Lost in the Empire City

Newbery Medalist Avi is back with a gripping exploration of the immigrant experience at the turn of the twentieth century. A must-read for fans of Moon over Manifest and Echo Mountain.

When Santo’s father left their tiny town in Italy for America, he made Santo promise to keep their family together until he has enough money to bring the rest of them to the US.

It takes a few years, but Mama finally gets word that their family can join Papa. Santo couldn’t be more excited to go to America—and to see his father again. However, Santo gets separated from his mother and siblings at Ellis Island, and he is left to fend for himself on the mean streets of early 20th century New York. Santo doesn’t speak English, he doesn’t know anyone, and he has nowhere to go. He has no money and no help.

While searching desperately for a clue as to where his family has gone, Santo gets caught up with a gang of boys—a found family of sorts—who steal to stay alive. But when an unexpected betrayal leaves Santo scrambling, it will take all the street smarts he’s gained to find a way back to his family.

He’s lost in a city of millions with only a promise to guide him.
Survival Adventure: Follow Santo as he learns to navigate the dangerous streets of Manhattan, where every alley holds a new threat and every stranger is a potential foe.A Band of Thieves: To stay alive, Santo joins the Downtown Dukes, a gang of streetwise kids who live by their own rules, forcing him to choose between his promise and his survival.Ellis Island Immigrant Story: Experience the turn-of-the-century immigrant journey, from the hopeful shores of Italy to the overwhelming confusion and heartbreak of Ellis Island.New York City History: Immerse yourself in the richly detailed world of early 1900s New York, a city of towering ambition and crushing poverty, brought to life by a master storyteller.