Street Child [Paperback]

 

 

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As part of the Essential Modern Classics series the book starts with an informative paragraph bio. of the author followed by an essay entitled "Why You'll Love This Book" written by a famous author, in this case Julia Golding. Then a quick blurb on just who is Julia Golding. This publisher's series also sometimes end with extra material at the back of the book called "More Than A Story". Here we have some very interesting pertinent information which really adds to the satisfaction of having read the book. First is a generous Author's Note describing the true story behind the characters who really once existed, then a section on sad but true information about Victorian Work Houses, then another section with bulleted information on the history of Barnardo's Homes for Boys and eventually girls. Finally rounding off with a Q&A with the author about the book which is very enjoyable.

This book is based on the true story of an orphan, Jim Jarvis, about seven years old, who Dr. Barnardo credits with giving him the emotional push to start his homes for street boys. Only a basic outline of the real Jim Jarvis's life is known and the author has fleshed that out into a sad hard knocks life that eventually ends on as good a note as could be expected. Jim is orphaned in the work house where he spends a year until he escapes and then he finds a bit of happiness living in a shack on the waterfront helping a girl sell eels and shells, and making friends with other street boys, until her Grandfather finds Jim in his worthless shack and sells him to a coal worker where he is abused and worked like a slave. A few years go by and Jim wonders if he'll ever be free, since the one time he tried to escape has resulted in him being tied to the boat like a dog.

An engaging story with many heart-breaking scenes and some that are poignant and heart warming. Though Barnardo enters the story at the end, this is very much Jim's story. A story of what life was like for a street kid in the Victorian era. The extreme poverty, the looming threat of the work house if the police caught you, the inevitability of having to steal or starve and sleeping on rooftops to keep safe from the law. The book is very much full of hardships but Jim is a determined boy with a will to fight to stay alive and avoid returning to the work house. Though his spirit may have been almost extinguished a few times he always manages to gather heart and keep resilient. This is a dark book, there is death and abuse and a sadness permeating its pages. But the writing and content is age appropriate. Jim's small victories and little bouts of happiness stand out in shining contrast to the world he lives in. The ending is heart-wrenching in a good way and leaves readers with a sense of good will and happiness that may make some kids interested in finding out more about Barnardo and his work.

this book is based on real story which makes it feel like it's jumping out at you. it is the kind of book that you can't let go and that when it's light out you get a torch and read on till midnight! it is good because it has a seesaw of events like it's good for poor young jim jarvis then its bad. jim jarvis' mother and father have died and he doesn't know where his sisters are and he's sent to the work house which is the worst place to be.

for jim i have cut my hair short (i'm a girl) to see what it is like to lose something
from sassy

Street Child by Berlie Doherty is an extravagent book. It tells of the cruel fate a little boy named Jim must endure, all his adventures growing up, and terrible tradgeties. This book is extravagent and absalutely a must have. If you don't own this book you should go out and buy it immediately!!

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4.0 out of 5 stars A tale of sadness and friendships
I am Mrs Townhill's daughter, aged 10, and have just finished reading this book.

This book is about the life of Jim Jarvis, a street boy in Victorian London. Read more

Published on Mar 17 2000

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