London in the 1860s is a dangerous place, as Jim Jarvis, a runaway from the workhouse, finds out. An orphan, separated from his sisters, Jim seems unable to find a home and friendship, until his trail of adventure leads him to the Ragged School, to Dr Barnardo and to security.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Born in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, Berlie Doherty is the youngest of three children. She has been a social worker, a journalist, a teacher, and, for the past fifteen years, a writer. Berlie has twice won the prestigious Carnegie Medal, for `Grannie was a Buffer Girl' in 1987 and for `Dear Nobody' in 1992. She lives in the Derbyshire Peak District.
Grade 5-8-Set in Victorian England, this story of life on the streets has enough action to keep children reading. The book opens with Jim's desperately poor, fatherless family being evicted; within a day his sisters are in domestic service, his mother is dead, and Jim is on his own. After a year in the workhouse, he escapes. Eating and sleeping where and when he can, he is more or less sold to a cruel taskmaster with a coal boat, who reacts to Jim's attempt to flee by tying a rope around his neck. Ever resourceful, the boy finally gets away and returns to the London slums where he finds a friend dying from hunger. Realizing that he must do something to avoid a similar fate, he seeks out a man who runs a school for poor children and finds a home. The novel is based on a real boy, Jim Jarvis, and the teacher who saved him was Dr. Bernardo, who, inspired by the boy's plight, went on to establish homes for destitute children. Doherty has written a Dickensian tale with compassion and insight while creating a likable hero with the courage, persistence, and instinct to survive in a harsh, inhospitable world. Several of the supporting characters are also based on real people and are finely drawn. With the number of homeless children today, this story has relevance to contemporary society as it shows not only the price paid when poor people are dismissed as unimportant, but also the strength of the human spirit and the difference that one committed, caring person can make.
Jane Gardner Connor, South Carolina State Library, Columbia
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 6.39
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR003089394
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Good. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR000922444
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: Mad Hatter Books, Auckland, New Zealand
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Hardback: dj (unclipped), tiny tear on lower front edge, slightly foxed on reverse and endpapers and foredges, a few spots internally, vg. 8vo, 147pp. Jim Jarvis was the boy who, in the 1860s, met Dr Barnardo in one of the Ragged Schools. This story is loosely based on on the true story of Jim's life. Seller Inventory # 12J376
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 0.75. Seller Inventory # 0241130581-2-3
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Stella & Rose's Books, PBFA, Tintern, MON, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First edition. 1st 1993. Fine condition in a fine dustwrapper. Jim Jarvis is a runaway sentenced to the workhouse. Escape seems the only solution. Brown boards, gilt title to spine. 146 pages. SIGNED by author with inscription on title page. Packaged with care and promptly dispatched!. SIGNED - please see description for details. Seller Inventory # 425325
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Street Child This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780241130582
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780241130582
Quantity: 1 available