The Girl in the Torch

Sharenow (The Berlin Boxing Club) follows the struggles of a 12-year-old Russian Jewish immigrant in early 20th-century New York City. Driven from their home after their village is attacked, Sarah Cohen and her mother travel by ship to Ellis Island. After her mother dies suddenly, Sarah is left there to fend for herself, with only a toy bear for company. Desperate, Sarah swims to Liberty Island. There, she survives on tourists' leftovers until she helps an injured, drunk watchman, who takes her to a rooming house in Chinatown where people of all cultures and religions sit at the dinner table together. The story has the feeling of being more about a time then a character, and Sarah's rapid education in American life can give the novel a didactic tone. But it's also rich with historical detail as Sharenow covers flophouses, newsies, and more, and its themes of drawing strength from others, making a new life, and struggling for independence are moving. Endnotes provide additional information on U.S. immigration history. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. Agent: Maria Massie, Lippincott, Massie, McQuilkin. (May)