Counting on Grace (by Elizabeth Winthrop)

Secretly, Miss Lesley begins giving them lessons on Sundays, their one day off. And she encourages them to write to the National Child Labor Committee about their mill. The NCLC sends Lewis Hines to photograph and document the children working in the mill. But as time goes by, and nothing seems to change, Arthur becomes increasingly withdrawn and angry, until he decides to take drastic measures.

Includes author's notes about Lewis Hines, his photo (on the cover) that inspired the story, and references.

The author does not pull any punches here: Actions have consequences, lives are altered and sometimes shattered, and things don't turn out the way anyone in the story hopes, though there are signs in the end of a brighter future for Grace. This compelling and very readable fact-based story about a time with parallels to our own shows kids a part of history they may not have heard much about in school.