A Life of Her Own by Joan G. Hauser

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This moving story of a girl’s quest for independence begins in a shtetl in Russia. After a tragedy, Minna Ruben and her family decide to flee to der goldener medina—the golden land—America—to seek safety, freedom, and success. Minna dreams of becoming a “real American” but the Rubens face many difficulties in their quest to succeed. 

Eventually, they are forced to work at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Minna, facing disapproval from a member of her family and trapped by her job, fears she will never realize her dreams. At her darkest moment, she finds employment as a seamstress at a Fifth Avenue mansion. There she learns that wealth does not automatically solve every problem and bravely steps towards the future she has chosen. 

A Life of Her Own by Joan G. Hauser