The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street

a novel

“A rich literary feast” — USA Today

“An outstanding fiction debut” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

As a child in 1913, Malka Trenovsky flees Russia for New York with her family – only to be crippled and abandoned in the streets as soon as she arrives. Taken in by a guilty Italian ices peddler, Malka absorbs his trade secrets, and over the course of the 20th century, transforms herself into Lillian Dunkle, “The Ice Cream Queen of America,” the grand doyenne of an empire of ice cream franchises and a tv celebrity. Spanning 70 years, Lillian’s spectacular rise and fall is inextricably linked to the course of American history itself — from Prohibition to the disco days of Studio 54.

A Target Club Pick, finalist for the 2014 National Jewish Book Award, An IndieNext Pick, A USA Today “Hottest Titles This Season” selection, named Best Summer Book by Publishers Weekly. Also:

  • An LA Times “Summer Books Preview 2014” title

  • An AARP “Beach-Bag Books for Grownups” selection

  • Historical Novels Review “Editors’ Choice” title

  • A “Best Book of June” selection, Christian Science Monitor

  • A “June Best Books of 2014” pick, Bustle

  • A Bookbrowse.com “Best Books Publishing in June” selection