Dancing the Charleston Read online

  The Roaring Twenties

  Mona’s story takes place in the 1920s. Read on to find out more about this amazing period of history …

  The 1920s was a decade of relative peace and comfort between the First World War and the Great Depression.

  In 1928 all women in Britain over the age of twenty-one were granted the right to vote! Women, particularly wealthy ones, had a lot more freedom in society. In the First World War men were conscripted into the army, leaving their jobs vacant at home. New avenues of work also opened up in industries like munition manufacturing, making weapons for the war. Women were employed to fill empty jobs and many started to earn their own money, like Mona’s aunt.

  Mona loves writing stories. There were lots of wonderful female writers in the 1920s who made their living from storytelling. Agatha Christie, known for her ingenious murder mysteries, was one of them. She is still one of the bestselling authors of all time!

  A popular fashion in the 1920s was the flapper style. Women would cut their long hair into a bob and wear shorter skirts and even trousers, like Desiree Dooley. This was considered very fashionable but quite scandalous compared to the long dresses and hair of the Edwardian era!

  Men were also experimenting with fashion in the late 1920s. The height of fashion was finely cut suits, influenced by Hollywood and jazz clubs, and exquisite party outfits, worn by socialites like Mr Benjamin. People were desperate to keep up to date with trends and couldn’t bear to look old fashioned!

  Many children in the 1920s were living in poverty but, unlike the Victorians, they had to go to school until they were fourteen. School was still strict and focused on reading, writing and arithmetic. In the 1920s for the first time it became common for poorer children to wear uniform to school.

  How to Dance the Charleston

  This is a fast-moving, energetic dance. Give it a go!

  1. Step forward with your right foot, while pivoting both feet. Keep your arms apart by your sides and swing them to the right.

  2. Step backwards with your right foot and swivel your feet, while swinging your arms to the left.

  3. Step backwards with your left foot and swivel your feet, while swinging your arms to the right.

  4. Step forward with your left foot and swivel your feet, while swinging your arms to the left. Keep going!

  5. Now you can experiment and freestyle! Add some knee shuffles and kicks in time to the music. Anything goes!

  TOP TIP: move on to the balls of your feet to make swivelling easier!

  Visit Jacqueline’s Fantastic Website!

  There’s a whole Jacqueline Wilson town to explore! You can generate your own special username, customize your online bedroom, test your knowledge of Jacqueline’s books with fun quizzes and puzzles, and upload book reviews. There’s lots of fun stuff to discover, including competitions, book trailers, and Jacqueline’s scrapbook. And if you love writing, visit the special storytelling area!

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  Also Available

  Jacqueline has written lots of other brilliant stories inspired by history. Have you read them all?

  Find out more about Jacqueline and her books at www.jacquelinewilson.co.uk

  THE BEGINNING

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  First published 2019

  Text copyright © Jacqueline Wilson, 2019

  Illustrations copyright © Nick Sharratt, 2019

  The moral right of the author and illustrator has been asserted

  Cover illustration by Nick Sharratt

  ISBN: 978-1-448-19808-5

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

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