Faith Gartney's Girlhood

** "Faith Gartney's Girlhood" by A. D. T. Whitney is a story set in the early 1900s that follows a teenager named Faith Gartney, as she deals with growing up in a poor family, while she also explores her personal goals and wishes. The big ideas in the story are about social class differences, family duties, and the problems of being a young woman. Early in the book, we learn about the Gartney family living in Mishaumok, where Faith and her mother talk about the money problems that stop them from enjoying small pleasures like new shoes and gloves for a party. This talk shows the conflict between what the family wants and what they can really afford. The story also suggests that Faith is thoughtful as she thinks about her place in the family and wishes for chances beyond what she has now. We also see bits of other young people, hinting at how their lives will connect and play out as the story goes on. **