions in the factories on Manhattan's Lower East Side. For years, Clara devotes herself to the labor fight, speaking up for those who suffer in silence. In time, Clara convinces the women in the factories to strike, organize, and unionize, culminating in the famous Uprising of the 20,000. Powerful, breathtaking, and inspiring, Audacity is the story of a remarkable young woman, whose passion and selfless devotion to her cause changed the world.
Show Less
LibraryThing member scatlett
Written in free verse, Melanie Crowder’s Audacity celebrates the complex person that was Clara Lemlich. A Russian Jewish immigrant in the early twentieth century, Clara fought injustice in a time when struggling meant not just lost wages, but sometimes jail and often a broken and bruised body as
Show More
well. Clara’s strength of character shines as she repeatedly makes impossible choices between her lifelong desire to become a doctor and her determination to improve women’s rights in the workplace. Clara quickly became recognized for her leadership amongst the garment factory workers and is best known for a speech that incited 20,000 women to strike for better working conditions in the garment factories. Crowder’s verse vividly paints a picture of the Progressive Era as seen from the perspective of a garment factory worker living in New York City’s Lower East Side. Includes an historical note, a transcript of the author’s interview with Clara Lemlich family, a glossary, and a selected bibliography. Show Less
LibraryThing member Robert.Zimmermann
This was a book I randomly grabbed because I was looking for verse novels to read. I’ve enjoyed the form from many different authors, but knew nothing about Audacity or Crowder’s work. Having now read the book, I’m glad I picked this one up.
I hadn’t heard of Clara Lemlich, the narrator (and
Along with Clara’s life story being told, this is the story of sweat shop workers, the rise of unions, and women’s rights. These women put up with a lot to earn some money. Crowder doesn’t hold anything back, either. Knowing the details of how the strikes went and the violence they union members had to deal with, it gives me even more respect for those who stood up for their rights.
I don’t read many historical novels, but this will be one I highly recommend from now on. With it being a novel in verse, it only adds to my enjoyment and I think the form allowed the story to have more of an impact on my, as well.
I hadn’t heard of Clara Lemlich, the narrator (and
Show More
historical figure), before but now I feel like I have a good idea of who she was. While this was a fictional representation of a few years in Clara’s life, it felt genuine to me. Crowder did a great job of showing the struggle of being an immigrant in the early part of the twentieth century. She also showed the struggles workers, particularly women, went through just to barely make a living wage, at the time.Along with Clara’s life story being told, this is the story of sweat shop workers, the rise of unions, and women’s rights. These women put up with a lot to earn some money. Crowder doesn’t hold anything back, either. Knowing the details of how the strikes went and the violence they union members had to deal with, it gives me even more respect for those who stood up for their rights.
I don’t read many historical novels, but this will be one I highly recommend from now on. With it being a novel in verse, it only adds to my enjoyment and I think the form allowed the story to have more of an impact on my, as well.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ReadersCandyb
I could use many words to describe this book, but the one that stands out amongst all others is empowerment. Clara was a hero during her time. She immigrated with big dreams, but quickly dropped them for a greater good. She experienced the brutal workforce first-hand and made it her priority to
Audacity was a book that I will never forget. It had a way of pulling me so deep into the pages that the lines between fiction and reality blurred. Each movement Clara made I felt as if I were making the movement myself. Every laugh directed at her, every punch thrown... I felt it. The words had a way of wrapping themselves around me and pulling me under. It's as if I slowly drowned in a pool of historic tragedy and was resucitated to a new world. Clara made sure that the brutality stopped. She pushed for equal rights and without her, who knows what America would be like today.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. It's a story of ultimate sacrifice and I think all who read it will gain a broader appreciation for those who helped mold our world into what it is today.
Show More
stop it. She fought for fair wages, safe workplaces, freedom from harrassment, and so much more. She put all she had into creating a women's union. She was belittled, beaten, laughed at, locked away, and shamed; and yet she never gave up. Her fierce bravery and strong will led her to one of America's greatest historic successes. It wasn't an easy battle, but she used her voice to empower others to use theirs.Audacity was a book that I will never forget. It had a way of pulling me so deep into the pages that the lines between fiction and reality blurred. Each movement Clara made I felt as if I were making the movement myself. Every laugh directed at her, every punch thrown... I felt it. The words had a way of wrapping themselves around me and pulling me under. It's as if I slowly drowned in a pool of historic tragedy and was resucitated to a new world. Clara made sure that the brutality stopped. She pushed for equal rights and without her, who knows what America would be like today.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. It's a story of ultimate sacrifice and I think all who read it will gain a broader appreciation for those who helped mold our world into what it is today.
Show Less
LibraryThing member NadineC.Keels
Well. I'll admit that if this work of young adult historical fiction hadn't been a novel-in-verse (or a book similar in length to this), I might not have been able to read it. It likely would have been too heavy for me to get all the way through. Part of the beauty of novels-in-verse is that even
And there certainly is much beauty in the telling of this painful, angering story. Angering for me because I find it such a shame how long and how hard people must too often struggle and protest just to be treated fairly. To be treated as human beings.
No, Clara's journey isn't at all an easy one. But her determination in the midst of opposition and seemingly insurmountable odds kept me reading. Reinforcing to me that even when the struggle for human rights is hard, humanity is worth it.
Show More
when they're raw, tackling such difficult subjects, they can cover a lot but with an economy of just the right words.And there certainly is much beauty in the telling of this painful, angering story. Angering for me because I find it such a shame how long and how hard people must too often struggle and protest just to be treated fairly. To be treated as human beings.
No, Clara's journey isn't at all an easy one. But her determination in the midst of opposition and seemingly insurmountable odds kept me reading. Reinforcing to me that even when the struggle for human rights is hard, humanity is worth it.
Show Less
ISBN
0399168990 / 9780399168994