Roller Skates facts for kids
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| Author | Ruth Sawyer |
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| Illustrator | Valenti Angelo |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children Realistic Fiction |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
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Publication date
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October 1936 |
| Media type | Print Hardback |
| Pages | 186 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0670603107 |
Roller Skates is a famous book written by Ruth Sawyer. It won the Newbery Medal in 1937. This is a very important award for the best children's book in America. The story is based on a real year from Ruth Sawyer's own childhood.
Contents
What is Roller Skates About?
The story of Roller Skates takes place in the 1890s. It begins when a young girl named Lucinda Wyman, who is ten years old, arrives in New York City. She will stay with two kind ladies, Misses Peters, while her parents travel to Italy. Lucinda calls this time her "orphanage" because she's away from her family.
Lucinda's time with Miss Peters and Miss Nettie is very different. Miss Peters is a teacher who understands children well. Miss Nettie is a bit shy but very kind. Living with them, Lucinda gets a lot of freedom. She explores the city on her roller skates. She also makes friends with many different people.
Lucinda's New Friends
Lucinda quickly meets Mr. Gilligan, a hansom cab driver. She also gets to know Patrolman M'Gonegal, a police officer. Her first friend her own age is Tony Coppino. Tony's father owns a fruit stand. Lucinda asks Officer M'Gonegal to help stop some bullies. These bullies were knocking down Tony's father's fruit stand and stealing fruit.
In return, Tony takes Lucinda on a city picnic. There, they meet a rag-and-bone man. Later, Lucinda reads Shakespeare with her favorite uncle. This inspires her to create a puppet show. The show is based on Shakespeare's play The Tempest.
Winter and Changes
When winter comes, it gets cold and snowy. Lucinda has to stay indoors more often. She becomes restless and acts out. Because of this, she gets sent home from school. Later, her uncle introduces her to Shakespeare's sad plays. Lucinda then experiences her own sad times. Two of her friends pass away.
As her parents prepare to return from Italy, Lucinda realizes things are changing. She skates to the park one last time. She thinks, "How would you like to stay always ten?" She believes that would be a "perfectly elegant idea!"
Where Did the Idea Come From?
Ruth Sawyer came from a wealthy family. She was raised by older parents. They had strict rules and routines for her. When Ruth was ten, her parents traveled to Europe for the summer. They left her with her Irish nanny and other family members.
For the first time, Ruth was allowed the freedom she wanted. She could explore New York City on her own. In her speech when she won the Newbery Medal, Ruth Sawyer said something important. She said, "A free child is a happy child." She also said that a child who is free becomes more likable. Ruth Sawyer used her experiences from that special year to write Roller Skates.
