Barbara Greenwood combines fiction and non-fiction to tell the stories of underage workers in the early 1900's. Despite Child Labour laws, children as young as five years old, had to help feed and house their families by working in dangerous, unhealthy and low-paying conditions. The stories of thousands of young girls combine to create the fictional character of Emily Watson, the twelve-year-old hero of the story. Emily, torn between her desire to become an educated woman, and the need to help feed her family, is forced to lie to get her job, and to keep it. Original photographs and the use of real life characters punctuate the story and lend authenticity. Find out what happens to Emily, and the many interesting characters of this book.