Audacity by Melanie Crowder

Audacity by Melanie Crowder. Philomel, 2015. 389 pages, including historical notes.

Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15
Recommended for: Young Adults, ages 15-18

Bottom Line: Audacity tells the story of union organizer Clara Lemlich from her point of view, in a way that communicates her strength and her vulnerability.

In 1904 Clara Lemlich reached New York City after a long odyssey from Russia. Prospects in the land of opportunity didn’t look bright for a small, rather plain Jewish girl from a penniless family. Her father intended to continue his calling as an Orthodox scholar, meaning he and the boys would stay home and study while Mama took in piecework and Clara sought full-time employment. The only jobs available were in sweatshops, where foremen locked doors from the outside, toilet breaks were only allowed at lunchtime, and the girls had to rent the stools they sat on. One bright spot was free education, which Clara took advantage of after long days at work. As she became familiar with English, a new word was darting furtively around the shop: “union.” The immigrant girl eventually became a leader in the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union and inspired a walkout—the “Uprising of the 20,000” in 1909.

Audacity purports to sort out Clara’s feelings as the young woman grows in purpose and character. Some inner core of determination keeps her going, even after getting roughed up by city cops while walking the picket line. The verse format is perfect for bringing out Clara’s vulnerability as well as her strength, her certainty and her tentativeness. She and her fellow union organizers cleared a path to better conditions for workers, but they bore the brunt. “Audacity—that was all I had,” she declared years later. It’s an inspiring tale with two possible drawbacks: 1) a generally harsh view of men and 2) a harsh view of the United States. It’s true that immigrant workers were preyed upon, sometimes by their fellow countrymen who had made good in the New World. But the U.S. also gave Clara a chance to do something great. As for men—even though the word “wife” is barred and barbed/ threatening/ to hold me down, she can’t help her attraction for Joe: This thing/ that pulls us together/ frightens us both./ And yet/ he is here. The story ends happily, and even if we don’t really know Clara, we feel as though we do.

Cautions: Violence (not graphic), Worldview (socialism mentioned, though not in detail)

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview Rating: 3.5
• Artistic Rating: 4.5

Categories: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, History, Verse Novels, American History, Character Values, Discussion Points*

*Discussion Points

• In the opening chapters, Clara mends the broken wing of a wren. What other birds appear in the story, and what do they represent?
• What are some of the events that shape Clara into a strong contender for workers’ rights?
• What can you say about Clara’s worldview? Could it be consistent with socialism?

Cover image from Amazon