Water Street

Nory Ryan #3

by Patricia Reilly Giff

Brooklyn, 1875: Bird Mallon lives on Water Street where you can see the huge towers of the bridge to Manhattan being built. Bird wants nothing more in life than to be brave enough to be a healer, like her mother, Nory, to help her sister Annie find love, and to convince her brother, Hughie, to stop fighting for money with his street gang. And of course, she wishes that a girl would move into the empty apartment upstairs so that she can have a new friend close by.

But Thomas Neary and his Pop move in upstairs. Thomas who writes about his life in his journal--his father who spends each night at the Tavern down the street, the mother he wishes he had, and the Mallon family downstairs that he desperately wants to be a part of. Thomas, who has a secret that only Bird suspects, and who turns out to be the best friend Bird could ever have.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, Childrens, New York

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Patricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.

Reviews

[alayla ! · Rating 3 out of 5]

→ 3 ☆

“right here at our doorstep, we'll have the most beautiful bridge in the world.”

cute, read it with my siblings. i remember nothing though, lol.

mwah,
alayla. 📖

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I especially liked about this historical novel about two young Irish immigrants in Brooklyn in the 1870s is the attitudes it reveals toward the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Some people thought it couldn't be build, that it would fall down. Some people thought it would change the dynamic of the city. It also describes what it was like to work on the bridge, and the problems surrounding its construction. It symbolized a new direction for the city of New York.

It also symbolized the new directions that Thomas's and Bird's (and Hugh's) lives were ultimately to take at the end of the book. Thomas wants to be a writer; Bird thought she wanted to be a healer like her mother until her first sight of a bloody head wound. What path will they ultimately tread? I like Giff's "After" chapter, that reveals what happens to the characters after the story ends. (No need for a sequel then.)

Family is a theme that runs through the book. Bird's father's family, scattered in Ireland and America, shows how the famine resulting from the Irish potato blight broke up families. However, two contrasting families are described in the story-- Thomas's broken family (we would say dysfunctional today), and Bird's lively, supportive family. Thomas's longing for functional family lead him to the Mallons and Bird, and set the tale in motion.

Giff's descriptions of what life was like then made me feel as if I was there. I really didn't want the story to end. I highly recommend this book for those of Irish background, those who are interested in the history of New York City, and readers who enjoy a good historical novel.

[Sue Leatherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1875 and the Brooklyn Bridge is under construction. To many, this bridge is a symbol of greatness and ingenuity. This sense of hope and aspiration echoes in the background as the book examines the lives of two Irish American families.

Bridget Mallon, called Bird, is about to enter her last year of school and struggles to find her place in the world. She wants to follow in her mother's footsteps as a healer but there are many difficult challenges on that path and Bird is not quite sure if she's cut out for the task. Bird worries about her family and determines to make things better for all of them. Her sister Annie, still unmarried, has few prospects for romance. Hughie, Bird's older brother, engages in illegal back street fighting with crippling results. Nory and Sean, Bird's parents, strive to make ends meet to provide a good and loving home for their family.

Thomas Neary is Bird's new friend who just moved into the upstairs apartment with his father, an alcoholic, who spends most of his time at the local pub. Thomas doesn't even know his mother and wonders if he ever will. He spends most of his time with Bird's family and keeps a journal full of stories he has created about the people and the places that surround him. Thomas' steadfast devotion to Bird's family encourages Bird to keep striving for better things.

Even in their world of frustration there is that ray of hope and expectation as Bird and Thomas watch the progress of the looming towers of the Brooklyn Bridge and reflect on the possibilities of the future.

This book challenges the reader to explore the history of the time and the plight of being an immigrant in America. Giff allows the reader to step into the heart and soul of Bird and Thomas and discover what it means to be called a friend and a family.

[Patti Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming end to the Nory Ryan trilogy by Ms Giff. The series reminds me of our strong and determined ancestors.... I loved the series!

[Pink Leaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read this book because I came across it and discovered it was the 3rd book in the Nory Ryan story. But, in the end, I enjoyed this book more than I expected to and in its own right, not just as a book 3. It has the love and pain of life in it.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my jam. I'm surprised a character didn't say, "Aw shucks, Paw!" It was that kind of story.

[Karissa C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is simple but beautiful. It's easy to underestimate it from the simple cover and style, but the characters and the emotions spread out through the pages are a quiet masterpiece. Definitely recommend.

[Meredith Henning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet's 2010 reading page: http://happyheartsmom.typepad.com/swe...

[Emma Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Water Street by Patrica Reilly Giff is an excellent, detail-embedded book. The author made a great storyline of two young children growing up in the 1800’s in Brooklyn, NY. Personally, I think that it was very realistic and I felt like I was thrown back into history, watching a family’s life. Both children, 13 and 14, have their own struggles. Thomas has to sit by the street and hold out a jar for spare coins while dealing with his father who is often at the pub. Bird (Bridget) has to discover what she wants to do in life because it’s her 8th grade year, the last year of school she will ever attend. I really enjoyed how they would look out to the unfinished bridge and dream of thousands of people walking across it, and sometimes they doubt that it’ll ever get finished. It’s definitely a calm story for before bedtime, not one that you’d read for the action or mystery. I savored the short book, just over 100 pages, but at the same time it had a slow pace. There’s nothing to dislike about this book, but it’s not my all-time favorite. It’s not particularly my favorite because I prefer a different genre, fantasy, but to each their own. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't one of the two books that won Giff a Newbery honor award, but of the three books I've read by her, including one of the honor winners (Lily's Crossing), this one is my favorite. It is set in 1875-1876 in Brooklyn as the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge is underway. The bridge looms in the background as a symbol of what great things can be accomplished. Bird and her family are all searching for better things and I just loved the strong family unit in this story. They draw new neighbor Thomas, with no mother and an alcoholic father, into their family fold. Bird wants to be a healer, like her mother, but has doubts after assisting her mother with a boy who suffers a horrifying head wound. Thomas wants to be a writer and although the story is told in alternating chapters from Bird's and Thomas's POV's, it begins and ends with Thomas's love of writing and the stories he wants to tell. Bird's story is his story to write and I loved how he wrapped it all up in the epilogue, leaving a very satisfied ending for me.

[Thom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, quick, slice of life read about two Irish families having settled in NYC in 1875.

Giff has an unusual writing style which in the end I liked a lot, but it did take getting used to a bit. Nevertheless the story flowed well albeit slowly at the start but not too slow. I'm not one who minds this because not every story can begin with a bang.

Giff catches the times and place very well. And her characters are real and well-written. The only thing that did not come through was the accents which at least some of her characters must have had back in those days. As with most groups, Irish immigrants had strong accents/Irish brogues. This is not evident in the book at all.

If you enjoy historical fiction, this one might be for you. If you're looking for thrills, perhaps not.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is set in 1875-1876 in Brooklyn as the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge is underway, this novel chronicles the lives of Bird and Thomas, two young teens dealing with their own issues in the midst of the struggle to survive in a poor area of Brooklyn. A sequel to Nory Ryan’s Song and Maggie’s Door, the story of Irish immigrants continues. I loved the emphasis of the strong bonds of family and home and the love of reading and writing, as well as the sacrifices made by Bird’s parents to give their kids a better life. I also applaud Giff for a strong father figure who cares deeply for his family and is a positive role model. I highly recommend this book for grade 5-7.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book picks up with Nory Ryan's story where she has established her life and her own family in the United States. This book was good but I wished there wasn't the time gap between when Nory arrives at Maggie's door in the US where the last book ends and this book picks up with Nory married with three children. I was glad that Nory's knowledge of healing that she learned from her old friend and neighbor in Ireland carried over into this book as well. The peripheral information about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge gave some additional interesting breadth and historical context to the book as well.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very sweet and simple story that I picked at random from the library shelf and quite enjoyed. Bird and Thomas ring true as kids with the struggles and worries they're having and their growing friendship is a neat one to see. The most compelling scene for me was when Bird is in the kitchen with her mom after she'd tried to help the family with scarlet fever and Thomas runs and gets her his book and she gets to read it; it's such a simple moment of affirmation but it was so endearing and made me want to cry. The epilogue was also needed to give everyone their happy ending. I love a good epilogue.

[B]

Excellent historical fiction piece of what Irish immigrants went through after settling in the United States.

Spoilers below of content considerations:
One of the characters fights for money-the fighting isn’t described so much as the injuries afterwards
One of the characters is a healer and sees a graphic injury, scarlet fever, etc. some of the detail may be too much for some.
Suicide is referred to as a possible cause of death of a young mother with a fever who left the family to protect from contagion.

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the view of Water Street with its yet-unfinished Brooklyn Bridge and the development of Bird and Thomas. The trip to Manhattan by ferry to the rough McCormick's (a stand-in for McSorley's?) really gave the flavor of the time. I learned that the author is from Brooklyn, and has two earlier books starring the parents - must find.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this 3rd story of Nory Ryan and her family. I didn't realize prior to starting it that Nory was all grown up with children of her own in this book! I love how Ms. Giff makes history seem so personal and alive. Nory Ryan's Song (book1) is my favorite of the three, but I enjoyed all of them. Great middle grade historical fiction.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in the series of Nory Ryan & her family & I enjoyed the story focused on her youngest daughter & a boy who moves in upstairs. They are living in the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge being built & its construction affects their family as they navigate immigrant life in Brooklyn. Very nice story with a hopeful ending.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was bothered by the jump in time and the change of the main character to Nory's daughter, but it didn't take long to appreciate the jump. I enjoyed the historical tidbits and context as well as the story. A well done trilogy.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet young adult story of a young, ambitious girl who befriends the boy who lives with his alcoholic father upstairs in her Brooklyn apartment complex in the late 1800s. Read it one night when I couldn't sleep - an easy, enjoyable story.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wasn’t super into this book. Then when I actually had time to sit and read it, it was so good I cried (I also just had a baby two weeks ago, but it was excellent). Great character development.

[Drgeorge1952 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia Reilly Giff has never disappointed me. She does a great job with the historical aspect and she lets me inside the heads of each of her characters. The importance of the family comes through as well as a strong work ethic.

[Arwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. At times some things didn't quite flow right, but I enjoyed it overall. The premise of the story was pretty good, and the historical parts, especially about the Brooklyn Bridge, were really interesting. The characters were well written, and the ending was nice.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet book about 2nd generation Irish immigrants in Brooklyn New York.
The story is told in alternating perspectives of "Bird" and her friend "Thomasy"
Simple and touching.
A story about hope and humanity.

[Sharon Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters, especially Bird and Thomas and what their life was like in 1875 Brooklyn. Not until I had finished the book did I realize it is #3 on a series! Now I want to read the other two!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the rest of the series. My niece read them. The she asked me to read them so she had someone to talk to about them. We have a close relationship. I am glad that I took the time to read them.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story never came up off the page to come to life, but stayed two-dimensional for me. The background and setting had potential between Bird and Thomas, but somehow I never got pulled into their situations, or sympathized with Hughie or some of the other characters.

[Adrienne McCarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this one out of a little free library, not realizing it was intended for younger readers. Despite this, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a nice easy read that had a lot of heart and reminded me of when I was young and would read similar historical lit. A nice short weekend read!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twelve year old girl with a tender heart can teach us much.

[John Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable period piece.