This book is a little younger that what I usually read (the main character is 12), but it definitely falls into that rare and very special category. The writing is such that it feels all ages can read it, and it also seems to carry a hint of magic through it's lilting tones. While it covers serious subject matter, it also softens the blow with different characters. It's heart wrenching and warming, and kind of reminds me of a proper story. A story that fills you with a wide variety of emotions for all the right reasons, and also has some unexplained elements that are fitting to the narrative. ....Is this too much hype, or not enough? Dun dun dunnnn
An amazon summary, "It's been five years since the Sweep disappeared. Orphaned and alone, Nan Sparrow had no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days sweeping out chimneys. The job is dangerous and thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again.
When Nan gets stuck in a chimney fire, she fears the end has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself unharmed in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from soot and ash. Sweep is the story of a girl and her monster. Together, these two outcasts carve out a new life—saving each other in the process. Lyrically told by one of today's most powerful storytellers, Sweep is a heartrending adventure about the everlasting gifts of friendship and wonder." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE
The story begins with the Sweep and Nan; a flashback to what Nan's life used to be like with the Sweep in it. They were struggling to survive, but the Sweep spun everything into something more fanciful for Nan. However, five years ago the Sweep disappeared and Nan went to work for "The Clean Sweep" aka Wilkie Crudd. Nan sweeps out chimneys, which is a dangerous job, but as she says, she has soot in her veins. The sweep left behind two things for Nan; his hat, and a piece of char. A Sweep's hat is their most important position, but the piece of char is always warm. Nan keeps the char with her wherever she goes.
There are other children working for Wilkie Crudd and they all sleep in a coal bin. The other children have dreams about the Sweep when they sleep near Nan, but Nan tries to keep her distance from everyone. Newt is a new sweep and asks to go up his first chimney with Nan, but Nan refuses, she sweeps alone. Nan is hired to sweep out the chimneys of a school where they are very small (and someone such as Newt would be very useful as he's rather small) and Nan gets stuck. When a sweep gets stuck, their master is supposed to get them out... but instead, Roger comes (who is also a sweep, but kind of evil) and decides to get Nan out with the devil's nudge.... which means he lights the fireplace on fire.
Nan screams and starts to burn up...but then wakes up in the attic of the school next to her char. She listens to hear that they think she is dead, but cannot find her body. Unexpectedly, Nan's char has come to life, and has begun to kind of talk. Nan escapes to save her own life, but to also try to discover what the char really is and why the sweep left the char for Nan.
That's enough summary.
Okay, so first of all, the amazon summary reveals the char is a golem. This book is 344 pages long, and they figure out the char is a golem on page 112. That's roughly 33% of the way into the book. SPOILERS MUCH, AMAZON?! Which really means, I'm yelling at the publisher because really the publisher is writing those summaries as it's also printed on the inside flap, but whatever, yelling needs to be had!
...anyways.
I really loved the characters within the book, the parallels between what the reader was shown and also what the characters were discovering, and the world building was fantastic. I also really liked that the book showed us the terrible working conditions of the sweep, but also presented it as their day to day life. Then, when things happen later in the book, that really comes full circle and makes a lot more sense.
I also adored Toby and how his whole story played out within Nan's story. It was a nice note of connecting different lives together in the smallest, but also most significant ways.
Then there's the char; the char was very interesting as far as "monsters" and abilities go, but also the demeanor and attitude. I would definitely say the char humbled the book and was really the reassurance and support that Nan needed to comprehend where the Sweep went.
I don't want to say anything else, because no spoilers. I just really loved this book!
Happy reading!
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