Details
Synopsis
Abandoned on the porch of a London church in 1644 at the age of four, Willy eventually becomes an apprentice while never quite giving up hope of finding his mother.
| Size | | Length: | 341 pages | | Height: | 8.8 in | | Width: | 5.8 in | | Thickness: | 1.0 in | | Weight: | 14.4 oz |
Industry Reviews
Gr 7 Up This historical novel traces the fortunes of a child abandoned by his destitute mother in London during the winter of 1644. After a constable finds him near a church door, Willy is lodged temporarily with benevolent Master Perry. Immediately fond of the boy, the merchant leads the local parish in providing for Willy properly, placing him with a motherly nurse for fostering. The plot follows Willy into adolescence, from his mistreatment by a vicar charged with his education to his adventures as an apprentice ironmonger. This material has potential; unfortunately, it is not realized. Earnest in asserting its worthy themes of good works and the golden rule, the narrative is also unremittingly bland. Characterizations are shallow, with speech patterns virtually indistinguishable among individuals, and moments of tension are undercut by plodding pacing and stilted language. Further, the period is not well integrated into the plot. The years 1644-1656 were turbulent times for England, including civil war, the execution of Charles I, and Cromwell's Protectorate, yet the characters seem at most mildly troubled by events outside their immediate concerns. This book cannot compare with the work of top-notch writers of juvenile historical fiction, such as Katherine Paterson and Elizabeth George Speare. Starr E. Smith, Marymount University Library, Arlington, VA
Divakaruni
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