Annie Moore: The Golden Dollar Girl

Annie Moore #2

by Eithne Loughrey

This is the second book in the trilogy – it charts the further adventures of Cork-born Annie Moore, who was the first immigrant to land at Ellis Island, New York, in 1892. Four years later, Annie, now aged seventeen, has left her family in New York and moved out west to Nebraska. Life in the West is unlike anything she has experienced before but Annie soon adapts, and before long she has an admirer. Annie is confused – she is interested in Carl but can't get Mike Tierney, whom she first met on her voyage to America from Ireland, out of her mind. But does Mike feel the same way?

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. At this point I think that the author is using Annie to try and expose her audience to as many facets of immigrant life in this time period as possible. Which isn't bad, but it feels a little forced/obvious to me. The writing still isn't great, but there's a little bit more character development and more of a plot line.
Now, this book was halfway decent, until the last scene. The last three pages of this book consist of just about the cringiest, most ridiculous romantic climax I've come across in a book. EVER. Not only was it utterly unrealistic, but it was intolerably cheesy. I normally like a little cheesy, but NOT this copious of an amount. It felt like every Hallmark movie ending got smushed into those last three pages. It wasn't good.
Personally, I think that the author introduced too many characters once Annie got to Nebraska. I couldn't keep most of them straight. I also didn't appreciate her newfound "calling" to be a teacher, since her best friend was already a devoted kindergarten teacher. It felt like the author was just copying Molly.