"Page-turning debut...Tizzard evocatively depicts the workers’ camaraderie and the breathtaking dangers they face. Readers will love this tale of derring-do."
Description
In this breathtaking debut novel, a daring dancer must take her twin brother’s place as a riveter high atop the in-progress Empire State Building to save her family from ruin.
After the death of their father, it’s up to Grace O’Connell and her twin brother Patrick to support their family as the Great Depression takes its toll on New York City. When Grace is laid off from her dancing gig and Patrick is injured at work on the construction of the Empire State Building, desperation leaves them only one solution: Grace must disguise herself as Patrick and take his place on the half-built skyscraper.
She soon proves herself as capable as any man on the steel, and her affection for the loyal men around her—especially Italian immigrant Joe—grows by the day. But when a terrible accident happens high above the city and Grace is the only one capable of saving her stranded colleague, she must make a split-second decision to risk everything or live with her conscience forever.
Set against the backdrop of a city at a crossroads, this electrifying story is full of heart and hope, family and friendship, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.
Reviews
“An inspiring story… With engaging characters and a vibrant depiction of Manhattan--its glittering possibility and its stark heartbreak--Tizzard's novel soars like its namesake building, and moves along as elegantly as its nimble, determined heroine.”
“Themes of love, responsibility, and duty enhance the reader’s emotional investment… Populated by a cast of delightful supporting characters and set in a working class milieu we don’t always see in historical fiction, this is a good choice for fans of Marie Benedict, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, and Fiona Davis.”
Set in 1930s New York during the construction of the Empire State Building, this is a thrilling, heartbreaking, original story about the power of family, friendship and women struggling to survive in a man’s world. I love novels featuring strong female characters and was consequently swept away by Grace’s strength, determination and sheer resilience from the very first page. A must-read for historical fiction fans.