Threadbare: A Gilded City Series
Threadbare takes the reader to 19th-century New York City. The Lower East Side is changing as farmers lose their land and move north to New Jersey and Long Island. Large and poorly constructed tenement buildings are built in their place to house the growing number of European immigrant families. Tillie Isaacson, the protagonist, and her German Jewish family live on a farm in the Lower East Side. When Tillie is fourteen, her mother, Mathilda, dies of breast cancer in Bellevue Hospital. Shortly before her death, she tells Tillie that the “circle of family is what binds us together forever.” This message resonates with Tillie and helps guide her as she faces the many challenges she and her growing family must endure to survive as new immigrants in America.
The author’s ancestors emigrated from Germany in 1866, and Ms. Rubin has created a story built on their experiences as immigrants. She has created enduring characters with both resilience and warmth. Tillie is headstrong and, as a result, is impulsive, making quick decisions. On the other hand, she takes over the care of her younger sister, Hannah, and wisely supports her education. The author enriches her writing with metaphors and similes. The story moves at a fast pace with suspense.
This story would appeal to a young woman facing the demands of both a family and career. The protagonist is forced to handle discrimination in her workplace not unlike situations found in the 21st century.
