(Image from Barnes & Noble)

It's been ten years since the Twin Towers collapsed, killing hundreds of people including Taryn Michaels' husband.  Although working at a specialty fabric store and raising her 9-year-old daughter have kept her busy, Taryn still grieves the man she lost too early.  When a 9/11 anniversary story in the newspaper gives her a clue to solving the mystery that's haunted her for a decade, she leaps at the chance to do achieve some closure in the hopes of finally being able to move on with her life.  As she traces the history of a lovely, antique scarf given to her by a heroic stranger, Taryn finds herself drawn in to a century-old story with strange similarities to her own.

In 1911, Clara Wood works as a nurse on Ellis Island.  Living in the hospital dormitory means she rarely has to enter New York City, a place too haunted by memories of the man she loved and the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that stole his life.  It's while caring for a feverish patient who's mourning the recent death of his wife that Clara becomes intrigued by a colorful scarf bearing the name "Lily."  As Clara tries to unravel its mystery, she makes startling discoveries about the article, its owner, and herself.

Two remarkable women—separated by a century, but united by a shared mission—will discover truth and rebirth in a city full of both hope and heartache. 

After reading Margaret Peterson Haddix's Uprising, I wanted to learn more about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.  A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner came up in a Google search and I'm so glad it did.  It's a compelling novel full of interesting characters with engrossing dilemmas.  The story's gentle, but impacting.  It's an enjoyable read and one that has stuck with me.  This is my first Meissner book and I'm looking forward to exploring more of the author's work.

(Readalikes:  Reminded me a little of Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for brief, mild language (no F-bombs)

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Until 9/11, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire had the dubious distinction of being the worst workplace disaster in New York City's history.  And yet, I knew little about it.  Uprising, Margaret Peterson Haddix's excellent novel about the incident, changed that.  The affecting tale puts a very human face on the fire—its causes, its effects, and the disastrous toll it took on the city's most vulnerable citizens.  It's a fascinating story based on horrifying true events.

Uprising features three very different young women: Bella Rossetti, a starry-eyed Italian immigrant whose dreams of a shiny new American life are quickly being shattered by the grimy reality; Yetta, a 14-year-old Jew from Russia, who attends union meetings in an attempt to create a better working environment for her and the other girls at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory; and Jane Wellington, a bored society girl who seeks illicit excitement at the front of the picket line, only to find herself sucked into a cause that will change her forever.  The fates of the three intertwine in the days leading up to the tragedy.  

On March 25, 1911, Bella, Yetta, and Jane are all inside the Asch Building when fire breaks out in its upper floors.  Through their eyes, we see the panic that ensued.  Workers, who were regularly locked inside the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory to prevent theft, struggled to get out of the burning building.  With bulky sewing equipment to dodge, one fire escape for the whole structure, and few other safety features, it was a death trap.  The blaze spread rapidly, ultimately leading to the deaths of 146 terrified employees.  In grim detail, Haddix brings these events to vivid life, creating a picture that will linger in readers' heads long after they finish Uprising.  It's no wonder this preventable tragedy continues to haunt us—even 100 years later, the horror of it all is difficult to process.  Haddix recounts it brilliantly in this mesmerizing, compelling tale featuring a trio of brave, resilient young women who symbolize the real people who suffered poverty, pain, and privation in pursuit of the American dream.  If you're up for a gripping, very affecting historical novel, look no further than Uprising.

(Readalikes: Reminded me of These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly and of A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for violence, sexual innuendo, vague references to prostitution, and scenes of peril

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find