Sam Pargeter and his younger brother and sister have always been poor. But, in their tiny house in the country, with Ma and Pa, they were one big happy family. Until Pa goes off to America to seek their fortune and Ma dies. Then the Pargeter children find themselves whisked off to live with a strange aunt and uncle, and are put to work – just like Oliver Twist in their favourite book.
But this is only the start of the twists and turns their lives will take. Sam, Eliza and Alfie make their way all over London and then beyond, in search of their only remaining member of family: a rich grandfather they have never known . . .
Creators
Barbara Mitchelhill was born in Rochdale and trained as a teacher. While she was teaching, she began writing for BBC children's TV and went on to write for educational publishers, before writing novels for children. She makes school visits all over the country, and enjoys appearing at literary festivals and talking to teachers and librarians, some as far away as the Caribbean. Her hobbies include reading, theatre, music, gardening and walking her border terrier, Ella. She lives in Staffordshire and has two grown-up daughters.
Reviews
A gripping and moving story.
Lovereading
A vivid, enthralling historical adventure by an author so skilled in the field that she makes it look easy. . . Dickens would have approved!
Books for Keeps 'Book of the Week'
Barbara Mitchelhill is on a real winning streak with her historical novels, which are perfectly suited to upper KS2 . . . Without doubt a very valuable addition to class libraries.
Reading Zone
A page-turner, but it also reveals a lot about living in Victorian England
Tony Higginson, Formby Books
A beautiful story
Western Morning News
Readers will be caught up in the heart-in-mouth twists and turns of the plot and the relentless problems faced by the indomitable threesome and their dog
Carousel
An exciting story full of courage, adventure and lyalty, told with great humour
Children's Books Ireland, Recommended Reads
Entwined with Dickensian brilliance…will really appeal to children who have a love of history.
Creative Steps
