A window into Boston’s street life in the late 19th century, this volume gathers true stories of children who work and wrestle with hard choices daily.
Read about young flower sellers, street musicians, and other daily laborers who navigate poverty, schooling, and safety while seeking small moments of dignity and hope.
Through vivid anecdotes and personal voices, the book highlights the risks children face, the help offered by city workers and neighbors, and the enduring desire for a chance at a better life. It pairs compassionate storytelling with observations about work, schooling, and community support that shaped these children’s paths.
- Real-life portraits of flower vendors and musicians, their routines, earnings, and dreams.
- Accounts of how truancy and poverty affect schooling and childhood.
- Occasional glimpses of kindness from adults and the impact of social care efforts.
- A portrait of a city compiling responses to child labor through laws and services.
Ideal for readers interested in social history, urban life, and the everyday struggles and resilience of children.