Christine fletcher is a veterinarian and author of two young adult novels. Patrons in a taxidance hall typically purchased dance tickets for ten cents each, which gave rise to the term dimeadance girl. Ten cents a dance book by christine fletcher thriftbooks. The term taxi dancer comes from the fact that, as with a taxicab driver, the dancers pay is proportional to the time he or she spends dancing with the customer.
Jun 16, 2010 book trailer for ten cents a dance by christine fletcher bloomsbury usa childrens books 2008. Ten cents a dance was inspired by a member of author christine fletcher s own family. Sixteenyearold ruby secretly works as a taxi dancer, jitterbugging with men for money, to get her family out of chicagos slums. May 05, 2008 ten cents a dance by christine fletcher at only fifteen and a half years old, ruby jacinski is forced to take a job at the packinghouses in order to support her family. In this historical fiction novel, ten cents a dance, fletcher captures the essence of what life was like for a young polishamerican girl in chicago, illinois during the early 1940s. I wanna be your joey ramone by stephanie kuehnert 99. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. Christine fletcher in 1940s chicago, fifteenyearold ruby hopes to escape poverty by becoming a taxi dancer in a nightclub, but the work has unforeseen dangers and hiding the truth from her family and friends becomes. I recommend ten cents a dance with enthusiasm to teen girls 14 and up. Rubys family used to be pretty well off until her father died. When taxi dancing first appeared in taxi dance halls during the early 20th century in the united states, male patrons would. Aug 04, 2008 ten cents a dance by christine fletcher 96. Teens read is designed to help teens find books they will love. Christine fletcher as she explores the idea of living a double life and taxi dancing.
This dream is far out of her reach though when she has to drop out of school and take a job in order to support her family after her mothers arthritis makes it impossible for her to work. I have always been interested in the story of taxi dancers and their nightly display of illusion that they earned their living by. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher ruby jacinski is desperate to get out of chicagos meatpacking yards and start her life. Ten cents a dance king county library system overdrive. Blatant racism, crime, and the swingera music scene permeate the backdrop of fletchers absorbing wartime novel, which will have readers dancing in the aisles. Rubys job does not pay enough to cover her familys living expenses, let alone their past rent and her mothers medical bills stemming from her rheumatoid arthritis. However i liked ten cents a dance much better than i. Ten cents a dance book by christine fletcher 2 available. Its set during one of my favorite time periods, the 1940s and in one of my favorite cities chicago. Mar 25, 2008 ten cents a dance by christine fletcher ruby jacinski is desperate to get out of chicagos meatpacking yards and start her life. A mesmerizing look into a littleknown world and era, ten cents a dance is resplendent with soulshaking jazz, killer 40s style, and the passions of a young generation on the eve of war. In 1940s chicago, fifteenyearold ruby hopes to escape poverty by becoming a taxi dancer in a nightclub, but the work has unforeseen dangers and hiding the truth from her family and friends becomes increasingly difficult. Ten cents a dance top ten best book for young adults, american library association blue ribbon, bulletin of the center for childrens books jefferson cup honor book, virginia library association finalist, 2008 cybils award for young adult fiction. May 07, 2008 well i am so happy to say that the author of ten cents a dance, christine fletcher, responded that her publisher is currently working on a discussion guide.
She had been shamed and banished from the family only to return years later. Ten cents a dance is probably one of my alltime favorite historical fiction novels. I think fletcher grabbed the time good, portrayed it in a way that really popped off the page, but in terms of story it was rather lackluster, bordering on forgettable. Ten cents a dance quotes christine fletcher this study guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of ten cents a dance. Part 1 of interview with christine fletcher created by worducopia. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Ive always loved the oddments of historyhomely, everyday stuff which never makes it. I was really impressed with this book about prewwii chicago and a profession i didnt even know existed. The story of sofia, as explained in the book, is about a family member who was lost for several years. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher 9 out of 10. Christine fletchers ten cents a dance, published by bloomsbury books in 2008, is a work of historical fiction set during world war ii. Ten cents a dance book midcontinent public library.
But if teaching old guys the lindy hop and the box step for ten cents a dance will get ruby out of the packing plant and. In this beautifully crafted piece of historical fiction, fifteenyearold ruby is forced to quit school and work to support her family after her fathers. I even hinted that it would be nice to have some discussion questions to generate some conversation. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher everyday reading. Jun 23, 2008 ten cents a dance by christine fletcher its 1941, fifteen year old ruby and her sister and mother live in chicago s meat packing district. Im a veterinarian and author of two young adult novels. When rubys mother can no longer work in the factory, ruby must quit school and start earning money for the family. In this novel, ruby jacinski is a fifteenyearold girl who recently quit school to take a job to support her family.
Ten cents a dance was inspired by a member of author christine fletchers own family. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher at only fifteen and a half years old, ruby jacinski is forced to take a job at the packinghouses in order to support her family. She drops out of school and is working at a packinghouse. With her mother ill, its up to fifteenyearold ruby jacinski t.
I have always been interested in the story of taxi dancers and their nightly display of illusion that. A taxi dancer is a paid dance partner in a partner dance. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher librarything. Ten cents a dancechristine fletcher with her mother ill, its up to fifteenyearold ruby jacinski to support her family. But it could make a movie that i would just love and adore. The critically acclaimed novel about a young womans journey from immigrant slums to the hottest jazz clubs. Ten cents a dance is a popular song in which a taxi dancer laments the hardships of her job. Ten cents a dance an ala top ten best book for young adults chicago, 1941. Ive always loved the oddments of historyhomely, everyday stuff which never makes it into the history books. Mar 24, 2009 ten cents a dance by christine fletcher 9 out of 10. Well i am so happy to say that the author of ten cents a dance, christine fletcher, responded that her publisher is currently working on a discussion guide. Ten cents a dance has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Lesson plan from rhode island teen book award created by rhode island teen book award view on rhode island teen book award share. Fifteenyearold ruby jacinski drops out of school in order to support her ailing mother and younger sister after her fathers death.
I enjoyed ten cents a dance by christine fletcher very much. Ten cents a dance was an okay book but nothing to really write home about. The site features award winning titles from the iowa teen award, iowa high school award, yalsa best fiction for young adults, and yalsa teens top ten. Curiously, on good reads, this is the book cover on display. Alive and well in prague, new york by daphne grab 97. The music was written by richard rodgers, with lyrics by lorenz hart. In the poor back of the yards neighborhood in the 1940s, young women had two ways of making moneythe backbreaking labor in meat packing plants or as taxi dancers where a simple swing around the dance floor with a lonely man paid ten cents a dance. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Christine fletcher is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Ten cents a dance was inspired by a story from my own family. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher bloomsbury, hardcover, 2008 rating. Other names for a taxi dancer are dance hostess and taxi in argentina.
Part 1 of interview with christine fletcher created by worducopia view on. Feb 05, 2009 ten cents a dance by christine fletcher bloomsbury, hardcover, 2008 rating. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher reading guidebook. Taxi dancers are hired to dance with their customers on a dance by dance basis. Ten cents a dance is a novel by writer christine fletcher. This dream is far out of her reach though when she has to drop out of school and take a job in order to support her family after her. Buy a cheap copy of ten cents a dance book by christine fletcher. The song was originally written for lee morse who was acting in the musical simple simon, but when morse showed up intoxicated at the boston opening of the musical, florenz ziegfeld fired her. With her mother ill, its up to fifteenyearold ruby jacinski to support her family. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher 20080401 on. Book trailer for ten cents a dance by christine fletcher bloomsbury usa childrens books 2008. A mesmerizing look into a little known world and era. Christine fletchers ten cents a dance, published by bloomsbury books in 2008, is a work of historical fiction set during world war ii the main character is ruby, a fifteenyearold girl who. Ruby lands a job as a taxi dancer a girl paid ten cents to.
When her mother becomes too ill to work, fifteenyearold ruby jacinski is forced to drop out of school to support her. I currently write and practice veterinary medicine in portland, oregon. But in the 1940s, the only opportunities open to a polishamerican girl from chicagos poor yards is a job in one of the meat packing plants. Fletcher offers a hardboiled work of historical fiction that captures americas social struggles at the beginning of world war ii. Poster for the film ten cents a dance 1931 with barbara stanwyck as a taxi dancer. Rubys neighborhood, the yards, looms with its gritty tenements, sooty windows and everpresent stink. Ten cents a dance book chicago public library bibliocommons.
In 1940s chicago, fifteenyearold ruby hopes to escape poverty by becoming a taxi dancer a paid dance partner in a nightclub, but the work has unforeseen dangers, and hiding the truth from her family and friends becomes increasingly difficult. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher the book muncher. Ten cents a dance by christine fletcher and a great selection of related books. Through a chance meeting with a local tough, ruby lands a job as a taxi dancera girl paid ten cents to dance with any manand soon becomes an expert in the art of fishing as she works her patrons for meals, clothes, even. Set around 19401941, the novel follows the adventures and misadventures of a teen girl, ruby jacinski, who is charmed away from the meat factories by the glamor and allure of a. Drawn ever deeper into the world of dance halls, jazz, and the mob, ruby gradually realizes that the only one who can save her is herself. Then her mother worked long hours in the factory to make ends meet. Ten cents a dance kentucky libraries unbound overdrive. Title of a book, article or other published item this will display to the public. But if teaching old guys the lindy hop and the box step for ten cents a dance will get ruby out of the packing plant and her family out of poverty, rubys determined to do it. If you love reading an amazing book with an accurate historical twist then you will love this book. Click to read more about ten cents a dance by christine fletcher.
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