Fiery Girls

Two young immigrant women. One historic strike. And the fire that changed America.In 1909 shy sixteen-year-old Rosie Lehrer is sent to New York City to earn money for her familys emigration from Russia. She will but she also longs to make her mark on the world before her parents arrive and marry her to a suitable Jewish man. Could she somehow become one of the passionate and articulate fiery girls of her garment workers union?Maria Cirrito spoiled and confident at sixteen lands at Ellis Island a few weeks later. Shes supposed to spend four years earning American wages then return home to Italy with her new-found wealth to make her familys lives better. But the boy she loves has promised with only a little coaxing to follow her to America and marry her. So she plans to stay forever. With him.Rosie and Maria meet and become friends during the Uprising of the 20000 garment workers strike and theyre working together at the Triangle Waist Company on March 25 1911 when a discarded cigarette sets the factory ablaze. 146 people die that day and even those who survive will be changed forever.Carefully researched and full of historic detail Fiery Girls is a novel of hope: for a better life for turning tragedy into progress and for becoming who youre meant to be.