My Thoughts and Book Review
A story about an unforgettable boy named Jared Johnson who is 12 years old, who warmed my heart with his bright character. An easy and heartwarming novel one can curl up to this winter with sad bits and pieces and a wonderful ending to hope for.
The story begins with sad bits when Jared Johnson's little sister Maisy dies of fever along with his mother who was laid to rest because of hunger and poverty. No food, No shelter or home, Jared's heart was breaking finally because he couldn't take it all suddenly. His father left his sister Maisy when she was four, and when he was six when he was left with bitterness and anger. It was sadness and cruelty that sliced through his heart but he was not able to prevent it and was guilty of being the one left alive. Jared was afraid of where he would settle, where to go, and how to stay alive. Having to always scavenge he couldn't find a safe somewhere to sleep which was a problem. With great difficulty, he kept his emotions under control, Jared lived in Birmingham in the heart of the Black Country and was known as the city of a thousand trades, even then there was no work to find anywhere.
While scavenging at the market hall. Jared noticed in the third largest city in Great Britain there were little groups of those unemployed and out of work idling about on street corners with no hope someone would offer him a job. Jared was a pauper, he wandered in the streets, struggling to be brave and finding it tough to live without his mum and sister. Hunger struck his belly and Jared's mouth watered with the aroma of the pies in the streets.
Soon Jared finds work with the big Irishman - Toby Mc Guire. Mc Guire was King of tatters with many men who were young earning money for him. Jared washed, dried, and folded old rags - clothes ready to be sold to the paper mill to be shredded and used in paper making. Jared started generating more revenue with his horse Bess, in turn, pleased Toby Mc Guire. Jared trawled the streets from morning until night. His leather money bag was filled with pennies. Jared became popular among his peers who called him Mc Guire favorite. Jared would go a long way for Mc Guire with his audacity. The other characters I loved are Seth and Alice. How Seth changes into an admirable personality. Alice portrays to be a lovely lady in this story, she is very hospital and caring house keeper of Mc Guire.
Jared wanted to move up and further in the world. He had no intentions of being a tatter all his life -unless he was the Governor - that is. An unputdownable story with captivating characters.
The Ragged Orphan
- Publisher : Boldwood Books (24 Feb. 2023)
- Author: Lindsey Hutchinson
- Pages:294
Hashtag:#The Ragged Orphan #Lindsey Hutchinson #British & Irish Literature #Boldwood Publisher
Book Cover: When 12 year-old Jared Johnson’s little sister dies, just hours after his mother breathes her last after wasting away so her children could eat, he knows he is on own.
Desperate to avoid the workhouse, he does everything he can to survive the inhospitable streets of Birmingham. Jared is blessed with the gift of the gab and soon attracts the attention of the King of the Tatters, Toby McGuire. Recognising a kindred spirit, Toby soon has Jared out on a cart hustling for rags.
Jared loves driving his horse Bess, shouting ‘any old rags’ as loud as he can, and it’s not long before he’s thriving. But being successful can bring you enemies as well as friends. Toby knows that Jared is destined for bigger things – provided his big mouth doesn’t get him hurt first…
The top 10 best-seller is back with an unforgettable story about an unforgettable boy. Heart-breaking and heart-warming, fans of Katie Flynn, Val Wood and Lyn Andrews will fall in love with this latest page-turner from Lindsey Hutchinson.
Thanks to Rachel Random Resources, Boldwood Publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy for my honest review.
About the Author
Author Bio – Lindsey Hutchinson is a bestselling saga author whose novels include The Workhouse Children. She was born and raised in Wednesbury and was always destined to follow in the footsteps of her mother, the multi-million-selling Meg Hutchinson.
Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3UgLvHr
Social Media Links –
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