The latest from Avi
Written by Avi
Avi’s new book is somewhat reminiscent of the movie Newsies. Avi creates some very strong characters that are struggling for survival during the difficult time in 1893. Each member of the family has to work to support the family Maks, earning as little as eight cents a day to that end for selling his papers. Not only that, but a gang, the Plug Uglies, is trying to stop him. The family are immigrants which demonstrates the difficulty that group faced during this era. The story does take place in New York where so many of the immigrants lived. There is some adventure, danger and family closeness that made for really good reading. Some of the story was somewhat transparent with some pretty stretched coincidences, but the plot still worked.
Review by Fay Mason, Churchill Jr. High Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-8
City of Orphans
Written by Avi
Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
336 pages
Release Date: September 6, 2011
ISBN: 9781416971023 (hardcover)
I think that this would be a great book. I realize that the reviewer gave it an Interest Level of 4-8, but think even High Schoolers could gain something from it. Historical Fiction is ageless and timeless.