“The Tenement Nurse” by Kate Gemma

The Tenement Nurse

Kate Gemma
Independently Published (2023) 
ISBN:  979-8393246679
Reviewed by Sarah Nichole January for Reader Views (2026)

Like many countries, the United States looked very different following World War I. In the 1920’s New York experienced a massive influx of immigrants from Europe, which greatly altered the landscape of the state. In The Tenement Nurse, author Kate Gemma shows us this postwar world through the eyes of Millie Carpenter, a former WWI field nurse who continues to put her skills to use after the war has ended. She begins working as a visiting nurse who serves a poor Italian immigrant community on the Lower East Side, where she uses her knowledge and compassion to help the residents who live there. However, Millie has no idea how her connection to this area and its people will lead her down a path she never imagined.  

When you initially meet Millie, it is hard not to like her. She is immediately portrayed as strong and intelligent with an empathetic heart that she shares with her patients. Millie also represents the more “modern” woman that was starting to emerge in the 1920s, one that wanted to have a job outside the home and possibly not get married. Scandalous for the time, but makes a fantastic leading character. You’re also introduced to Millie’s family, including her overbearing mother, her snooty, controlling older brother, and her brave and sweet brother, Jimmy. In addition to her family, you meet Maria and her daughter, who live in the tenements, and Sal, a friend of Jimmy’s who plays a pivotal role in her life following the war. All of the aforementioned characters are complex in a way that isn’t overwhelming, which I think will appeal to many readers.  

In addition to the various characters, the dynamic settings of WWI and post war/1920s New York make this story really interesting. Gemma sets the story up with multiple flashbacks, which provide an excellent contrast between the fields of war-torn France, the rundown tenements of New York City, and the glam lifestyles of those living in the affluent side of Manhattan. Along with the varying landscapes, the author also presents the reader with a series of moral dilemmas. It’s almost as if when Millie’s environment shifts, her moral compass is tested in a different way. Her biggest test comes with the tragic death of one of her patients in the tenements, and she is then presented with an opportunity to ‘make things right.’ The fallout from her choice then leads to more questionable actions that have what appear to be noble motivations. Millie also experiences a similar dynamic in her relationships with her family and Sal, having to make decisions that might go against the ethics she has operated by her entire life.

When it comes to portrayals of history, it becomes easy to forget that there are often multiple things going on during the same time span. Kate Gemma does a great job introducing the reader to various aspects and perspectives of the time period during the Great War and immediately after. Post-war society collides with issues around immigration, poverty, crime, and the rise of the Roaring 20s. Her ability to guide the reader through various time jumps is also one of my favorite things about this book. The plot of this story alone is fantastic, but the fact that readers can follow it easily and consistently going back and forth between various times and places is impressive.

Gemma has created an entertaining, well-paced tale that includes well-developed characters, a bit of mystery, a vibrant historical time period, and makes the reader ask themselves what they might do if they were in Millie’s shoes. If you like historical fiction and are looking for a quick and engaging read, I recommend The Tenement Nurse by Kate Gemma.