What a sweet and uplifting story about Abigail, wade and watchtower. Abigail runs into trouble when someone tries to kidnap her. After no adult helps she is frightened and weary of others until she is saved by a ghost boy named Wade and a mechanical man named watchtower. I read this with my younger children and they really did not want the story to end. So much so that we are reading it again. The rhymes are perfect for younger children to learn words and how to place them in sentences together. The story is about courage and overcoming fear. I hope that I never lose sight of what my childhood meant to me and this story took me back to those days when I wondered if I had the courage to do things that I wanted to do. I wish there were more books like this but am grateful that this author had the foresight to write such an amazing story.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Little Wade and Watchtower is a fantastic YA book about a girl, a ghost, and a mechanical man. It takes place in NYC in the old days. Abigail has it tough and is getting hassled by a gang when she meets Little Wade and his sidekick Watchtower. After they rescue her they offer her their services. Basically, they teach her to be strong and confident and think things through. I really loved the lessons and the meanings in them. The whole book is very well written, however, it does get a little slow about 3/4 of the way through, then picks back up again at the end. I loved the characters, especially Watchtower. I think YA fans will really enjoy this book. I can't wait to read the next one.

<b>Trigger Warnings: child abduction, child murder and gang violence</b>

The book is about Abigail Reid who just wants to go to school and get an education.
A poor farm girl who only recently moved to New York from the country, she quickly learns that New York City can be a very dangerous place. The Longshadows, the ruthless gangsters that control her neighborhood, have her surrounded, but just when Abigail thinks she is all alone, she meets the legendary LITTLE WADE AND WATCHTOWER!
With their help, Abigail will discover that she is far braver and more capable than she ever imagined and that New York City can be a wonderful place.Together, they plan to set The Great Gang Trap and rid her neighborhood of the Longshadows once and for all!
Unfortunately, the Longshadows are not the only threat in New York.

I really enjoyed the story, it definitely got more interesting in the later half of the book. Throughout the book you see character growth from Abigail and her perspective on the city/neighborhood. I love seeing character growth and it was good to see it in her companions as well. There were so many good quotes throughout the book and many good positive life lessons to reference. Some quotes I annotated:
<b>“This world will always make you feel tiny, so you might as well enjoy being a mouse and let it hone your wits”</b>
<b>"Amisit Ocasionem Infirmitatis - Opportunities lost because of weakness
Occasiones Pro Viribus Nova Inventa - Opportunnities for new strength discovered.
Pick a flaw, any flaw, and you can flip that flaw over and reveal a strength."</b>
<b>"When life is unfair, that is the perfect moment for you to do something unexpected. That is your chance to become someone extraordinary."</b>

As a parent, I noticed the genre for this book was middle grade|teen & ya. I will say this book is more for 13+ and not really sure if middle grade is appropriate as there was quite a bit of reference on child murder and abduction. I felt that I should add the trigger warnings in case parents wanted to be aware of the content. This book did touch my heart as I would be devastated and heart broken for Abigail on what she went through. On a positive note the book has a lot of life lessons to teach and I think it helps give young readers gain perspective on what could be out there to be more aware.

Overall, this is an adventurous story and I am looking forward to the next journey in Abigail, Little Wade and Watchtower!

<b>Thank you to Netgalley, author and publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.</b>

What an amazing story. Set in 19th century New York, this could just as well be Victorian Britain; with the same dangers from the poverty and gangs that inhabit the slums. Abigail is a strong and likeable heroine who is learning to survive in a city that is very different from the countryside where she grew up. Her encounter with a robot and the ghost of a young boy leads to all kinds of adventures, and hope for the future.

What a delightful read. As a reader, I love the little details, and the world-building in this story was fantastic. It really helped bring everything to life. I loved the adventure in the story, and was able to fly through this book. Sean March does an excellent job writing amazing characters, and a world that captivates readers and hooks them right from the start. I am very happy I had to opportunity to read this book.

It's always fun to read NYC from a different perspective. Perhaps a little violent for some readers.

This story follows Abigail, who just moved to New York. All she wants is to go to school. Then one evening, gang members surround her, and she gets rescued by some unlikely heroes.
I adored this story. It was very cute and the characters were so fun. It was great to see the character growth as the story went on. This story was both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

The thing I love the most about reading middle grade titles is the lessons that are always so strong in them. This title was no exception. Abigail goes through a lot of character growth and finding her courage. A captivating historical fiction that highlights staying safe.

this was a fun and spooky young adult novel, the character were great and I really enjoyed going on this journey. I hope there is more in this journey.

Abigail and the Great Gang trap is an imaginative middle-grade story with absolute truth, hope, and creative friends. Abigail and her dad are forced to give up country life and move to New York City for better opportunities in education and work. Unfortunately, they live in a neighborhood filled with gangs that snatch young children off the street. One night Abigail is late leaving her job and is accosted by some gang members but is recused by a fantastic duo called little wade and watch tower.

The author has taken all to a common problem: children being able to navigate the world safely and parents having to work more than they want to provide. Abigail's father is not a bad dad, but he needs to work to keep them in a home, and Abigail works as well as attending school; both are made more difficult by the gangs.

The author takes this problematic issue and puts a creative twist on it with the creativity of Little Wade, a ghost, and his fantastic friend Watchtower.

The characters in this story are creative, and the simple story brings a lot of hope and positive messages to those who pick it up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and can not wait to see what else this author has in store for us.