Overview
Trapped within the oppresive warrens of the city’s chimneys, young sweeper Tom longs for fresh air and freedom in this atmospheric and ghostly tale from Lucy Strange. Young chimney sweep Tom has started seeing strange, supernatural things – fairies in the flowers by the river, a soot monster crouching in the darkness of a chimney, and then the mysterious river spirit Elle. Elle joins Tom and the other children apprenticed to cruel master sweep Mister Crow. Together, they shimmy up the town's narrow, filthy chimneys. But Tom has an ominous feeling in his bones, and when he faces his most dangerous job of all, the reason for Elle's magical appearance becomes clear . . .
Full Product Details
Author: Lucy Strange ,
Julia Moscardo
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Imprint: Barrington Stoke Ltd
Dimensions:
Width: 12.90cm
, Height: 0.80cm
, Length: 19.80cm
Weight: 0.140kg
ISBN: 9781800903258
ISBN 10: 1800903251
Pages: 80
Publication Date: 06 June 2024
Recommended Age: 8 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Young adult
,
Children / Juvenile
,
Teenage / Young adult
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
“[An] evocative slice of historical drama … a book that transports us from our world to an almost timeless zone of wonder in amongst the darkness” – The Bookbag on The Mermaid in the Millpond “Superb, an eerie weaving of history and mythology in the hollow, haunted world of not-so-long-ago” – Hilary McKay on The Storm and the Minotaur
"""Combining fascinating and important history with the magical and supernatural, this captivating, beautiful and tragic story is sure to become essential reading for Upper Key Stage 2 children learning about the Industrial Revolution and the plight of those involved in child labour."" – Kate Heap, Scope for Imagination ""The plight of young chimney sweeps in Victorian Britain springs to vivid life in a ghostly and stunningly ethereal historical tale … Juxtaposing the heartbreaking cruelty of a boy sweep’s ordeals with all the fairy-tale magic of Charles Kingsley’s classic book, The Water-Babies, Strange brings us a dazzling, tear-jerking story that resonates long after the last page has turned … succeeds in never losing sight of the shining light of hope, friendship and courage … Brought to life by the beautiful worldly and other-worldly illustration of Júlia Moscardó, this is another stunning piece of storytelling."" – Lancashire Post ""A brilliant combination of the supernatural and historical fiction. Perfect for a history topic on the Industrial Revolution."" – Father Teacher Reader ""This beautifully written book with equally beautiful illustrations had us immersed from the first page … We were really drawn to the kindness of the characters and the warm and happy ending of this beautiful, evocative book."" – Bentley Heath PS Book Club"
Author Information
Lucy Strange is the best-selling children's author of titles including The Secret of Nightingale Wood, a Waterstones Children's Book of the Month, and Our Castle by the Sea, which was nominated for the Carnegie Medal, shortlisted for the Waterstones Book Prize 2020, and was the first Independent Booksellers' Children's Book of the Month.
