MG Takes on Thursday

This is my weekly meme celebrating amazing middle-grade books, now with a re-vamped banner!

How to take part:

• Post a picture of the front cover of a middle-grade book which you have read and would recommend to others with details of the author, illustrator and publisher.
• Open the book to page 11 and share your favourite sentence. 
• Write three words to describe the book.
• Either share why you would recommend this book, or link to your review.

This week, I’m celebrating …

Favourite Sentence from Page 11:

“You mean you know him?” he stammered at last, as if to say, what’s a nice young widow like you doing with a stinking gutter thief like him? “But he’s a roll-pincher, ma’am.”

This book in three words:

ADVENTURE, MYSTERY, HEART-WARMING

The Misadventures of Nicholas Nabb is a wonderfully action-packed, heart-warming historical adventure sprinkled with lots of humour, plenty of danger and a cast of brilliant characters.

 
Nicholas Nabb lives in the sewers of Victorian London after having run away from the orphanage where he was left as a baby.  In order to survive, he is not averse to a little food theft but, of course, this is frowned upon by the law.  When Nicholas is caught re-handing stealing a bread roll, he is rescued by the most unlikely person:  a kind-hearted, veiled widow who seems to know who he is!  The mystery deepens when Annie presents him with a locket but, unfortunately, before he can unearth the truth, she disappears, leaving him determined to find her, and the answers to his questions.
 
When trying to discover the whereabouts of Annie, Nicholas finds himself entangled in a mystery, and meeting a rather intriguing boy, Edwin, who is not at all what he seems … 

Together these two new friends embark on a mission to find Annie which leads them into danger, into uncovering dark secrets and into the promise of a new life for each of them.
 
This is an utterly wonderful, fast-paced, thrilling adventure with plenty of twists, humour and peril which will be thoroughly enjoyed by older middle-grade readers.  Nicholas is an incredibly sympathetic young boy – courageous, resilient and astute – who is desperate to find love and family and, once he feels that these might be within his grasp, he is determined to chase his dreams, no matter what …
 
There is lots of opportunity to open discussion around the treatment of those with physiological differences through the Victorian institution of the freak show which became part of popular culture; Victorian entertainment; and, the lives of children in Victorian times. 
 
Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced adventure that is perfect for fans of historical fiction and mystery, wrapped up in a good sprinkling of humour.

Thank you to Toppsta and the Publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’d love if anyone who wants to give this meme a go would comment in the comments box and include a link to your post so I can visit, comment and find some great middle-grade recommendations. If you do create a post and are on Twitter, and would like to share your post, please use the hashtag  #MGTakesOnThursday so I can find it, read it and share it!