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The King of Mulberry Street
In 1892, nine-year-old Dom’s mother puts him on a ship leaving Italy, bound for America. He is a stowaway, traveling alone and with nothing of value except for a new pair of shoes from his mother. In the turbulent world of homeless children in Manhattan’s Five Points, Dom learns street smarts, and not only survives, but thrives by starting his own business. A vivid, fascinating story of an exceptional boy, based in part on the author’s grandfather.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2005
52 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
About the author
Donna Jo Napoli
138 books1,112 followersDonna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction. She loves to garden and bake bread, and even dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
April 19, 2020
Engaging, fascinating. I'm tired of historical fiction for children about children who suffer. There's a little bit of love/ compassion here, and a teensy bit of humor, but it's mostly pretty brutal. I wouldn't have read it if I didn't know the author to be a very good writer.
But it's a very good book. For example I do appreciate that the perspectives of adults, other immigrants, etc. were explored, eg who would help the kids, and how, and why... and who wouldn't. And the difference between the Italian Jews, and the different nation-states of Italy, and Irish, and Chinese... every single character here is a real person; even those with cameos clearly have histories, dreams, and fears.
Books like this really make life under the covid 19 pandemic seem like paradise.
Recommended.
But it's a very good book. For example I do appreciate that the perspectives of adults, other immigrants, etc. were explored, eg who would help the kids, and how, and why... and who wouldn't. And the difference between the Italian Jews, and the different nation-states of Italy, and Irish, and Chinese... every single character here is a real person; even those with cameos clearly have histories, dreams, and fears.
Books like this really make life under the covid 19 pandemic seem like paradise.
Recommended.
September 24, 2008
I'm currently reading this to my children since I wanted something a bit more non-fiction-ish for them (and historical fiction is the best I could come up with). So far it's been an engaging story that my kids are really into. We're learning a lot about Jewish culture (the protagonist is a young Jewish boy) and about immigrants in America. We just finished a few chapters on Ellis Island and reading them gave us a chance to talk about the procedures that new arrivals went through as they entered the country.
[UPDATE] I just finished reading the book last night to my children and let me just say that it was well worth the read. A couple of times during the reading I thought my children were losing interest, but they assured me that the book was good and they wanted to keep reading. They were all enthusiastically awaiting the end of the book and were not disappointed in the way it ended. Napoli paints what I think is a realistic picture of life for young, parentless children in New York in the early 1900s without delving into disturbing detail (given her audience). Dom's story ("Dom" is the nickname the Jewish boy is given when he stows away on the trip to the US) is so interesting and exciting as are the images she paints of other boys and the hard-working immigrants they associate with. There is one surprising death in the book (which I won't ruin for anyone) and this may be cause for wariness with very young children. But the inspirational story of Dom's life is worth the read, not to mention what you learn about life in the Five Points neighborhood during these times.
[UPDATE] I just finished reading the book last night to my children and let me just say that it was well worth the read. A couple of times during the reading I thought my children were losing interest, but they assured me that the book was good and they wanted to keep reading. They were all enthusiastically awaiting the end of the book and were not disappointed in the way it ended. Napoli paints what I think is a realistic picture of life for young, parentless children in New York in the early 1900s without delving into disturbing detail (given her audience). Dom's story ("Dom" is the nickname the Jewish boy is given when he stows away on the trip to the US) is so interesting and exciting as are the images she paints of other boys and the hard-working immigrants they associate with. There is one surprising death in the book (which I won't ruin for anyone) and this may be cause for wariness with very young children. But the inspirational story of Dom's life is worth the read, not to mention what you learn about life in the Five Points neighborhood during these times.
August 9, 2013
I loved this book. Very descriptive, I couldn't put it down. It follows the story of a nine year old Italian Jew to Manhatten, where he is alone and trying to survive on his own and not get owned by a padrone. Hardly any bad language, but graphic. His mother in Italy can be thought of as cruel or desperate, depending on how you think about it. I believe she really thought he would have a better life in America. This was based on a true story, and she really described the type of thinking in New York back then, especially with the flood of immigrants coming in. I loved "Dom's" ingenuity and how his quick thinking and kindness is what made him so successful. Then, it was "every man for himself", but he was raised to give unto others. In so doing, he made alliances that he otherwise have not made. He said it was his shoes that made him successful, but I also believe it was his ability to make friends, no matter their religion or nationality. There is a few sad parts in it, but was happy in the end. I highly recommend this book.
May 1, 2018
This is my least favourite of the Napoli novels I've read. It tells the story of her grandfather's journey from Naples to New York in the late 18th century. He is alone, and only nine years old. I really liked the beginning: the descriptions of Naples were atmospheric, and the relationship between the boy and his mother was believable. But once Dom arrived in America, I lost interest in the story: I found the characters all felt too stereotypical (gruff urchins with hearts of gold), and I personally find stories around the idea of the "American dream" (poor boy makes good) very boring and lacking in narrative tension.
December 12, 2024
Good, but the first half was sloooooowwwww...
May 29, 2023
An immigrant story of a Jewish protagonist. A rags to riches story of a boy who finds a unusual family. A bit of an Oliver Twist-like tale
February 22, 2017
I chose this book because the New York immigrant experience, especially late 19th into early 20th century. I don't know if this is because of how much I loved An American Tail and Annie when I was little, or because there is some resonance in my genes. That photo from the cover, the Jacob Riis picture of the boys in the alley, I used to stare at in my history textbook, probably in about 6th grade or so. Then in 7th grade I met A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which felt like it had been written about me. While I love historical fiction in general, I am always on the lookout for HF that specifically tells about New York in the 1880s-1920s. The story was also fun for me personally because it takes place mostly in Little Italy, just a quick walk from where I work.
I thought it was lovely the way our protagonist and narrator, Dom, is able to survive in Five Points by being polite, friendly, courteous, and smart. While I don't find it particularly believable for a 9-year-old with these personality traits to have succeeded under these circumstances, I do think it's good for characters with these personality traits to do well in fiction aimed at children. And, well, Donna Jo Napoli based this book loosely on her grandfather, so I guess I'll trust her judgment.
This book also explores the theme of making your own family, one of my favorite themes. And as Dom slowly realizes that his mother put him on a boat to America, alone, on purpose, he accepts this with more grace than I would have expected.
Because Dom is Jewish, readers get to see what life was like for Jews during this time. Dom makes an effort to hide his identity while still staying true to his religion, which gets tough when the Catholic churches hand out food and when he has only a meat-and-cheese sandwich to eat when he's starving.
I thought it was lovely the way our protagonist and narrator, Dom, is able to survive in Five Points by being polite, friendly, courteous, and smart. While I don't find it particularly believable for a 9-year-old with these personality traits to have succeeded under these circumstances, I do think it's good for characters with these personality traits to do well in fiction aimed at children. And, well, Donna Jo Napoli based this book loosely on her grandfather, so I guess I'll trust her judgment.
This book also explores the theme of making your own family, one of my favorite themes. And as Dom slowly realizes that his mother put him on a boat to America, alone, on purpose, he accepts this with more grace than I would have expected.
Because Dom is Jewish, readers get to see what life was like for Jews during this time. Dom makes an effort to hide his identity while still staying true to his religion, which gets tough when the Catholic churches hand out food and when he has only a meat-and-cheese sandwich to eat when he's starving.
January 5, 2014
Donna Jo Napoli has done it again with her novel, "The King of Mulberry Street." Napoli wrote a thrilling story about the journey of young Beniamino, Dom as his, “gangster” friends know him. Dom, a young 9 year old Italian immigrant discovered his role in the city of New York in the late 1800s. Before Dom left his mark in New York, he made marks in his hometown of Naples. His mother sought opportunity for the family by putting young Dom on a boat as a stowaway to gain extra money for the large Jewish family.
Once Dom made his way into America his excitement suddenly turned into disappointment, wanting to gain money to go back home to Naples. Beniamino began to realize that his life in the Big Apple consisted of being one of the many homeless. Dom soon realized that just to survive he must recruit some pals: an orphan, shop owner, and a person with a belief of strong loyalty. By recruiting his colleagues Dom built the book on the fundamentals of creating a family and becoming united. These fundamentals created a theme of making a place your home. Beniamino realized there was no need to return to Naples. New York was his home.
As Dom’s plan to survive pulled through, his character began to change. He was an oblivious and naïve boy who grew into an aware and sophisticated gentleman. Once Beniamino grew into New York and became aware of the changes he would make to his life he began to realize the cruel acts that filled New York’s roads and began to spread his kindness to those who became desperate for it. His actions gained him the nickname of, “The King of Mulberry Street.”
This book is truly one to read. It captivates how you can grow and spread your success to where it is most needed stressing the importance of family. This book is truly inspiring, I am left speechless commending Napoli.
Once Dom made his way into America his excitement suddenly turned into disappointment, wanting to gain money to go back home to Naples. Beniamino began to realize that his life in the Big Apple consisted of being one of the many homeless. Dom soon realized that just to survive he must recruit some pals: an orphan, shop owner, and a person with a belief of strong loyalty. By recruiting his colleagues Dom built the book on the fundamentals of creating a family and becoming united. These fundamentals created a theme of making a place your home. Beniamino realized there was no need to return to Naples. New York was his home.
As Dom’s plan to survive pulled through, his character began to change. He was an oblivious and naïve boy who grew into an aware and sophisticated gentleman. Once Beniamino grew into New York and became aware of the changes he would make to his life he began to realize the cruel acts that filled New York’s roads and began to spread his kindness to those who became desperate for it. His actions gained him the nickname of, “The King of Mulberry Street.”
This book is truly one to read. It captivates how you can grow and spread your success to where it is most needed stressing the importance of family. This book is truly inspiring, I am left speechless commending Napoli.
June 11, 2018
“There was a saying that no one starved in farmlands. My city, Napoli, was surrounded by farmlands, yet we’d been hungry for months.”
Nine-year old Dom was illegitimate, poor, but loved. His mother called him “mio tesoro – my treasure”, and one day she took her beloved son to the docks and stowed him away on a cargo ship headed to a place where dreams come true—America. Before sending him away, Dom’s mother gave him one strict instruction: “Your job is to survive.” Alone, with only a new pair of shoes in his possession, Dom struggles for daily survival in this country with its strange languages and customs, all the while searching for a way to get back home.
This is a work of fiction, but Napoli says that she was inspired by the story of her paternal grandfather who, like Dom, came to New York as a young boy. Napoli sets her story in Manhattan in 1892 and gives us a main character who is scrappy, kind, generous, and honest. Moreover, he manages to hold true to his moral values and religious convictions (he is a Jewish Italian) despite his dire circumstances and outside influences. The reader can only admire and marvel at his resilience and convictions.
When recalling his life back in Napoli, Dom often remembers the proverbs his Nonna often said. One such proverb was, “You get, you give” and Dom takes this to heart as we see him always giving throughout the book. Whether he’s returning an act of kindness or helping another in greater need, he shows us that even the smallest act of goodwill often has the greatest impact. Napoli gives us a beautiful story of trust, loyalty, and friendship. As Dom begins to carve out a life for himself in America, he reminds us of the importance of being true to oneself and that family isn’t defined by bloodline or name, but by love and devotion.
Nine-year old Dom was illegitimate, poor, but loved. His mother called him “mio tesoro – my treasure”, and one day she took her beloved son to the docks and stowed him away on a cargo ship headed to a place where dreams come true—America. Before sending him away, Dom’s mother gave him one strict instruction: “Your job is to survive.” Alone, with only a new pair of shoes in his possession, Dom struggles for daily survival in this country with its strange languages and customs, all the while searching for a way to get back home.
This is a work of fiction, but Napoli says that she was inspired by the story of her paternal grandfather who, like Dom, came to New York as a young boy. Napoli sets her story in Manhattan in 1892 and gives us a main character who is scrappy, kind, generous, and honest. Moreover, he manages to hold true to his moral values and religious convictions (he is a Jewish Italian) despite his dire circumstances and outside influences. The reader can only admire and marvel at his resilience and convictions.
When recalling his life back in Napoli, Dom often remembers the proverbs his Nonna often said. One such proverb was, “You get, you give” and Dom takes this to heart as we see him always giving throughout the book. Whether he’s returning an act of kindness or helping another in greater need, he shows us that even the smallest act of goodwill often has the greatest impact. Napoli gives us a beautiful story of trust, loyalty, and friendship. As Dom begins to carve out a life for himself in America, he reminds us of the importance of being true to oneself and that family isn’t defined by bloodline or name, but by love and devotion.
January 15, 2019
The King of Mulberry Street starts off with Beniamino who is a poor little boy in Napoli who struggles everyday for food, water, housing, and clothing. His mother is the only person in the world who cares about him. One early morning, his mother wakes him up and dresses him in his best outfit and sets him off in a ship that’s heading to America. He has no idea what’s going on, but all his mother wants is a better life for him. That was the last time Beniamino saw his mother. “First of all, simply survive. Watch like you always do, watch and learn and do whatever you have to do to fit in. Talk as little as possible- just watch and use your head.” This quote comes from his mother, which were her last words to him, telling him to fit in America and to live a better life than he did in poverty.
I think people should very well read this fascinating intriguing story about a little boy from another country coming into the United States and his whole life around him is about to change. This a type of book that you never want to let go of because now suspenseful, gripping, and heartwarming Beniamino story is. Beniamino suffers to be homeless but overcomes it by learning street smarts. Life on the streets could be dangerous for a little boy who doesn’t know English. Overall, this book is a thrilling, exciting novel with a good moral story behind it and I definitely recommend this book.
I think people should very well read this fascinating intriguing story about a little boy from another country coming into the United States and his whole life around him is about to change. This a type of book that you never want to let go of because now suspenseful, gripping, and heartwarming Beniamino story is. Beniamino suffers to be homeless but overcomes it by learning street smarts. Life on the streets could be dangerous for a little boy who doesn’t know English. Overall, this book is a thrilling, exciting novel with a good moral story behind it and I definitely recommend this book.
Read
April 12, 2011I choose this book because it looked like a good book but when I previewed it, it sounded like a war book in some was and I love war but it is not about war at all. Historyicul fiction. A whos mom wants him to go to the U.S.A and he does and ends up by himself sleeping in a back ally in a barel. The main character is a sweet little boy who lives by himself and trys hes best to find food for himself and ends up getting beat up a lot for no reason. ones he meats his frined Guoto they become good frinds and start there own business. he wants to be able to buy a ticket fo rthe train but never has enough money so he trs startin gis on sandwich shop on mllberry street. His business thrives and he gets a small job at a little food store. this book was very good although it started out a little dry ones you got 50 or so pages in to it, it was a prett good book and I think it would be better based at guys.
September 27, 2016
gripping and heartwarming at the same time, the book provides a terrifying look at life in 1890s New York, but at the same time painted a picture of hope and happiness. Doms mother could be seen as cruel or desperate, but that's where the book excels. I major plot twist near the end was out of the blue, but provided a realistic view of New York. A great read if you enjoy historical fiction or even realistic fiction
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March 22, 2010
I loved this book - Ms. Napoli's descriptions and characters were wonderful - I felt like I was in the story when I was reading it.
January 3, 2019
A tale of survival in 1892 NYC.
February 12, 2020
Donna Jo Napoli is one of my favorite authors. The subject of Italian immigrants in new york city, specifically in the Five Points area, is one that she obviously has done much interesting research on. The research pays of because readers learn how young immigrants were often snatched by 'agents' right off the boat and made to work as near slaves. Often they were boys and often they were orphans and there were few people to protect them
Dom, a 9 year old son of an unwed mother from Napoli, Italy, is hidden as a stowaway on a ship to New York City by his mother. He loves her and believes that she also is on the ship, but ultimately learns that she is not, yet still believes that she intended to come to America with him. In much of the first half of the book, he agonizes and plots how he will return to her, since she did not come. To me, this was pretty slow reading. When Dom actually figures out how to survive in the City, I found the characters and situation kept me reading into the night! Without giving away the story,Dom's leadership and cleverness attract some other boys and they do well, until a padrone grabs him and nearly kills him for working outside of the 'system.' And then???Read the book!
Dom, a 9 year old son of an unwed mother from Napoli, Italy, is hidden as a stowaway on a ship to New York City by his mother. He loves her and believes that she also is on the ship, but ultimately learns that she is not, yet still believes that she intended to come to America with him. In much of the first half of the book, he agonizes and plots how he will return to her, since she did not come. To me, this was pretty slow reading. When Dom actually figures out how to survive in the City, I found the characters and situation kept me reading into the night! Without giving away the story,Dom's leadership and cleverness attract some other boys and they do well, until a padrone grabs him and nearly kills him for working outside of the 'system.' And then???Read the book!
March 26, 2019
A lovey YA novel that grabs your attention, and heart strings, from the first few chapters. Through the voice of "Dom" readers follow the migration of a 9 year old Jewish Italian boy, without a father, who is sent to America on his own. Several scenes broke this Mama Reader's heart. I would not recommend this book for a young reader who has a sensitivity to losing his mother.
Dom's rise to the King of Mulberry Street captures the pure essence of the American dream. It is a wonderful introduction to reality of immigrating to the United States.
I gave this 4 of 5 stars because the ending left me hanging a bit. I would have loved a postscript showing Dom as an adult. Did he ever write to Naopli or return? Where did adulthood take him? What happened with his chosen American family?
This book contained vivid descriptions, deep character development (for a YA book), and sparked deeper thoughts. I plan to read other works of Napoli (one of which is already on our family bookshelf).
Dom's rise to the King of Mulberry Street captures the pure essence of the American dream. It is a wonderful introduction to reality of immigrating to the United States.
I gave this 4 of 5 stars because the ending left me hanging a bit. I would have loved a postscript showing Dom as an adult. Did he ever write to Naopli or return? Where did adulthood take him? What happened with his chosen American family?
This book contained vivid descriptions, deep character development (for a YA book), and sparked deeper thoughts. I plan to read other works of Napoli (one of which is already on our family bookshelf).
February 27, 2024
The King of Mulberry Street follows the story of a 9-year-old boy who is sent alone from Napoli, Italy to New York City. If you're looking for an easy book that gives you a cool insight to the Italian life in early New York City, this is it. In many ways, this book reminds me of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It's fascinating, gripping, detailed, and so, so brutal -- then again, so too is life.
What I like most about this book is the reality of survival. There are many things people will do to survive, but there are also things we will never do, a choice that the young boy, Dom, is forced to make. But, no matter what, Dom stays kind and grateful for what he has and what he will have as long as he keeps moving forward and never gives up.
What I like most about this book is the reality of survival. There are many things people will do to survive, but there are also things we will never do, a choice that the young boy, Dom, is forced to make. But, no matter what, Dom stays kind and grateful for what he has and what he will have as long as he keeps moving forward and never gives up.
May 7, 2017
Read this today as it is the book for One Book One Community and the event is this coming Tuesday. Penn Highlands puts on an extraordinary program for 1200 local grade school kids based on a book that they all read before coming to the event. This was a great story to incorporate into the school year and as always, the committee does a fantastic job choosing the book and sharing the story through stations set up throughout the college. If you have kids in grade school, have them read the book. Learning made fun.
September 30, 2020
Great, great book. It was such an engaging book and it's one of my favorites. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the first person viewpoint, which has so much depth and fantastic detail. If you haven't read it, read it now. I've read it over and over and have never gotten bored. The transformation of the protagonist throughout the book is amazing. He goes from a homely momma's boy to a distinguished gentleman. If you haven't read it, read it now. It is one of my favorite examples of historical fiction.
April 22, 2021
I was traumatized at the hands of a paperback and I don't know how to recover.
To be perfectly honest, the only reason I shelved this book to read in this first place is because it was suggested while I was shelving all these books about the Newsie strike (1899) and I just assumed this was about Newsies as well and if you know me, I have a slight obsession with the show. However I don't believe there was any mention of a newsie in this entire book.
Despite the high star rating, I had trouble getting into it and had to restart it twice and ended up letting it sit for about a month while I moved on to other books. (I've recently discovered that I have a bad a habit of doing that) But last night I was determined to finally finish. Any troubles or lack of interest vanished and I stayed up past 2am, eventually making myself put it away. But today I plowed through the last three chapters and oh my goodness....Pietro! Why???? I was almost in tears.
I'll go ahead and list the things I didn't like:
1) Language. very mild, but still there
2) Too many questions left unanswered. Such as what happened to his family back in Italy? Did Dom ever grow up to rid the world of the evil padrone? And what about the business? I mean obviously it took off but to what extent? These questions need answers.
The characters were real, the history was accurate, and the theme of being your own boss was inspiring. I loved Dom's compassion, Pietro's undying loyalty (cries a little) and Gaetano's brashness.
To be perfectly honest, the only reason I shelved this book to read in this first place is because it was suggested while I was shelving all these books about the Newsie strike (1899) and I just assumed this was about Newsies as well and if you know me, I have a slight obsession with the show. However I don't believe there was any mention of a newsie in this entire book.
Despite the high star rating, I had trouble getting into it and had to restart it twice and ended up letting it sit for about a month while I moved on to other books. (I've recently discovered that I have a bad a habit of doing that) But last night I was determined to finally finish. Any troubles or lack of interest vanished and I stayed up past 2am, eventually making myself put it away. But today I plowed through the last three chapters and oh my goodness....Pietro! Why???? I was almost in tears.
I'll go ahead and list the things I didn't like:
1) Language. very mild, but still there
2) Too many questions left unanswered. Such as what happened to his family back in Italy? Did Dom ever grow up to rid the world of the evil padrone? And what about the business? I mean obviously it took off but to what extent? These questions need answers.
The characters were real, the history was accurate, and the theme of being your own boss was inspiring. I loved Dom's compassion, Pietro's undying loyalty (cries a little) and Gaetano's brashness.
October 24, 2017
****SPOILER ALERT****the book itself is very well written and interesting. The part when we found out tin pan ally's name-he was a different person. He danced and was happier. But that maybe could also be because he ran away from his padrone. But when he dies-it felt like the book had no meaning because he was are main character if we think about it-he taught us lessons. But overall the book was amazing!! One of my favorites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
Great read for middle-schooler to learn about immigrant boys [elementary aged orphans ] survival on the streets of lower Manhattan in 1892. I enjoyed it and learned something, and I felt myself part of each scene. I do wonder why the boy called Dom thought about writing to his friend’s aunt back in the old country, but he never considered writing to his own family, especially considering how much he missed his mother.
November 10, 2015
In my opinion, there should be a new genre added to the list, called "street kids" or "homeless children". It would be a sub-genre to others, such as memoirs and true life experience, for example, Justin Reed Early's Street Child: A Memoir which I've downloaded and plan to read next, Fr. Joe Maier's Welcome to the Bangkok Slaughterhouse, whom I had the privilege of working with in Bangkok; science fiction/cyberpunk, such as my own Pepe; or current or historical fiction, such as Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, Fallen Angels: Stories of Los Gamines, and, definitely not least, Donna Jo Napoli's The King of Mulberry Street, which I've just finished reading. While accepting it as a literary genre, however, let's be careful not to romanticise it too much, remembering that these things really do happen to real children in many parts of the world.
Whether historical, futuristic or present, certain factors always remain the same. Human nature hasn't, and will probably never change. Cruel opportunists exited in Dicken's time, they exit now, and will exist in the future (judging by the way things are going). Examples include the "padrones" in Dom Napoli's late 19th century New York, where they helped children to emigrate, but kept them as slaves, working them on the streets. And what about futuristic technology? The street kids are too busy trying to keep themselves fed to worry about that, let alone afford any of it. If anything, it makes their lives worse. Street kids of all ages don't even wear shoes -- with the exception of Dom Napoli, whose mother thoughtfully bought him a pair shortly before sneaking him on board a freighter to America.
When I refer to Dom Napoli, I mean the main character of the narrative written by author Donna Jo Napoli. Dom, the character, is a nine-year-old Italian Jewish boy from Naples, and is based on what the author, Donna, imagines her own ancestor to be (who emigrated at the age of five). Like Donna's ancestor, Dom finds himself totally alone in America. He chooses the surname of Napoli because that's where he's from. He doesn't know a word of English, but he's heard that Mulberry Street is where there are people who speak Italian with the Napoli dialect. He follows a man whom he heard asking directions to Mulberry Street, until he arrives there. Maybe, he hopes, he'll find an uncle he knew to have emigrated there previously. He doesn't. Instead, he sleeps in an old barrel not far from a dead dog -- at least no one bothers him all night. But what next...?
Dom seems to be quite an intelligent and resourceful boy for his age, and he actually makes it, and becomes successful at selling sandwiches and helping out his friends. One might be tempted to think that the story isn't very realistic on this point, but it has happened before. At least the author's great-grandfather survived on his own as a five-year-old immigrant and, although the details of that are sketchy, did eventually start a similar business. One rule of writing fiction is, "Truth is stranger than fiction" – meaning that regardless of miracles that may happen in real life, fiction has to remain believable. Donna Jo Napoli, at least, kept this rule by making her main character a nine-year-old instead of a five-year-old.
In a street kid's everyday life, there are plenty of obstacles to overcome -- enough to fill any literary genre. Life on the streets can be as dangerous as jungle warfare, or laser battles in an alien landscape. There's plenty of possible action to draw on. If anything, the writer's challenge is deciding whether he/she has made it too easy on the main character, or made life too dismal for the reader to enjoy -- I speak from experience. In reality, some people do survive a childhood like that, but in fiction there must be a balance between reality, believability, and maintaining it as a pleasant read. Remember, “truth is stranger than fiction (and must be kept so)”. On the other hand, I don't think any realistic story about homelessness can be told without relating at least one tragedy, as also happens in The King of Mulberry Street. Donna Jo Napoli has handled all these factors like a pro.
As historical fiction goes, Donna Jo also does it well. Not only does she portray street life in New York, but also nineteenth century Naples – including some things one doesn't find in fiction. Back then, it was actually normal to see kids skinny-dipping in the river or seaside both in Europe and in America, as we also see from the paintings of that era, by the likes of Joaquin Sorolla Bastida and George Wesley Bellows, and the photography of Francis Sutcliffe. But one of the last things Dom's mother told him, besides things like “Watch and learn”, “Get an education” and “Simply survive”, was don't undress in front of other people. That was to hide his circumcision, which would lead to another hazard of that age – anti-Semitism. That, and keeping kosher is another of Dom's challenges in the New World. Not only is he resourceful, but his vulnerability on one hand, and his generous heart on the other, make him an endearing character.
All of it is narrated from inside Dom's head. It's in first-person past-tense, but it could have just as well have been present tense. Donna Jo puts us right there in Dom's shoes. Yes, I get it – he did have shoes.
Whether historical, futuristic or present, certain factors always remain the same. Human nature hasn't, and will probably never change. Cruel opportunists exited in Dicken's time, they exit now, and will exist in the future (judging by the way things are going). Examples include the "padrones" in Dom Napoli's late 19th century New York, where they helped children to emigrate, but kept them as slaves, working them on the streets. And what about futuristic technology? The street kids are too busy trying to keep themselves fed to worry about that, let alone afford any of it. If anything, it makes their lives worse. Street kids of all ages don't even wear shoes -- with the exception of Dom Napoli, whose mother thoughtfully bought him a pair shortly before sneaking him on board a freighter to America.
When I refer to Dom Napoli, I mean the main character of the narrative written by author Donna Jo Napoli. Dom, the character, is a nine-year-old Italian Jewish boy from Naples, and is based on what the author, Donna, imagines her own ancestor to be (who emigrated at the age of five). Like Donna's ancestor, Dom finds himself totally alone in America. He chooses the surname of Napoli because that's where he's from. He doesn't know a word of English, but he's heard that Mulberry Street is where there are people who speak Italian with the Napoli dialect. He follows a man whom he heard asking directions to Mulberry Street, until he arrives there. Maybe, he hopes, he'll find an uncle he knew to have emigrated there previously. He doesn't. Instead, he sleeps in an old barrel not far from a dead dog -- at least no one bothers him all night. But what next...?
Dom seems to be quite an intelligent and resourceful boy for his age, and he actually makes it, and becomes successful at selling sandwiches and helping out his friends. One might be tempted to think that the story isn't very realistic on this point, but it has happened before. At least the author's great-grandfather survived on his own as a five-year-old immigrant and, although the details of that are sketchy, did eventually start a similar business. One rule of writing fiction is, "Truth is stranger than fiction" – meaning that regardless of miracles that may happen in real life, fiction has to remain believable. Donna Jo Napoli, at least, kept this rule by making her main character a nine-year-old instead of a five-year-old.
In a street kid's everyday life, there are plenty of obstacles to overcome -- enough to fill any literary genre. Life on the streets can be as dangerous as jungle warfare, or laser battles in an alien landscape. There's plenty of possible action to draw on. If anything, the writer's challenge is deciding whether he/she has made it too easy on the main character, or made life too dismal for the reader to enjoy -- I speak from experience. In reality, some people do survive a childhood like that, but in fiction there must be a balance between reality, believability, and maintaining it as a pleasant read. Remember, “truth is stranger than fiction (and must be kept so)”. On the other hand, I don't think any realistic story about homelessness can be told without relating at least one tragedy, as also happens in The King of Mulberry Street. Donna Jo Napoli has handled all these factors like a pro.
As historical fiction goes, Donna Jo also does it well. Not only does she portray street life in New York, but also nineteenth century Naples – including some things one doesn't find in fiction. Back then, it was actually normal to see kids skinny-dipping in the river or seaside both in Europe and in America, as we also see from the paintings of that era, by the likes of Joaquin Sorolla Bastida and George Wesley Bellows, and the photography of Francis Sutcliffe. But one of the last things Dom's mother told him, besides things like “Watch and learn”, “Get an education” and “Simply survive”, was don't undress in front of other people. That was to hide his circumcision, which would lead to another hazard of that age – anti-Semitism. That, and keeping kosher is another of Dom's challenges in the New World. Not only is he resourceful, but his vulnerability on one hand, and his generous heart on the other, make him an endearing character.
All of it is narrated from inside Dom's head. It's in first-person past-tense, but it could have just as well have been present tense. Donna Jo puts us right there in Dom's shoes. Yes, I get it – he did have shoes.
March 26, 2023
I loved the story and the characters, but the cover and writing style were extremely boring. If an author wants to capture the young readers, they need to have the characters act as a child or teen would. That way the teen/child can see themselves in the story. I don’t think my students would make it past 10 pages of this before abandoning.
August 6, 2020
The problem with adding all this to the list is that i'm years out from having read these books. I would strongly recommend Napoli as an author for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or fairy tale retellings.
July 28, 2022
Great story of immigrant determination
This was a good read, with so many connections to immigration today. A story of a boy finding his way in a new place with determination and treating people kindly.
This was a good read, with so many connections to immigration today. A story of a boy finding his way in a new place with determination and treating people kindly.
August 11, 2017
This book is very sad. Towards the end it gets very violent. So in conclusion sad + violent doesn't equal a good read.
October 2, 2017
A surprisingly good story.
October 27, 2017
The book was quite good, I wouldn't read it again though. The story was repeating quite a lot. Made it get boring fairly quickly.
March 9, 2018
I read this for school this year. Although it was below my reading level I thoroughly enjoyed it. Perfect for younger children to read.
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