This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

Like the other books in the ‘My Story’ series this story is told in a diary format. It is the story of a young housemaid, Lily, who is promoted to the role of nanny to an upper-class family in Victorian London. Whist the daughter of the family wants to be friendly with Lily and helps her improve her grammar and spelling, the son seems to delight in getting others into trouble – especially the servants. Adding to the interest of the story are the accounts of the building and outfitting of the Crystal Palace for the great London Exhibition.
This realistic story would suit readers of 10 and up who have an interest in history. ( )

I read this book in primary. It was the first ever book I read more than once. Actually I read it 11 times. Judging by that do you think I liked it?

It's 1850, and fourteen-year-old Lily Hicks is a housemaid for a wealthy family in London. Her family once had a more comfortable life, but her father lost the family's home and money, and now Lily must work to help support her mother and siblings. Her life is not so bad, and later she becomes nanny to the family's new baby, and is befriended by their oldest daughter, who is growing up and becoming aware of the great hardships faced by the poor in Victorian England. In her diary Lily describes both her life as a housemaid as well as the wonders of visiting the Great Exhibition, housed in "The Crystal Palace" building designed by her employer.

This was an interesting and enjoyable book from the My Story series. It showed how hard life was for lower-class children in Victorian times, and how sharp the contrast was between the life of the rich and the poor. I'd highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy books in the Dear America or My Story series. ( )