The Girl in the Triangle by Joyana Peters

Release:June 10, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Amaryllis Press
Source: HFVirtual Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N

It’s been four years since seventeen-year-old Ruth set eyes on her fiancé.

After surviving near-starvation, revolution and a long trip across the stormy ocean, she can’t help but wonder. Will Abraham still love her? Or has America changed him?

Nowhere’s as full of change as 1909 New York. From moving pictures to daring clothes to the ultra-modern Triangle Shirtwaist Factory where she gets a job, everything exhilarates Ruth. The New World even seems to rejuvenate her bond with Abraham. And she is filled with hope for their prospects and the future of their war-torn families.

But then she makes friends and joins the labor movement. She starts fighting for rights of the mostly female workers against the powerful factory owners. Then she realizes she might be the one America is changing. And she just might be leaving Abraham behind.

The Girl in the Triangle is a historical immigration story that will appeal to fans of Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani. It questions what it means to be an American, and what is the true meaning of strength.

About the Author:

JOYANA PETERS grew up in New York and loves exploring–this led to her discovery of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the stories it holds. She currently lives in the DC area and continues to write narratives that shine a light on empowering women and moments in history.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

The Girl in the Triangle Review:

Let me start by saying that I had not heard about the “Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire” events before reading this book. I always love stories that inspire me to research a topic further, and I admire the author for telling this story so realistically.

Firstly, I thought the author did a fantastic job of writing this book as her debut novel. She writes the characters and the catastrophic incident wonderfully, as well as depicting the aftermath. I especially liked how Ruth deals with the situation after the event takes place. Also, having lived in Manhattan for a few years, I could easily visualize the setting from the author’s beautiful descriptions of that era. The author paces the story nicely, where we slowly see how the family goes through many situations and challenges and how the incident impacts them.

However, the highlight of the story was Ruth. I thought the author wrote her brilliantly. It was fun to see the contrasting differences between Ruth and her sister Ester. While Ester is eager to go to school and learn, Ruth prefers to learn English at her own pace. Also, I admired how the author made Ruth such a strong character where she still respects and values her roots and is not afraid to stand up for what is right, even if she is in a new country. I loved the Russian traditions and Jewish values Ruth reflects on throughout the book. The author also wrote about Ruth’s relationship with her fiancee, Abraham, realistically, where they have their ups and downs. Even the supporting characters like Chayele, Clara, and Anne added nicely.

Overall, “The Girl in the Triangle” is a beautiful historical fiction that I loved reading because of its subject matter and the memorable characters.