For kids who want to understand how a group of determined children can stand up for what's right and make a real difference, even against powerful forces.
A parent might reach for this book when their child feels powerless against rules they see as unfair, or to introduce the idea that even kids can create massive change. Based on the true story of the 1899 New York City newsboy strike, this book follows a young leader named Kid Blink as he and thousands of other children stand up to the most powerful newspaper tycoons in the country. It powerfully illustrates themes of justice, perseverance, and the strength of collaboration. For ages 7 to 10, the story makes complex ideas like labor rights and collective action accessible and exciting. It's an excellent choice for showing children a real, historical example of 'kid power' and inspiring them to find their own voice.
The book directly addresses child labor, poverty, and conflict. The depiction is historical and matter-of-fact. Poverty is the backdrop for the entire conflict, and scuffles between the strikers and replacement workers are shown, though not graphically. The resolution is realistic and hopeful: the newsies achieve a major victory through compromise, demonstrating their power and earning respect. The approach is secular and historical.
Ideal Reader
This is for an 8 to 10 year old who is developing a keen sense of fairness and is beginning to question authority. It's perfect for a child who gets fired up about injustice, whether on the playground or in the wider world, and who loves stories where kids are the heroes.
Parent Prep
No major prep is needed; the book is quite self-contained. A parent might want to be ready to define terms like "strike," "union," and "scab." It can also serve as a good entry point for a conversation about how work and childhood were different in the past. A parent might pick this up after their child says, "That's not fair!" for the hundredth time, but this time with real frustration about a seemingly unchangeable rule. Or when a child sees a protest on the news and asks what it means to go on strike.
Age Experience
A younger reader (age 7-8) will connect with the high-energy story of kids versus grown-ups, focusing on the excitement of the strike and the clear-cut victory. An older reader (age 9-10) will better understand the underlying concepts of economic pressure, collective bargaining, and the social significance of children successfully challenging a powerful system.
What Makes It Special
Unlike fictionalized versions of the newsboy strike, this book is a concise, nonfiction account presented in a dynamic picture book format. Don Brown's energetic watercolor and ink illustrations give the historical events a feeling of immediacy and grit, making it a visually engaging and historically grounded introduction to child activism and labor history.
Read plot summary
This book tells the true story of the 1899 New York City newsboy strike. When newspaper magnates Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise the wholesale price of their papers, the children who sell them (the "newsies") can no longer make a living. Led by charismatic figures like Louis "Kid Blink" Ballatt, the children organize, form a union, and go on strike. They use clever tactics to halt the distribution of the two biggest papers in the city, holding rallies and standing firm against opposition. Their solidarity ultimately forces the powerful publishers to the negotiating table, where the newsies win a crucial compromise.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The newspaper owners didn't think the newsies could do anything to stop them. What were some of the clever ways the newsies worked together to prove them wrong?
2
Kid Blink was a leader who was good at giving speeches. If you were giving a speech to the newsies, what would you say to convince them to be brave and stick together?
3
The newsies didn't get the price of papers lowered, but they did get the owners to buy back unsold papers. Why was this still considered a huge victory for them?
4
This story happened a long time ago. Do you think kids today still have the power to make big changes like the newsies did? Why or why not?
