The King of Mulberry Street

Engaging, fascinating. I'm tired of historical fiction for children about children who suffer. There's a little bit of love/ compassion here, and a teensy bit of humor, but it's mostly pretty brutal. I wouldn't have read it if I didn't know the author to be a very good writer.

But it's a very good book. For example I do appreciate that the perspectives of adults, other immigrants, etc. were explored, eg who would help the kids, and how, and why... and who wouldn't. And the difference between the Italian Jews, and the different nation-states of Italy, and Irish, and Chinese... every single character here is a real person; even those with cameos clearly have histories, dreams, and fears.

Books like this really make life under the covid 19 show more pandemic seem like paradise.

Recommended. show less

You can't beat this story for a great Young Adult historical novel. The author, who is always good no matter what she pens, really gives the reader a very clear and evocative picture of just what life was like for immigrants arriving from various countries to Ellis Island and further into the streets of New York. Our young hero and budding entrepreneur, Dom from Naples, soon learns the hard way how to make his way in a tough poor part of the city, struggling to eat and having to hide his Jewish faith amongst Italian and Irish Catholics. Beaten, robbed, sleeping an a barrel in a filthy alley, Dom uses his head and his strong heart to soon become the King of Mulberry street. This is a precious and poignant novel that will leave you show more breathless and in appreciation of just how hard the times were then, and how very hard the immigrants had to work to make their way in the new world. I would recommend this to all adults and teenagers who just love a good story. It will also leave you very appreciative of the spoiled world we live in now. show less

This powerful historical novel about an Italian-Jewish immigrant child reveals to readers that just 100 years
ago, children as young as eight came to this country alone, with nothing but their wits and good luck to help
them survive.

Very good read. An Italian boy is put on a boat coming to America. (Mother had the child without a father.) Dom lands in America with the goal of going home. He is honest. He makes friends, starts a business, and understands why his mother sent him away.

Although he knows next to nothing about New York he listens and observes. Its also helpful that his mother gave him a pair of nice shoes which helps him because people think he is rich. He meets people and makes many friends because he is so nice and helpful and honest. But Dom still wants to get home.



So he and his friends Tin Pan Alley and Gaetano open a sandwich shop with the help of Grandinetti a fresh produce seller and a trusted friend of Dom. They discover that they can buy a long sandwich for 25 cents and sell a quarter of it for 25 cents. Before long people begin to trust their business and he’s selling thousands of sandwiches.



He earns enough money to go home but he no longer wants to. He has built too much trust and so show more many friendships. Because Dom has become The King of Mulberrry Street. show less

My daughter sent me this book and I thought I wouldn't like it as I'm a classic mystery buff. But to my surprise It was a very good read .

A young boy (Dom) who lives with his family in Napoli Italy has his life turned upside down when his mother stows him away on a boat to America. The child, alone and in a new country must learn quickly to survive and he makes moves to ensure a successful life.