Missing from Haymarket Square

by Harriette Gillem Robinet

CHICAGO, 1886. Twelve-year-old Dinah Bell is too young to be working twelve-hour days. But to the factory and mill owners, age doesn't matter. In fact nothing seems to matter to them except how much work gets done. But Dinah and workers like her have many concerns: Food is scarce, wages are small, and hope seems out of reach.
Dinah's father knows there must be a better way -- that's why he and eight thousand others are planning to march for an eight-hour day. But when her father is taken prisoner for helping to plan the march, Dinah is desperate to rescue him. As the march gives way to a terrifying riot, Dinah faces constant danger and a persistent question: What will become of her family if she does not set her father free?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

Harriette Gillem Robinet was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She spent her childhood summers in Arlington, Virginia, where her grandfather had been a slave under General Robert E. Lee.
She graduated from the College of New Rochelle, New York, and from graduate studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She is a member of the National Writers Union.
She has written numerous award-winning books for children.

She and her husband live in Oak Park, Illinois, and have six children and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the only fiction books I have ever found about Haymarket! Could be a very cool way to talk about labor with kids age 8-12. I've read other kids books about labor movements in the USA but this one includes a lot of things that I think others leave out, most importantly the role of the police in squashing labor movements. The main character, Dinah's, father has been blacklisted and jailed for being a labor organizer that has brought many other black workers into unions. The way police reacted to the eight hour day march and other labor events surrounding Haymarket is explained in a way that really demonstrates how police have been the enforcers of capitalism.
Theres also some sneaky discussion about disagreement between labor organizers about whether systems of government should fundamentally change. There's 12 year olds trying to start anarchist economies, there's older workers trying to maintain capitalism while using unions as watchdogs - could be such a cool way to teach kids about nuances in different systems of government and philosophies.
The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because the writing is really not impressive, but whatever. I'll let it slide.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. The dialogue, esp. that of the immigrant kids, didn't seem authentic (in terms of what their limited English profiency might have sounded like. And some of the events were implausible, though obviously put in so readers could understand the Haymarket Uprisings better.

Overall: meh.

[Caitie]

Missing From Haymarket Square by Harriette Gillem Robinet brings you into a different world that 12 year old Dinah Bell lives in. Everyday she wonders where her next meal would come from as she works her 12 hour day in a sewing factory.


This historical-fiction book told in a 3rd person point of view is for people who like adventure books.


Dinah is brave and will do anything for family. She lives in her house with other 5 families and from one of the families is her best friend Olive. Dinah believes in an 8 hour work day just like her father.


Dinah lives in Chicago in 1886. The Bells are a poor family who struggle every day to get food but with the help of Olive’s mischievous thinking dinner is on the table every night.