Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier is a beautiful, heartwarming tale of friendship between two outcasts.
It is set in Victorian London, where the job of sweeping chimneys is done by “climbing boys.”
These small children, who are usually orphans, are employed to squeeze into the small spaces and clean the flues to protect houses from fire.
Eleven-year-old Nan Sparrow is one of the best climbers there is.
The job is thankless and potentially deadly but she always manages to beat the odds.
Until one day she doesn’t. A particularly dangerous job leads to almost certain doom when a mysterious creature — a golem made of ash and coal — saves her.
This marks the beginning of a life-changing friendship between a young girl and her monster.
Sweep is a wonderful tale that is enjoyable for all ages.
Check it out from your library.
