Little Ash delights in causing small bits of trouble when the young demon and his angel companion aren’t studying Torah or following life in their small shtetl. When they learn that Essie, a young woman who left for America, hasn’t been heard from, Little Ash, hungry for big adventures, convinces the angel they should go in search of her. In Warsaw they make their first discovery about the exploitation of immigrants before securing funds for passage. Their fellow passenger Rose is traveling alone after her beloved best friend abandoned their plans, choosing instead to marry. After an eventful journey, the trio arrives on the Lower East Side of New York, a vibrant immigrant community. They are drawn into tensions between struggling workers and rich sweatshop bosses, like the one for whom they discover Essie works. Spirited, playful Little Ash; the kind, thoughtful angel, always pondering the right moral and spiritual choice; and bold, forthright Rose are captivating characters in a novel exploring substantial themes, including questions of identity (the angel has been given a male name but doesn’t identify as male or a female) without feeling weighty. The early 20th- century Jewish immigrant community is vividly realized, with religious beliefs and the spiritual world a seamless part of the story. And if the romantic love Little Ash and the angel eventually realize they feel for each other surprises the two of them, it’s a sweetly satisfying resolution for readers who’ve followed them on this journey of adventure and self-discovery. (Age 14 and older)