Published in 1887, 'Burnham Breaker' by Homer Greene is a juvenile fiction novel set in Scranton, Pennsylvania, during the height of the coal-mining industry. The story follows Ralph, a foundling who seeks identity and belonging while working under harsh conditions in a coal breaker. The compassionate manager, Robert Burnham, plays a pivotal role in Ralph's life, offering moments of kindness that contrast with their grim environment. The novel explores themes of identity, loss, and the struggles of the working class in an industrial society.
