Gr 4-6--Set in 19th-century United States, this mystery immediately hooks readers. When 10-year-old Colley is kidnapped and brought to the Broggin Home for Boys, he finds himself in the middle of a nightmare. The two proprietors, Obadiah and Quintilla Crawler, make life miserable for all of the Broggin boys. Harsh words, backbreaking work, and inedible food are the norm. Eventually, Colley befriends his formerly hostile roommate and tries to discover why he was brought to the home. Reminiscent of Joan Aiken's The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Yearling, 1987), the book is populated with characters who are either very good or horrible. Wallace writes well, balancing the educated dialogue of Colley with the course language of the street boys. A secret room, a pet rat, and near mishaps add to the intrigue. Although the ending is a little sweet, Wallace ties together most loose ends and includes some unsolved problems. Readers will gobble up this satisfying fare.--Mary M. Hopf, Los Angeles Public Library
Sparrows in the Scullery
Life has been difficult for 10-year-old Colley Trevelyan ever since he lost his mother and father in a fatal carriage accident. Most of the servants have been dismissed, and the house feels empty. To make matters worse, soon he will be living with his aunt and uncle who have never liked him. One night he suddenly wakes up wrapped tightly in a rough blanket. As he struggles to free himself, a strange man carries him to a waiting carriage. The next thing Colley knows, he is in London at the dreadful Broggin Home for Boys-and people are calling him Jed Broggin. Why is this happening to him? Barbara Brooks Wallace packs suspense and plot twists into this tale of a young boy finding a reason to live amidst horrible conditions. Sparrows in the Scullery won the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award. With narrator Steven Crossley's dramatic flair and authentic accent, he transports youngsters to historical England to discover what life was like there a hundred years ago.
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Sparrows in the Scullery
Life has been difficult for 10-year-old Colley Trevelyan ever since he lost his mother and father in a fatal carriage accident. Most of the servants have been dismissed, and the house feels empty. To make matters worse, soon he will be living with his aunt and uncle who have never liked him. One night he suddenly wakes up wrapped tightly in a rough blanket. As he struggles to free himself, a strange man carries him to a waiting carriage. The next thing Colley knows, he is in London at the dreadful Broggin Home for Boys-and people are calling him Jed Broggin. Why is this happening to him? Barbara Brooks Wallace packs suspense and plot twists into this tale of a young boy finding a reason to live amidst horrible conditions. Sparrows in the Scullery won the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award. With narrator Steven Crossley's dramatic flair and authentic accent, he transports youngsters to historical England to discover what life was like there a hundred years ago.
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Product Details
BN ID: | 2940171143145 |
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Publisher: | Recorded Books, LLC |
Publication date: | 05/22/2009 |
Edition description: | Unabridged |
Age Range: | 8 - 11 Years |
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