Kitty graduates from high school in 1926 with her heart set on college. Her family can't afford it, so she takes a job as a Harvey Girl, a waitress in one of the Harvey Eating House chain restaurants serving railroad passengers in the West. Young and determined, though rather timid, Kitty finds the work difficult at first, but she enjoys the companionship of her new friends, Cordelia, an accomplished musician, and Emmy, a quiet farm girl. They work together in Emporia, Kansas, and Belén, New Mexico. Written as Kitty's diary and illustrated with period photos, the well-researched narrative is packed with period details about the Harvey Girls' daily routine, the restaurant settings, and pop culture of the day. Romantic relationships provide some drama, but overall the story is rather bland. Still, readers with an interest in the period and place, which are not well represented in historical fiction for young people, will find Kitty's story quite readable and informative.

Gr 7-10 It is 1926, and Kitty Evans is looking forward to finishing high school and going to college to become a journalist. Unfortunately, her father informs her that there isn't enough money to educate both her and her brother and that she will have to get a job. With her dreams shattered, Kitty answers a newspaper ad for a Harvey Girl. After six weeks of training, she'll be transferred to one of many Harvey restaurants located along train lines in the western United States. Little does Kitty know that the rules and expectations of a Harvey Girl are very strict. She meets some new friends including Cordelia, a debutante from Philadelphia who wears short flapper dresses and bright red lipstick, and Emmy, another girl who hopes to make money to send back to her family. Cordelia encourages the girls to try new things, Emmy reminds them of the rules, and Kitty documents it all. The narrative is told through a series of diary entries in which Kitty notes her challengesfrom the job interview and telling her parents about life-changing decision to making friends and meeting all kinds of characters. Kitty records interactions with everyone from railroaders to politicians to hobos. She also has many admirers and is asked to "go for walks" and to "save a dance" at local gatherings. Meyer includes primary-source photographs throughout to illustrate the Harvey buildings and train stations, as well as local people. Kitty encounters many travelers from around the world, hearing German, Spanish, and some local slang as she travels from Kansas to New Mexico. Readers will feel connected to Kitty and her group of girlfriends and hope for their success. VERDICT A fast and interesting read about a part of history of which many readers may be unaware. Jessica Lorentz Smith, Bend Senior High School, OR