Roller Skates

This Newbery Medal-winning novel tells the story of ten-year-old Lucinda Wyman, who experiences a year of unprecedented freedom in 1890s New York City. While her parents are in Italy, Lucinda lives with understanding temporary guardians who allow her to explore the city on roller skates. She forms deep friendships with a diverse cast of characters, from a hansom cab driver to the son of an Italian fruit stand owner. The book beautifully captures the joy of independence, the wonder of discovery, and the poignant realities of growing up, including dealing with bullies and the grief of losing friends. It's a rich historical fiction that explores themes of self-discovery, community, and the bittersweet nature of change.

Liberated for a year from her parents' restrictions, ten-year-old Lucinda discovers true freedom in the care of her temporary guardians as she roller skates around the streets of turn-of-the-century New York.