I was not a fan of the writing style nor the ambiguity of the text. (It was often difficult to tell which statements were hypothetical, which were assumed/extrapolated, and which were true.) ( )

This story highlights the youth of one of the greatest writers of all time, Charles Dickens. He was a poor young man trying to achieve his dreams, however it was in far reach from reality in his youth. His family was imprisoned for debt and he was left alone to fend for himself. He worked hard in a blacking factory to survive. His imagination fueled his survival as he used his storytelling to escape reality. His bright imagination led him out his despair and he eventually got back to writing when his family entered him into school again. He adored writing from a young age and had many stories written that had not been told about his childhood. However, today Charles Dickens is remembered not as the poor boy growing up on the old streets of London, but the astonishing writer he is beloved and know as. This story encompasses Dicken's hardship battle he fought through to tell his tales. ( )

This is a story about Charles Dickens childhood. Charles Dickens was fond of books. However, Charles Dickens was forced to work in a factory and could not afford books. Dickens father was in prison and his family attended him their. While his father was in prison Dickens worked in a factory letting his childhood waste away. Eventually, after Dickens father was released from prison Dickens had the chance to attend school and enjoy his childhood. This is a good book for children to read. However, I would use this book as an intro to another read written about Charles Dickens. ( )

I enjoyed reading this book. I appreciated the illustrators work and how he used a different color scheme for when the main character was thinking or imagining something. I never knew the struggles that Charles Dickens went through as a young child with having to cope with his family in prison and being in dept. I couldn't imagine having to go to work at such a young age and being on my own. I appreciate his drive for school and an eagerness to learn because many kids tend to take education for granted. ( )

This book tells the tale of the childhood of Charles Dickens. It tells of how he had to work to make money while his father was in prison for not paying his debt to the bakers. After that winter, his family was freed. After his father had a disagreement with the owner of the shop his son worked at, Dickens was then allowed to go back to school. I enjoyed this book, but I feel as though it could be better. I do not think I would keep this in my classroom library, I would look for a different version of the story. ( )