Description
Seventeen-year-old Helena "Nell" Cusack came to New York this summer looking for a story-a real story. She dreams of one day writing hard-hitting articles for the New York Chronicle, but so far she's only managed to land a job as a lowly society reporter. That is, until Alice Austen strolls into her life, an audacious street photographer who encourages Nell to shake up polite society...and maybe also take a chance on love.
When her best friend, Lucia, is injured while working in a garment factory, Nell is determined to crack the story wide open. Posing as a seamstress, she reports on the conditions from the inside, making a name for herself as the Chronicle's first ever stunt girl. But as Nell's reporting gains momentum, so do the objections of those who oppose her. Will Nell continue to seek justice-even if it hurts her in the end?
Based on real-life stunt girl Nell Nelson and photographer Alice Austen, this tenderly drawn narrative is about bringing buried stories to light and the bravery of first love.
Review
Set the the 1880s, Helena “Nell” Cusack comes to New York every summer to stay with her aunt and uncle. She loves writing and has got a job as a junior society reporter for the New York Chronicle, but she wants to write real stories that make a difference.
During the summer she meets Alice Austen, a photographer who is also trying to change the way people see the world through her photos.
Nell’s best friend, Lucia, gets injured working in a clothing factory and Nell longs to expose the horrific conditions that the girls work in. She decides to go undercover as a worker to see for herself, and ropes in Alice to take photos to prove her story.
When Nell’s story gets published, she gets a job as the Chronicle’s first ever stunt girl reporter - what we would now know as an undercover reporter. But powerful people oppose her work, and she turns to Alice for support, and maybe they will become more than just friends? But as they find themselves drawn together, in a world where so much is dictated by societal norms, will they dare to be different and forge their own path?
This is based on the true story of Nell and Alice, with the author adding a fictionalised version of their relationship. It’s a story of bravery and fighting injustice at a time when women and children had no rights. Nell’s writing helped change all that, and the historical notes at the end of the book bring the characters to life even more.
This will be thoroughly enjoyed by those who love historical stories, with a strong social justice theme. It is best suited to those aged 15+.
