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When Molly Was a Harvey Girl
Left penniless by their father's death, thirteen-year-old Molly and her older sister end up as waitresses in the Raton, New Mexico Harvey House. But not for long. If Molly has her way!
226 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
59 people want to read
About the author
Frances M. Wood
4 books5 followersI was once a librarian, then I was a librarian/writer, and now I'm simply a writer. Always - and forever - a book lover.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 16, 2011
When young Molly and her older sister Colleen are left penniless after their father's death, Colleen decides to answer an advertisement for the following: "Young women of good character, attractive and intelligent, eighteen to thirty, to work in Harvey Eating Houses." Although Molly's only thirteen, with her hair up and dressed to look older, she and Colleen are hired and sent from Illinois to far-off Raton, New Mexico--the ends of the earth as far as Molly is concerned, and to an area she is convinced is full of Western desperadoes with evocative names such as Rattlesnake Sam and Cockeyed Frank!
Because trains at the time didn't offer meal service, Frank Harvey had founded a chain of restaurants along the Santa Fe lines, offering good food and a hot meal at a reasonable price. The educated, respectable young women hired from all over the country were a key part of the "brand," and made waitressing into a respectable profession. Girls were paid a salary, provided with room and board, and subject to strict rules about behavior with the largely male customers, curfews, and uniforms. Most came for adventure--and to find a husband, too.
When Molly first sees the highly efficient Harvey girls at work, she's exhausted just by watching the waitress's "Herculean efforts." Molly muses that the young woman "accomplished more in a half hour than Molly had ever accomplished in a day." But soon both Molly and her sister are more than adequate as waitresses. Molly, though, still hopes to get back to Illinois, and develops a scheme to get her sister married to one of their customers, Mr. Latterly, a traveling salesman who admires her attractive sister. In the meantime, Molly develops a friendship with the magnificent French cook, Gaston, who teaches her about cooking, and his helpers, Josiah, who's part Indian, and Susana, who introduces Molly to Mexican culture. And let's not forget Genius Jim--a notorious outlaw, who also weaves in and out of the story, providing an amusing surprise ending.
Will Molly's schemes work to get her back to her old life in Illinois, or will she stay out West with her new-found friends?
I found this book to be thoroughly charming; the protagonist, Molly, is a character girls will identify with, as she struggles to act like an "adult" even though she is only thirteen. It's a great story to explore a little-known aspect of women's history; the Harvey restaurants provided a career opportunity for respectable girls in an era when there were very few options. In addition, as a secondary story, we see the racism and prejudice that existed in the West between different ethnic groups, who were not supposed to mix socially, through Molly's friendship with Josiah and Susana.
Author Frances Wood used her own family history as the basis for this story, since as she reveals in an author's note, her great-grandmother, Jennie, became a Harvey Girl in 1887. Although her ancestor left no diaries or letters about her Harvey Girl days, the author used other books on the Harvey Girls in her research, and a brief bibliography is provided.
Because trains at the time didn't offer meal service, Frank Harvey had founded a chain of restaurants along the Santa Fe lines, offering good food and a hot meal at a reasonable price. The educated, respectable young women hired from all over the country were a key part of the "brand," and made waitressing into a respectable profession. Girls were paid a salary, provided with room and board, and subject to strict rules about behavior with the largely male customers, curfews, and uniforms. Most came for adventure--and to find a husband, too.
When Molly first sees the highly efficient Harvey girls at work, she's exhausted just by watching the waitress's "Herculean efforts." Molly muses that the young woman "accomplished more in a half hour than Molly had ever accomplished in a day." But soon both Molly and her sister are more than adequate as waitresses. Molly, though, still hopes to get back to Illinois, and develops a scheme to get her sister married to one of their customers, Mr. Latterly, a traveling salesman who admires her attractive sister. In the meantime, Molly develops a friendship with the magnificent French cook, Gaston, who teaches her about cooking, and his helpers, Josiah, who's part Indian, and Susana, who introduces Molly to Mexican culture. And let's not forget Genius Jim--a notorious outlaw, who also weaves in and out of the story, providing an amusing surprise ending.
Will Molly's schemes work to get her back to her old life in Illinois, or will she stay out West with her new-found friends?
I found this book to be thoroughly charming; the protagonist, Molly, is a character girls will identify with, as she struggles to act like an "adult" even though she is only thirteen. It's a great story to explore a little-known aspect of women's history; the Harvey restaurants provided a career opportunity for respectable girls in an era when there were very few options. In addition, as a secondary story, we see the racism and prejudice that existed in the West between different ethnic groups, who were not supposed to mix socially, through Molly's friendship with Josiah and Susana.
Author Frances Wood used her own family history as the basis for this story, since as she reveals in an author's note, her great-grandmother, Jennie, became a Harvey Girl in 1887. Although her ancestor left no diaries or letters about her Harvey Girl days, the author used other books on the Harvey Girls in her research, and a brief bibliography is provided.
May 5, 2015
2.5 stars. I like reading this kind of children's historical fiction. However, the heroine made me want to smack her repeatedly. I almost bailed. Watch 'The Harvey Girls' with Judy Garland instead.
May 29, 2018
This book was pretty 'meh' for me. I liked the premise of the book, it had great promise! But it just didn't live up to my expectations... It was going to probably be a 2* book for the majority of my read - the plot wasn't particularly gripping, there was awkward writing, and I just didn't really connect with the story. But then about half-way through things started looking up a bit - there were gems of phrases amidst the normal, average writing, and the plot became more interesting. So it just about managed to scrape to a 3* read for me. But overall I was conflicted... There was really good writing mixed in with really well... averagely boring writing. There was some good character development along with some very flat characters. Anyways, I guess I'll just say that I'm glad I read this average book because now I am more able to recognize a good book when it comes.
July 1, 2025
2.9 ⭐️
i did not read this book with my own free will. i was held at gunpoint.
no but actually my family friends and my brothers and i pickef books from a thrift store for each other and this was mine. i was never bored with this book but it was definitely a kids book and also definitely not high quality. i didnt hate it!
i did not read this book with my own free will. i was held at gunpoint.
no but actually my family friends and my brothers and i pickef books from a thrift store for each other and this was mine. i was never bored with this book but it was definitely a kids book and also definitely not high quality. i didnt hate it!
June 27, 2011
My thoughts:
I thought this book was wonderful. It's an easy read, very well researched and it's interesting to learn about the culture and attitudes of Turn of the Century (1900's) America. Molly and Colleen show a strong contrast in maturity with Colleen having grown up raising Molly since their mother died when Molly was 3 and Colleen was 9. Their father was a successful business man and both girls grew up in a comfortable home with a housekeeper and everything they probably could want - although Molly and Colleen are not spoiled rich kids.
The book opens up with the death of their father and Colleen decides to answer an ad in the paper about becoming Harvey Girls. Harvey Girls were held to a very high standard, to behave a certain way and to work very hard, fast and in an efficient manner. The restaurants were set up at Train Stations and served meals to travelers along with men who lived in the community. Molly and her sister were sent to work in a Harvey House in New Mexico, where Molly had to act like an 18 year old, wear her hair up, a corset and work as hard as any adult. (I thought she did a wonderful job and can't imagine a kid as young as she was to work as hard as she did)
The book includes passages about prejudice of the West (the Indians) and Molly ends up being friends with two kids that work in the kitchen who are part Indian and part Mexican. I thought it was handled very well in the book and Molly stands up for what's right. She also goes to Buffalo Bill's Christmas party for poor children where she gets a whistle and rides a wagon. She sleeps on one of the sleeping cars of the train for the first time and learns to cook by a Cajun Cook who works in the Harvey House and rules the kitchen in a mixture of French and English.
I highly recommend this book for families with teens and preteens as young as 9 years old. It would be a great read aloud book too.
I thought this book was wonderful. It's an easy read, very well researched and it's interesting to learn about the culture and attitudes of Turn of the Century (1900's) America. Molly and Colleen show a strong contrast in maturity with Colleen having grown up raising Molly since their mother died when Molly was 3 and Colleen was 9. Their father was a successful business man and both girls grew up in a comfortable home with a housekeeper and everything they probably could want - although Molly and Colleen are not spoiled rich kids.
The book opens up with the death of their father and Colleen decides to answer an ad in the paper about becoming Harvey Girls. Harvey Girls were held to a very high standard, to behave a certain way and to work very hard, fast and in an efficient manner. The restaurants were set up at Train Stations and served meals to travelers along with men who lived in the community. Molly and her sister were sent to work in a Harvey House in New Mexico, where Molly had to act like an 18 year old, wear her hair up, a corset and work as hard as any adult. (I thought she did a wonderful job and can't imagine a kid as young as she was to work as hard as she did)
The book includes passages about prejudice of the West (the Indians) and Molly ends up being friends with two kids that work in the kitchen who are part Indian and part Mexican. I thought it was handled very well in the book and Molly stands up for what's right. She also goes to Buffalo Bill's Christmas party for poor children where she gets a whistle and rides a wagon. She sleeps on one of the sleeping cars of the train for the first time and learns to cook by a Cajun Cook who works in the Harvey House and rules the kitchen in a mixture of French and English.
I highly recommend this book for families with teens and preteens as young as 9 years old. It would be a great read aloud book too.
August 8, 2012
“This historical bildungsroman shows life out west in the late 1800s in all its flash and grittiness. Molly is a solidly drawn character..The outlaws provide spice, and the romance...gives humor. The values of education, courage, and simplicity all come together in this delightful tale.” --Booklist
“An intriguing setting...Not only setting and character drive Wood's newest book, but also adventure...The book’s intrigue comes partly from duplicity and double standards, strong themes in this book, themes Wood sees as a part of any coming-of-age story.” --The Herald Sun, Durham, NC
“Entertaining characters and a fast-paced plot will keep readers engaged...[A] gentle presentation of multiculturalism.” --Kirkus
“Exceptionally well-researched...Wood has a knack for making the...scenes come alive.” --Historical Novel Review
“An intriguing book.” –ReadingtoKnow.com
“Wood seamlessly interweaves fact with fiction in this lively, thoroughly engaging, oftentimes mouthwatering adventure...Vividly conveyed scenes...Generously laced with adventure, elements of danger, suspense, excitement, romance, and humor...Highly recommended.” –Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup Blog
“A smart and enjoyable story.” --Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children
“A total delight from the opening scene onward!...A beautifully thought out and written story, with well-drawn characters quickly defined without any trace of effort.” --Alice McLerran, author of ROXABOXEN
“An intriguing setting...Not only setting and character drive Wood's newest book, but also adventure...The book’s intrigue comes partly from duplicity and double standards, strong themes in this book, themes Wood sees as a part of any coming-of-age story.” --The Herald Sun, Durham, NC
“Entertaining characters and a fast-paced plot will keep readers engaged...[A] gentle presentation of multiculturalism.” --Kirkus
“Exceptionally well-researched...Wood has a knack for making the...scenes come alive.” --Historical Novel Review
“An intriguing book.” –ReadingtoKnow.com
“Wood seamlessly interweaves fact with fiction in this lively, thoroughly engaging, oftentimes mouthwatering adventure...Vividly conveyed scenes...Generously laced with adventure, elements of danger, suspense, excitement, romance, and humor...Highly recommended.” –Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup Blog
“A smart and enjoyable story.” --Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children
“A total delight from the opening scene onward!...A beautifully thought out and written story, with well-drawn characters quickly defined without any trace of effort.” --Alice McLerran, author of ROXABOXEN
May 15, 2014
I really enjoyed the story, it was well written and well researched. While the historical aspect of the story was well written, there were times I had a hard time relating to Molly. Yes, she was 13 pretending to be 18 to work as a Harvey Girl, but the reason for the four stars was that she should have over the year her father was sick become used to the fact that they had little money. Around the period of this book it would not have been all that unusual for girls to quit school after 8th grade, only one school year away. So all her fussing about work had me perplexed at times. Having fun, that I understood, most of the girls did in some way or another. Her height was not the problem, filling out would have become noticeable at some time, but then many young men and women lied about their ages for jobs during a time when home life was not always stable nor was there a place for someone to go after they were finished with 8th grade. I am being somewhat nitpicky, the book is a great read, the storyline is great, I enjoyed it and I do recommend it to those who like historical fiction. Perhaps those who have older siblings always telling them what to do will enjoy Molly and Colleen's relationship.
November 10, 2010
Summary: After their father dies, Molly and her sister Colleen answer an advertisement to work as Harvey girls. Even though Molly is only thirteen years old, Colleen helps her look eighteen, which was the age specified in the ad, so that she can work as well. Leaving their home in Streator, Illinois, in the late 1800's, Molly reluctantly travels to Raton, New Mexico to work at the Harvey House Restaurant with her sister. Having read too much about the Wild West, Molly worries about their safety and guards herself from the miners and train workers who frequent the restaurant. As Molly learns more and more about the people and her surroundings, she finds that she would rather be there than any place else.
Review: "When Molly Was a Harvey Girl” is a fun, educational read. Set in the late 1800’s, the story provides a look into the life many young women had as they gave up their lives at home to live in a sparsely populated and rough and tumble town in the West. The perfect read for anyone who loves historical fiction.
Review: "When Molly Was a Harvey Girl” is a fun, educational read. Set in the late 1800’s, the story provides a look into the life many young women had as they gave up their lives at home to live in a sparsely populated and rough and tumble town in the West. The perfect read for anyone who loves historical fiction.
February 9, 2012
I used to love the Harvey Girls movie with Judy Garland, so the title of this book caught my eye. I thought it was OK. The Genius Jim story line was just too far-fetched, and it didn't add anything to the book. Had the book just been about Molly and her experiences adjusting to life after her father's death, that could have been enough to carry the story if she'd been given different, but realistic, conflicts. I did like how the story was inspired by the author's great-grandmother, and it was nice to see the pictures of her and her time as a Harvey Girl in the back. Basically, the story and characters were fine and likeable, but not especially memorable.
May 17, 2012
What an interesting book! I was very much in the mood to read this one. It was a fun way to learn some history of the Harvey Houses that fed people along the railway all the way out west, and fed them WELL. This book also captured how the Harvey Houses and Harvey Girls themselves influenced the history of the west.
It was a bit predicatable, knowing 13 year olds they way I do, but that was part of the story - the protagonist IS 13, and IS going to ACT 13, not 18 like she's supposed to be pretending. I was glad to see that honesty ruled the day in the end, as well as hope in a bright future.
It was a bit predicatable, knowing 13 year olds they way I do, but that was part of the story - the protagonist IS 13, and IS going to ACT 13, not 18 like she's supposed to be pretending. I was glad to see that honesty ruled the day in the end, as well as hope in a bright future.
December 20, 2013
Nicely done. Frances M. Wood created a lovely literary tale of a historical event, when young women ventured out legitimately and without (much) rebuke for work outside the home and farm. Even though the labor was domestic, the wages and the experiences away from scrutiny of family and friends allowed women the opportunity for personal growth, advancement, and adventure. Wood adeptly sends her characters through a fictionalized series of events couched in accurate historical context, describing the pace and demands of the work and the imagined relationships among the Harvey Girls. I only wish she had mentioned the alpaca jackets! Really, alpaca jackets!
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August 21, 2015This is totally something I would've read in 4th-6th grade. Historical fiction was my jam back then. I still enjoyed it even though it is MG (I've got nothing against MG except for the no-romance thing). Pretty good story but Molly got on my nerves a bit since she's a 13-year-old pretending to be an 18-year-old (I have lots of questions as to how everyone actually believed she was 18...) The finding-out of who Genius Jim was rather rushed and boring (yeah it was cool it was him but it was just very sudden and not believable (Idk if was just kinda weird to me).
February 23, 2016
My coworker, Laurie, recommended this book because it had been written by a friend of hers from North Carolina. It's historical fiction, set in about the 1880s, about the Harvey Girls, young women of "good character" hired to serve at Harvey House restaurants at train stations in the West. After Molly's father dies, her older sister, Colleen, convinces her that the only way they can survive is to pass thirteen-year-old Molly off as an eighteen-year-old so they'll have a way to provide room and board for themselves.
October 22, 2012
After the death of their father, 13 year old Molly has to pretend to be 18 so she and her sister can go work as Harvey Girls in New Mexico. I loved the plot and the location and the Harvey Girls. I didn't really feel like we got to know any of these characters very well. I really liked the end bits about the author's great-grandmother Jennie, who had been a Harvey Girl in Raton, and the pictures.
November 22, 2016
A YA novel of a young girl from Illinois who lied about her age in order to work as a waitress for the Harvey corporation. The story unfolds in the world of the Harvey Houses, restaurants and hotels along the railroad, where everything is done the Harvey Way, and customers get good meals, elegantly served, and finish in time to re-board the train to continue on their journeys. The Harvey girls made it all possible.
November 16, 2015
Parts of this book were interesting, such as the history of the Harvey Houses, and the geography -- it is not often that Barstow shows up in a story -- and some parts of this book were intriguing, such as the banditry and weather and cultural relations, but, all in all, those parts did not add up to a good book.
July 13, 2011
A YA book about a topic I've never heard of. Harvey Girls were waitresses at train stops on the way out to the Wild West. Tells the story of Molly and her older sister whose parents have both died. The sister thinks that Molly can pass for 18 so that they can both be Harvey girls and make a living.
August 23, 2011
Another excellent YA book from Kane Miller. I love historical fiction and this was a fun setting to learn about, the Harvey Houses along the AT & SF RR line. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the book ended with me wanting the story to continue!
June 22, 2011
I had a hard time getting into this book but once I was in I couldn't put it down. It had a few fun twists and turns as well as a good look at the old west. It would be a great book for tweens.
January 23, 2012
I enjoyed learning more about the history of our country, specifically the time period of railroad expansion and what "Harvey Girls" were. A quick and enjoyable read. YA.
February 10, 2013
I absolutely loved this book!!!!!!!!
March 9, 2014
Historically this book is very strong and kept me interested all the way through! Would read it again!
August 30, 2015
Really interesting, if only because I didn't know about this particular part of history!
April 15, 2014
Fun, clean read
September 25, 2015
Molly became a Harvey girl after she was left in life with no money. She had to move from Illinois and was sent to New Mexico. What a change. Good story.
January 8, 2025
⭐️ 3.5 Stars ⭐️
I read this while trying to go through a huge stack of old TBRs, and I was pleasantly surprised! It’s a very sweet book, and all the food it talked about made me very hungry haha.
I read this while trying to go through a huge stack of old TBRs, and I was pleasantly surprised! It’s a very sweet book, and all the food it talked about made me very hungry haha.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews