Grace of the Empire State - by Gemma Tizzard

About the Book

"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"--

Book Synopsis

In this "thrilling, heartbreaking" (Annie Lyons, author of The Air Raid Club) debut novel set during the Great Depression in 1930s New York, 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.

Following the death of their father, Grace O'Connell and her twin brother Patrick battle to keep their family afloat as the Great Depression takes its toll on New York City.

After losing her dancing job and with Patrick injured while working on the construction of the Empire State Building, Grace is forced to take a bold step disguising herself as Patrick to join the riveters on the half-built skyscraper.

She quickly 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, Grace is the only one capable of saving her stranded colleague and must make a split-second decision to risk everything or live with her guilt forever.

Set against the dynamic backdrop of 1930s New York, this "gorgeous, evocative" (Kerry Barrett, author of The Book of Last Letters) historical fiction novel is full of heart and hope, family and friendship, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.

Review Quotes

"Page-turning debut...Tizzard evocatively depicts the workers' camaraderie and the breathtaking dangers they face. Readers will love this tale of derring-do."-- "-- Publishers Weekly"

"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."-- "Shelf Awareness"

"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."-- "Booklist"

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.---- Annie Lyons, author of THE AIR RAID BOOK CLUB

"Tizzard does a marvelous job bringing Depression-era New York City to the page... Grace is a believably complex and good-hearted heroine, and Tizzard's construction scenes are dizzyingly clear... A vibrant and heart-stopping novel."-- "-- Kirkus"

"This is a gorgeous, evocative story about the struggles of building a city from the ground up - literally! Grace is a bold, brave heroine and her adventures on the steels of the Empire State Building are so vividly described that they made me feel dizzy! I loved the 1930s New York setting, the brilliantly drawn cast of characters and their gritty resilience, and the romance. And the theme of immigrants working hard and making their mark on their new home really resonates in today's society. I thoroughly enjoyed this thought-provoking, entertaining read."---- Kerry Barrett, author of The Book of Last Letters

"Set to the desperate backdrop of the Great Depression, GRACE OF THE EMPIRE STATE is a thoroughly enjoyable story of family, sacrifice and first love that reminds us that true strength comes from within--and that women have been quietly saving the day since the dawn of time."---- New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel