In 1892, nine-year-old Dom becomes a stowaway aboard a ship sailing from Italy to America. All alone, Dom pines for his mother, who he is sure intended to travel with him but was unavoidably left behind. As a Jewish child stranded alone in New York City, Dom must scramble to find food and shelter. At the same time, he tries to avoid the dangers presented by the corrupt padroni , adults who provide immigrant boys with passage and basic necessities, and then force them to beg to pay off an inflated debt. In an alliance with two other street boys, Dom begins buying sandwiches, and then dividing and reselling them for a profit in the Wall Street area. Despite setbacks and hard lessons, the trio eventually develops a money-making business. At the same time, Dom must face the reality that his mother intentionally sent him off on his own, wanting to give him a better life, even if it meant a life without her. Donna Jo Napoli created Dom’s fictional story out of elements of her grandfathers’ experiences, as well as her research into the history of other young Italian immigrants. (Ages 10–14)

Early one morning, a ship leaves Italy, bound for America, with a nine-year-old stowaway aboard. He is alone and takes with him nothing of value except for a new pair of shoes from his mother. Thie ship lands in New York. Dom doesn't understand English or know anyone in the great, frightening city. And Dom tries hard to stay far away from the cruel padroni, men who pay the passages of homeless boys and force them to work off the debt by begging. Dom wants only to survive, and he must do whatever it takes. And then there's Mamma. She never meant to leave Dom to sail away alone on that ship! But why didn't she come with him? And how will he ever save enough money to go back to Naples and be with her again?