The Last Boy is a heartachingly poignant story inspired by the true story of George Brewster, a young Victorian climbing boy.  A compelling, compassionately-told story that completely gripped me as I took this young boy, who is an awe-inspiring beacon of hope, strength and courage, into my heart. 

George Brewster is six years old when he is sold by his older brother to a cruel Master Sweep.  Six years later, and he is still the property of Master Wyer, who has taken him to Birr Castle to clean the music room chimney.  Whilst climbing the chimney, he gets stuck in a narrow flue, but is able to free himself, and climb to the top, when he sees something that his incredible mathematical prowess has allowed him to predict:  a storm of stars.  He makes a wish upon these stars that brings him hope:  a wish to be the last climbing boy. 

When his incredible skill with numbers comes to the attention of a powerful lady, he may just have found a way to make his wish come true, but only if he can fulfil her secret wish, a wish that should be impossible …

And so begins an inspirational story that weaves history, science and magic into a tapestry of words that enveloped my heart bringing tears, anger, hope and awe. I was immediately immersed in this vividly drawn historical period where the locals’ superstitions about the meteor storm bring panic and fear of a return to famine; where astronomy is being used to explain a natural phenomenon; and, where society still accepts, or turns a blind eye to, young children’s suffering as they live the horrendous life of climbing boys.  Can a young mathematical genius, with his sights turned towards the heavens, be a catalyst for change and a harbinger of hope?  

I loved the blend of history and magical realism which made this such a captivating read.  Whilst this is rightly and most definitely George’s story, I was also fascinated by Lady Rosse’s story.  Both George and Lady Rosse have made wishes they desperately want to come true, and both have deeply personal reasons for making those wishes.  I really enjoyed the way their stories become entwined and the connections they have – but I don’t want to say anything else for fear of spoilers!

I absolutely could not put this book down, and read it in one sitting, as ‘just one more chapter’ turned to becoming completely and utterly lost in its pages.  I won’t deny that this was a heart-breaking read that brought many tears, but it was also an inspirational one as the goodness, endurance and courage of this incredible boy shines through and lights the story with empathy and hope.  It shows that change is possible, and that one person can be that catalyst and, my goodness, do we need that in the world today. 

George Brewster is an extraordinary young boy who will now live in my heart forever.  When his mother dies and his older brother cannot afford to keep him, he is sold to a Master Sweep who treats him like a possession and subjects him to the most terrible cruelty as he endures the harsh life of a climbing boy.  Despite this cruel life, George has a heart filled with a great capacity for empathy and an unwavering determination to ensure that he will be the last boy to endure the unbearable life of a climbing boy. He has some wonderful friends in the other climbing boys, including a young girl, Elsie and it is for these friends, and all climbing boys, that he risks everything to fulfil his wish upon the stars.

An incredibly powerful, moving story of a young boy wishing upon the stars to be the last boy:  the last boy to suffer at the hands of a cruel master, and the last boy who must risk everything to bring an end to something that should be unimaginable.  I cannot recommend this highly enough to readers of 9+ and firmly believe it is a book that should be in all school libraries.

Thank you to Mikka at Everything with Words for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour for this extraordinary book, and for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour: