Thursday, August 1, 2013

City of Orphans

By: Avi

Maks is a newsboy living in 1893 in New York City.  His parents and siblings must do a
variety of jobs just so the family can pay for their tenement space and food.  On the way home from selling his newspapers, Maks is cornered by rival newsboys who want to steal his money.  He gets backed into an alley, but is suddenly helped by a girl using a long stick as her weapon.  Maks invites the girl, Willa, home for supper - a thank you for her help.  However, when Maks gets home and finds out his older sister has been arrested, Willa and he both find ways to help each other and their family.

Mrs. Senechal says:
Since seeing the movie, Newsies, I have been interested in learning more about the immigrant children of that time who worked to help their families survive.  Through the many characters, you will see how people lived in New York City in the late 1800's - some slept in the street while others could afford to stay at the fancy Waldorf Hotel.  Even thought this is historical fiction, the author made the setting and characters very true to the facts of that time in history.  This was a great book!