This is a turn-of-the-century historical fiction novel about a young woman's who immigrates to America and attempts to make a life here. The main character ends up working in the garment district and becomes one of the many women trapped inside when the Triangle Shirtwaist Company went up in flames. Like the last historical fiction novel I reviewed, What She Left Behind, there was an overall feeling of cliche for me that I couldn't get past. I'm not sure if this is because of the included romance (and in this book it's done with less melodrama) or because I know what will happen to these characters. I feel as though I have to go back and re-read some of the historical fiction that really worked for me in order to suss out the differences. School Library Journal lists this as a book meant for grades 6th through 9 and I hadn't realized that I was reading YA so perhaps that's why the romance was subtle. At any rate, the reviewers at Amazon seem to love it and I certainly think it does a nice job of bringing the history to life for a YA or even middle grade audience.
I hope this book doesn't deter you from following through on your own HF novel.
ReplyDeleteNot at all! It gave me some good fuel. But I wrote a new PB with another writer and I'm excited to get that one out quickly. I also get word from my agent that she is sitting down to read ASF this week!
DeleteIt's hard to read or watch something when you know the ending will be tragic. But I like the way historical fiction helps tie us to the past and makes learning about an era more than just facts and figures, names and dates.
ReplyDeleteMe too, LuAnn.
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