Newbery Medal Winner
Roller Skates
by Ruth Sawyer
Summary
In 1890s New York City, a ten year old girl named Lucinda spends a year living with friends of her family while her parents travel abroad, exploring the city freely on her roller skates. The episodic story follows her friendships with cab drivers, shopkeepers, and other characters she meets across the bustling streets. Ruth Sawyer drew on her own childhood to capture a vivid sense of independence and discovery.
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Historical Context & Significance
Ruth Sawyer based the book on her own girlhood in New York and later wrote a sequel called The Year of Jubilo.