In 1849, fourteen year-old John Huffam has his entire world turned upside down when the family’s servant, Brigit, comes to get him from school because of a family emergency. Two men are taking all of the family’s possessions and putting them in a wagon. His father, Wesley John Louis Huffman, has bankrupted the family with gambling debts amounting to 300 pounds. Mr. Huffman has three days to pay the debt or go to debtor’s prison. Their property has been seized as security. Within a short time after this horrendous experience, John begins to doubt the people who are closest to him. His father, who thinks of himself as an actor on the world’s stage, may have committed treason by selling a national secret. He can’t or won’t acknowledge that he is in serious trouble. The family’s trusted servant seems to be related to the very person who brought the debt to court in the first place. John’s schoolmaster, Sergeant Muldspoon, is somehow caught up in the whole confusing affair. And, John’s sister’s suitor seems to have an ulterior motive for asking for her hand in marriage. Even John’s new friend and ally, Sary the Sneak, may be using their friendship for her own ends. Who can John trust and how will he find the truth?
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com ( )

Another excellent middle school book from Avi, this time set in 1849 London. John Huffam's father is in trouble. He owes 300 pounds he can't pay back and is suspected of treason. He's in debtor's prison. John is the family's sole hope for relief. Can he solve the mystery? Can he free his father? Who can he trust?

Great period detail. The descriptions of the sponging house and debtor's prison are outstanding. The twists and turns of the plot confused me until the very end. Wonderful minor characters. The book is inspired by Charles Dicken's work and the parallels are easily spotted.

Interior black and white illustrations, 354 pages. ( )

Young John Huffam's family has fallen on hard times. His father owes
300 pounds and is thrown into debtor's prison. John wants to help his Pa but isn't sure how. He's being followed by interesting characters: a man claiming to be Inspector Copperfield, and Sari, a homeless girl who works as a "sneak" for hire. He also hopes that his great-aunt will help the family financially. But it turns out there is a greater mystery; several people are interested in what his father has invented, a technique to make rifles fire greater distances, and those people are willing to commit treason for it. John needs to figure out who's after the plans and how to keep them from it.

I liked this one, although I'm becoming convinced that I'm too old to really enjoy many children's books anymore. Great homage to Dickens. ( )

When his father is arrested as a debtor in 1849 London, fourteen-year-old John Huffman must take on unexpected responsibilities, from asking a distant relative for help to determining why people are spying on him and his family.