A jour - ney into the warehouses, slums, factories, and schools of Victo - rian England, and into the life of Charles Dickens, who used his tal - ent for writing to describe the lives of the poor and inspire readers to social action.

Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London – Andrea Warren
4 stars
There is a long tradition of biography as morality tale in children’s literature. Frequently there is little factual basis for the lesson; George Washington did not, in fact, chop down the cherry tree. However, with Charles Dickens, the lesson is implicit in the life of the man. Andrea Warren has presented the life of Charles Dickens in sixteen easy chapters with the clear intent of showcasing him as a social activist. The text is augmented with period illustrations and actual photographs. Following the last chapter are several brief selections that give additional information concerning Victorian England, workhouses and poorhouses in England and America, child labor laws and current charitable or activist organizations benefitting children worldwide. The book has an index, bibliography and a list of suggested websites.
The publisher recommends this book for ages 12 or above. I judge the reading level to be upper elementary; although some of the subject matter might be a bit mature. The text is informative and historically accurate, but is selected with a clear social agenda in mind.
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My VOYA ratings:
4Q, 2P

This book provides a history of Charles Dickens and London street children in a way that is easy to digest. It is engaging for young readers who are interested in the subject and includes helpful and entertaining pictures. It explains the connection between Charles Dickens' works and improvement of the conditions of the poor in London, as well as his personal reasons for sympathizing with street children. ( )

Excellent insight into how Dickens's own experiences influenced his depictions of the poor and working class in his novels. Warren also offers an insightful look at the wretched lives of the poor, particularly children, in Victorian England. ( )

Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London is an eye-opening account of how the poverty of Dicken's early life led him to champion England's poor, particularly the children in both his writing and his actions. This is a carefully researched and well-written story that goes beyond simple biography in re-creating Dickens and the world he lived in. Although much of the information in the book is interesting and not well-known to most American young adults, I do think the non-fiction format with blocks of text and drawn photographs will remind many teens (unhappily)of school textbooks, and it will take some extra effort to convince them to read it, but it will be worth it. ( )