Product Description

Ruby and Grace had grown up in the slums of Middle Court, the poorest place in Hull. Friends since early childhood, they had supported each other in bad times and good. Ruby's ma, Bess, addicted to the opium which dulled the pain of her miserable existence, tried hard to be a good mother, but without too much success, while Grace's parents, Bob and Lizzie, looked after the girl as well as their own family as best they could. But the two families were bound together by more than friendship, and secrets from the past threatened to make their hard lives even more difficult. The local cotton mill had provided work for Ruby and Grace since they were nine years old, but with the decline of the industry they, like many others, were cast off. Both girls found themselves the object of attention from the mill owner's sons, but as times grew harder, and money became ever scarcer, Grace became involved in militant campaign against poverty and injustice, while Ruby was tempted into prostitution. Both girls were searching for something, which would take them far away from the slums they had always known.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #120113 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

From the Back Cover
Ruby and Grace had grown up in the slums of Middle Court, the poorest place in Hull. Friends since early childhood, they had supported each other in bad times and good. Ruby's ma, Bess, addicted to the opium which dulled the pain of her miserable existence, tried hard to be a good mother, but without too much success, while Grace's parents, Bob and Lizzie, looked after the girl - as well as their own family - as best they could. But the two families were bound together by more than friendship, and secrets from the past threatened to make their hard lives even more difficult.

The local cotton mill had provided work for Ruby and Grace since they were nine years old, but with the decline of the industry they, like many others, were cast off. Both girls found themselves the object of attention from the mill owner's sons, but as times grew harder and money became ever scarcer, Grace became involved in a militant campaign against poverty and injustice, while Ruby was tempted into prostitution. Both girls were searching for something which would take them far away from the slums they had always known.

About the Author
Valerie Wood was born in Yorkshire and now lives in a village near the east coast. She is the author of THE HUNGRY TIDE, winner of the Catherine Cookson Prize for fiction, and also ANNIE, CHILDREN OF THE TIDE, THE ROMANY GIRL, EMILY, GOING HOME and ROSA'S ISLAND.

Customer Reviews

Loved It!
Having been born in Hull is what attracted me to this book when I came across it, as the story is set in old day Hull, I had never even heard of the author. After the first few pages I was hooked, couldn't put it down, I was amazed at how people struggled with things we take for granted and waste every day, and was able to picture the streets mentioned in the book which still exist today, and imagining what they must have looked like. You really get to like the main characters Grace and Ruby and find yourself hoping it all turns out for them. I loved this book and will definitely be giving her other books a go.

The Doorstep Girls
As with the previous review of Valerie Woods book, I find this one interesting. You cannot begin to understand how some people lived in the past. In this book it descibes and area that my mother was living in during the second world war. I hope it wasn't like Valerie Wood descibed it in the past. I can't ask my mum because she is no longer with us. I find Valerie Wood an intertesting writer.