Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Bella, a naïve recent immigrant from Italy, arrives in the States desperate to earn money to send back to her mom and siblings so that they can buy food. Yetta, a Jewish Russian immigrant has been working in the deplorable conditions of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and is one of the workers spearheading the strike. Jane is a wealthy socialite who wants to do more with her life than wed and produce heirs. The girls lives intersect through the strike and the three quickly become like sisters as they each struggle to survive as single females in a male dominant society.

Haddix intertwines the lives of these three girls as they struggle through the difficult strike and bravely face the fire that destroyed so many lives. Haddix narrative is poignant and memorable for readers who make it through the slower parts of the novel. A detailed authors note and further reading are provided for readers who want to learn more about the tragedy that changed American business practices forever.