“Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster,” by Jonathan Auxier.
Abrams, The Art of Books, New York, 344 pages, 2018, Grades 6-9.
London is a thriving city by the late 1800s. The Industrial Revolution has lessened the need for farm labor and these displaced people begin flooding the English capital.
But some parts of society are not helped by this growth toward a better life. This is particularly true with children from the lower classes. Uneducated and often forced to work in dangerous jobs, the children are frequently at the mercy of their employers. Chimney sweeps are in constant danger because of the high possibilities of being injured while cleaning out chimneys.
Jonathan Auxier has written a touching account of young Nan Sparrow’s life as a chimney sweep. The name of this compelling story is “Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster.”
Nan is an abandoned orphan. The ill-tempered and abusive Wilkie Crudd gets her to sign an apprentice agreement with him. Fortunately, she can clean out chimneys faster than anyone in her work crew. As long as Nan cleans chimney after chimney, Crudd leaves her alone. He knows a good sweep when he sees one. But as Nan approaches puberty, she worries that her hips will widen and keep her from working.
When her parents died, she received a blessing to help her with her difficult life. This blessing is a golem. Born from Jewish folklore, golems are created to protect someone. If anyone needs protection, it is Nan. The first golem to save Nan is Sweep. After protecting and saving her, Sweep dies. But he gives Nan a great gift. He creates a second golem named Charlie to protect Nan. Charlie doesn’t come any too soon as Nan gets stuck in a chimney.
A fellow chimney sweep named Roger is jealous of Nan. He is sent to help but actually tries to hurt Nan by starting a fire under her. There is no way out now. She must either climb through the flues in the chimney or be burned to death. Trapped, Nan calls out to Charlie for help. The golem breaks a hole in the side of the chimney and Nan escapes with some bruises and aches. Knowing Crudd will blame her, she escapes with Charlie and hides out in an abandoned estate. There, she hopes to escape the painful life that has been her lot.
She keeps cleaning chimneys and meets a kind teacher named Miss Bloom. She is Jewish but non-practicing. The teacher is quite taken with Nan and wants to help her. In the course of their conversations, Miss Bloom explains that golems are created to protect the people they love. Nan has never known love. Between Miss Bloom and Charlie, Nan realizes the beauty and importance of love. But danger still lurks. Wilkie Crudd is searching for Nan to drag her back to his evil business. One day they see each other. What happens?
Does Crudd capture the young girl? Is the golem able to save Nan? What role does Miss Bloom play? How does Charlie risk his life to save Nan? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this moving novel about Victorian England.
Auxier has written a moving story of an abandoned child being nourished by friends while being pursued by others with evil intent. Her golem gives her strength to keep pushing ahead through all of her challenges. In the end, everyone knows the beauty and cost of love. I hope you encourage your junior high family members to read this poignant story. The novel is beautifully written.
