Member Review

Having only read one previous Lucy Strange novel, I was intrigued to see how her skilful use of language would translate into a quick read (90 pages aprox). The result is a fast-moving, tense and no less satisfying novel. Would be a good book recommendation to reluctant readers or to use as a class-text. The story is set in 19th century north of England and follows a young boy, George, who reluctantly leaves school at a young age to follow his father into the dangerous mining world. In the short page count I felt you really got to know the back story to George and also get a sense of the setting with a description of life at the time. The story also covers the harshness of just how many very young children were forced to go and work down the mines before the Mines act in 1842 which abolished allowing children aged under 10 from working in them. A great, hard-hitting read. Will look forward to reading some more Lucy Strange books.