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The Clock
When her spendthrift father goes into debt after buying a sheep and the inner workings of a clock, fifteen-year-old Annie Steele is sent to work in the town's new wool mill to help support her family. Her job is full of risk -- especially after she and her friend Robert discover that the mill's cruel overseer is stealing bags of wool and decide to do something about it.
Annie longs for the chance to continue her schooling and become a teacher. Will she ever be able to leave the mill?
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
Annie longs for the chance to continue her schooling and become a teacher. Will she ever be able to leave the mill?
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1992
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
James Lincoln Collier
132 books68 followersJames Lincoln Collier (born June 27, 1928) is a journalist, author, and professional musician.
Collier's notable literary works include My Brother Sam Is Dead (1974), a Newbery Honor book that was also named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and nominated for a National Book Award in 1975. He also wrote a children's book titled The Empty Mirror (2004), The Teddy Bear Habit (1967), about an insecure boy whose beatnik guitar teacher turns out to be a crook, and Rich and Famous (1975), sequel to The Teddy Bear Habit. His list of children's books also includes Chipper (2001), about a young boy in a gang. His writings for adults include numerous books on jazz, including biographies of Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. He has also contributed entries on jazz-related subjects to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
In addition to his writing, Collier is an accomplished jazz musician who plays the trombone professionally.
Collier's notable literary works include My Brother Sam Is Dead (1974), a Newbery Honor book that was also named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and nominated for a National Book Award in 1975. He also wrote a children's book titled The Empty Mirror (2004), The Teddy Bear Habit (1967), about an insecure boy whose beatnik guitar teacher turns out to be a crook, and Rich and Famous (1975), sequel to The Teddy Bear Habit. His list of children's books also includes Chipper (2001), about a young boy in a gang. His writings for adults include numerous books on jazz, including biographies of Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. He has also contributed entries on jazz-related subjects to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
In addition to his writing, Collier is an accomplished jazz musician who plays the trombone professionally.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 25, 2015
“Seeking Revenge or Social Justice”
This short book offers grim details based on authentic
accounts of life in a textile mill—from the viewpoint of a 15-year-old farm girl. Annie Steele dreams of attending school in order to become a teacher herself some day and thus earn her own keep (until she marries). Her older brother, George, sweats his days chopping wood to help pay off their father’s debts. Unfortunately the family will always be in debt because of Pa’s extravagance and naive hope that he can make it rich by investing in some new scheme. It is his purchase of a clock (the works--not the case) which proves the catalyst which sets Annie’s despair in motion; she is contracted for six months in Col. Humphreys’ mill (an historical CT mill owner).
Not only must Annie sacrifice her educational goals, but she finds herself subjected to more than the slavery of child labor; the dishonest overseer soon casts his lecherous eyes on her. As Annie and another boy in the mill cotton to it that the overseer is stealing wool, they conspire to blow the whistle on the man, but few adults believe her shocking accusations. Worst of all, they have no proof—only well-founded suspicions. Determined to escape the dangers (both physical and sexual) of mill work Annie is desperate enough to contemplate running away. Accompanied by dark, pen and ink sketches this story of 14 short chapters is surprisingly gripping, while providing young students of the Industrial Age an in-depth view of life before child labor laws.
Was Pa right about the inevitability of Change and that all progress must be good? Will Pa himself ever mature? Perhaps Annie’s last name is an indication of her dedication to the Truth. But Annie must also examine her private motivation: does she seek revenge for a friend;s death or social justice for all mill girls? For students 10-15.
May 25, 2015
This short book offers grim details based on authentic
accounts of life in a textile mill—from the viewpoint of a 15-year-old farm girl. Annie Steele dreams of attending school in order to become a teacher herself some day and thus earn her own keep (until she marries). Her older brother, George, sweats his days chopping wood to help pay off their father’s debts. Unfortunately the family will always be in debt because of Pa’s extravagance and naive hope that he can make it rich by investing in some new scheme. It is his purchase of a clock (the works--not the case) which proves the catalyst which sets Annie’s despair in motion; she is contracted for six months in Col. Humphreys’ mill (an historical CT mill owner).
Not only must Annie sacrifice her educational goals, but she finds herself subjected to more than the slavery of child labor; the dishonest overseer soon casts his lecherous eyes on her. As Annie and another boy in the mill cotton to it that the overseer is stealing wool, they conspire to blow the whistle on the man, but few adults believe her shocking accusations. Worst of all, they have no proof—only well-founded suspicions. Determined to escape the dangers (both physical and sexual) of mill work Annie is desperate enough to contemplate running away. Accompanied by dark, pen and ink sketches this story of 14 short chapters is surprisingly gripping, while providing young students of the Industrial Age an in-depth view of life before child labor laws.
Was Pa right about the inevitability of Change and that all progress must be good? Will Pa himself ever mature? Perhaps Annie’s last name is an indication of her dedication to the Truth. But Annie must also examine her private motivation: does she seek revenge for a friend;s death or social justice for all mill girls? For students 10-15.
May 25, 2015
July 25, 2018
The only positive to find in this story is how not to act, and progress is not always best just for the sake of "progress". After reading the author note at the end, I understood why this was written. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it and adjust our attitudes and actions for that which is honorable and selfless.
August 16, 2010
This was a really good historical fiction title that delved into the working conditions for young people during the Industrial Revolution in America. Annie Steele is one of two teenage siblings who have a hard-working mother and an irresponsible father who spends money he doesn't have, plunging his family into debt, and risks losing the family farm for junk he has to have. Pa's latest purchase is a clock, and in order to pay it off, he signs up his fifteen year old daughter for six-month contract at the wool mills to clear up his eight dollar clock debt. Annie has no choice but to give up her dreams of becoming a schoolteacher and have to work hard and long hours due to her father's inability to provide for his family and racking up mounting debts that continually get him in trouble. To Annie's comfort, she does get to work with her best friend Hetty and her would be beau, Robert. Robert can't work his family's farm due to an accident that has left his ankle crippled, so he handles the numbers at the mill. Robert discloses a mill secret to Annie, that the evil mill manager is stealing wool, and instead of leaving it be, Annie is determined to gather evidence that Mr. Hoggart is a thieving man. In the meantime, she tries to avoid his attention, but he sexually harasses her and other young girls, telling them if they're "nice" he'll give them better jobs, and if not, he'll make life hard for Annie and Robert. Things progressively worse until a tragedy occurs that spurs Annie into action, despite knowing her life could be in danger, too.
Recommended for students studying the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. and for historical fiction buffs, ages 12 and up.
Recommended for students studying the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. and for historical fiction buffs, ages 12 and up.
November 28, 2016
A great winter's fireside tale of intrigue, drama , passion and local history. James Lincoln Collier is a great historical "protest". This yarn spun from the hardships of ole Rhode Island's Slater Mill, the demands of an emerging competitive mills industry. Set in the 1700's , the text captures a father's dreams of wealth and a quiet desperation to keep his land .
On a cold winter's eve settle in with hot coco, an awakened imagination and unwind the clock as you slip back into the era of historical fantasy and New England style infamy .-Ah mill life-5 a.m. awaken to all the hardships and dark sides of the American patrilocal family as you walk in the footsteps of an American skilled labor era "Looking for Trouble" girl. When a young 14 year old pre-feminist bud of promise butts heads with Slater Mill's lonely, mad drunk overseer of the town's only source of substanance , her father's fears of retribution and isolation awaken a winter's season of hell . The Mill Town falls under a dark maniacal Dr, Jeckle -Mr Hyde"pathos .
SAHNBCT2018
On a cold winter's eve settle in with hot coco, an awakened imagination and unwind the clock as you slip back into the era of historical fantasy and New England style infamy .-Ah mill life-5 a.m. awaken to all the hardships and dark sides of the American patrilocal family as you walk in the footsteps of an American skilled labor era "Looking for Trouble" girl. When a young 14 year old pre-feminist bud of promise butts heads with Slater Mill's lonely, mad drunk overseer of the town's only source of substanance , her father's fears of retribution and isolation awaken a winter's season of hell . The Mill Town falls under a dark maniacal Dr, Jeckle -Mr Hyde"pathos .
SAHNBCT2018
September 1, 2009
Annie Steele’s father has a problem. He spends money, but can’t seem to make enough to get out of debt. He signs her up to work in the town’s new water-power driven woolen mill. When she and her friend, Robert, discover that the mill’s abusive overseer is stealing, and when she is put in danger by the overseer=s inappropriate advances, no one will listen, not even her father. This novel presents the life of the working class in the early 19th Century realistically. Positive. The touchy subject matter, sexual harassment, a very common danger for mill girls, is handled skillfully. Positive.
September 26, 2016
This book is great for readers who want to learn about history. It is also a great free time read, just like a Harry Potter book or something but it also teaches you a lot about The Industrial Revolution and you learn about the people who lived in that era. This book is about a fourteen year old girl named Annie who was sent to work in the woollen mills to pay off her father's debt. She hates the mill and the manager even more. But there is more to the mill's manager that meets the eye.
October 26, 2014
audio-overdrive. Historical fiction, children's lit, young adult. good story. good character development. interesting window into start of industrial age in the wool industry. I wanted more in an ending. I felt it ended too soon, too quickly. But I suppose a good story makes you think, "what's next?" Audio version was OK, but didn't enhance the story like some narrators/actors do.
Want to read
March 4, 2015Listed as Q4 = Exceptional!, P4 = A book everyone wants to read
April 10, 2016
The Clock was a pretty good book because it had lots off details on the characters and what everyone was up to.
April 7, 2016
I think that the book isn't really my type of book that i would like to read. But it is pretty good. Im at the part where Annie has to go and work in the mill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews