The Girl from Old Nichol

Gr 8 Up—Born in 1829 to alcoholic parents in the worst slum in London, Gladys has little chance of living past childhood. Filth, disease, and hunger permeate daily life. That Gladys manages not only to survive but also to learn "proper" English and pick up some manners is testament to her grit and determination. When Gladys is forced to leave Old Nichol under shady circumstances, her resiliency serves her well. She soon finds employment in Dover as a chambermaid at an inn and works her way up to barmaid and songstress, thanks to her lovely singing voice. Gladys meets many benevolent people—and some not quite so—in her new surroundings, all of which leads to her marrying up in class and living a comfortable life. She is in constant fear, however, that her hidden past will catch up with her and that she will be seen as an impostor. While Gladys is a likable character initially, her demeanor changes gradually until even she is aware that she has become smug, and it will be hard for readers to root for her. In addition, Annand weighs down the narrative with unnecessary details and background information on secondary and even tertiary characters, slowing the plot considerably. The writing is simplistic, despite some mature themes, and with every detail spelled out, readers are not trusted to make inferences.