Product Description

Read the story of Jim Jarvis, the boy whose plight inspired Dr Barnardo to found his famous children's homes. Now published into the Essential Modern Classics list. When his mother dies Jim Jarvis is left all alone in London. He is sent to the workhouse, but quickly escapes chosing a hard life on the streets of the city over the confines of the workhouse walls. Struggling to survive, Jim finally finds some friends only to be snatched away and made to work for the remorselessly cruel Grimy Nick, constantly guarded by his vicious dog, Snipe. Will Jim ever manage to be free?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16333 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 194 pages

About the Author
Born in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, Berlie Doherty is the youngest of three children. She has been a social worker, a journalist, a teacher, and, for the past fifteen years, a writer. Berlie has twice won the prestigious Carnegie Medal, for 'Grannie was a Buffer Girl' in 1987 and for 'Dear Nobody' in 1992. She lives in the Derbyshire Peak District.

Customer Reviews

Great Year 5 book
I am currently reading this book to my year 5 class to tie in with our Victorians topic where we are looking at the contrasting lives of rich and poor Victorian children. The children are really enjoying the book and so am I! There are a lot of discussion points (such as life in the workhouse and why some children end up on the streets) and it has lent itself to our topic in many ways. The children really enjoy the fact that it is based around the life of a real boy rather than a fictional character and it has introduced Dr Barnardo into our topic too.

Street child
This book is a terrific adventure story based on a young orphan boy who ran away from the workhouse after his mother died. Reading about it was enough to arouse my interest and my sympathy.
The book is based on a true characters which were rescued by the charity of Barnados because of this it makes the book very compelling and a hear warming novel. Highly recommended !

A sad story but also exciting.
The book is sad because Jim Jarvis goes through a lot of beatings. It is also exciting because Jim goes on adventures which lead him either into sadness or happiness. When we read this book we felt as though we were going to cry in some parts or laugh out loud in others.
By Susan and Stephanie