Street Child

A Carnegie Medal winner tells the true story of the Victorian orphan boy whose plight inspired Dr Barnardo to set up his famous children’s refuge. Jim Jarvis is a runaway. He has fled the dark and terrible workhouse where he was dumped when his mother died. But 1860s London is a dangerous and lonely place, and life is a constant battle for survival. Just when Jim finally finds some friends, he is snatched away and enslaved by the cruel Grimy Nick. Constantly watched and hounded by Nick’s vicious dog, Snipe, will Jim ever be free?

  • A best-loved popular classic based on a true story
  • “A brilliant and moving book” – Julia Golding
  • Berlie Doherty has won the Carnegie Medal twice
  • Her books include Carnegie winner Dear Nobody

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Recent reviews

  • liked it

    The depression and heroism is written beautifully! Would strongly recommend it for readers 9-11 years old.

    18 July 2020

  • loved it

    I read it in class and it is a heart breaking book

    10 December 2017

  • not for me

    I have read this book and it can get quite strange so not the book for me

    25 December 2016

  • This book is very touching I will not explain a lot of this book if I do there is no point of reading it so all I am going to say is this is based in the Victorian times.

    13 April 2016

  • we read this before and I Nearly started to cry because this is so sad but really good!

    7 April 2016

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Authors

  • Awards

    Berlie Doherty has twice won the Carnegie Medal for Dear Nobody and Granny Was a Buffer Girl.

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