Set in the year 1865, as the Civil War draws to a close, 1865 New York City Kid follows the story of 16-year-old Daniel Kelly. Born and raised in the slums of New York City, Daniel, known as 'Kid' among his friends, yearns for something beyond the monotonous life he's known. Working for the New York Tribune, like his late father before him, Daniel finds himself disillusioned, especially after a much-anticipated promotion eludes him. It's at this juncture that Daniel meets Big Tom, a fur trapper, who persuades him to leave the familiar streets of New York for the wilds of the Washington Territory. The prospect of becoming a fur trapper and the lure of a new life is too enticing to ignore. Thus begins Daniel's remarkable journey, chronicled through his own eyes, as he travels by train and stagecoach in search of a better future.

1865 New York City Kid is a tapestry of fact and fiction, weaving historical elements with the imaginative realm of storytelling. The novel delves into the essence of the American West, a place where the line between truth and myth often blurs, giving rise to folklore and legends. This narrative, presented as Daniel's daily accounts, offers a unique glimpse into a pivotal era in American history, through the eyes of a young man at the threshold of adulthood, adventure, and the unknown.