Published by The O’Brien Press, 2023.

Sally in the City of Dreams is a lovely piece of historical fiction that’s pitched perfectly at its young audience. It’s an easy read with engaging and relatable central characters, lots of super period detail and just the right amount of drama.

Young sisters Sally and Bridget are sailing to New York to find work – leaving behind their home and everything they know in Ireland. The city is so big and strange, but the sisters and their new friend Julia (who they meet on the boat) are determined to make the most of this exciting new world. They have each other and, if they work hard, New York is full of opportunities. Then, when a false accusation threatens to destroy everything, the girls realise there’s nothing more important than sticking together.

The book carefully explores themes of injustice and racial prejudice. It’s eye-opening to see the extent of the discrimination faced by Irish immigrants in America and the book raises important questions around attitudes towards migration which are still relevant today. We also get a stark insight into Irish poverty in the early 1900s.

Loyalty, friendship, and the bonds of sisterhood are at the heart of this book and I loved the relationships between the three girls. For all the hardships the girls face, there are still many lovely episodes of giddy excitement. There’s the exhilarating first trip on the subway, the heady buzz from the opulence and grandeur of Macy’s department store, and the thrill of the sights and sounds of a bustling New York.

I really enjoyed Sally, Bridget and Julia’s story and I can’t wait to discover what else New York has in store for them in future books.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 8+

Thank you to The O’Brien Press for sending me this book to review. I reviewed this book as part of the Sally in the City of Dreams blog tour. Check out all the other posts on the tour for more exclusive content.