Ten Cents a Danceby Christine Fletcher
Reading level: Ages 16 and up
Set in Chicago, 1941, Ruby lives with her mother and sister in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. She must quit school to work in the packinghouse to support her family. Ruby meets neighborhood bad boy, Paulie Suelze, and her life changes overnight when she becomes a “dime-a-dance” call girl in a sleazy nightclub. To cover her activities, Ruby lies to her mother that she has a job as a telephone operator (much more respectable than what she really does) and believable because new hires must work the night shift. Her mother never suspects what she is really doing and accepts the money that Ruby gives her for the rent and groceries gratefully.
The story takes a downward spiral as Ruby becomes more and more involved with Paulie. Ruby finds herself falling for him, and thinks he likes her, too. Only toward the end of the book does Ruby find out what he is really like and that his love for her has been only an illusion. Ruby eventually saves her own respectability and her sister’s life before Paulie can hurt either of them again.
A fascinating account of life in Chicago during the late 1930’ and early 1940’s. Historical fiction fans will enjoy this one!
