The Silver Spoon of Solomon Snow

Solomon Snow #1

by Kaye Umansky

Readers will laugh out loud at this daft and clever account of a foundling who sets out in search of his destiny, only to encounter some woeful misadventures along the way.

In a wretched hovel at the top of a moor lives a boy named Solomon Snow. Each day he slaves for Ma and Pa Scubbins's laundry service, and each night he slurps down a bowl of vegetable slop, wishing only for the luxury of a spoon. Imagine poor Solly's surprise when he learns that he's actually a flounder - er, foundling - dumped ten years ago on the Scubbinses' doorstep in a (laundry) basket, with a silver spoon right in his mouth! The utensil was long ago pawned by Pa, but that doesn't stop Solly from setting out in search of his spoon, his real parents, and his rightful inheritance. Joining him on his quest are a pair of unlikely a bossy, pointy-nosed writer named Prudence and the insufferable Infant Prodigy, a circus performer with some well-practiced tricks up her sleeve.

Will Solly finally locate his spoon, and have to wear velvet pantaloons? Prepare for a preposterous ending sure to surprise and delight the Intelligent Reader as much as it does our intrepid hero.

Genres: Adventure, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Mystery, Humor

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading anything else she writes in this series. There's a quote from the author on the back cover: "A while ago, I went on a 'reread Charles Dickens' binge. Inspired, I cried, 'I can do that!' I couldn't. What came out was Solomon Snow."

I loved the hints of Charles Dickens that showed up in Solomon Snow: in the way she titles her chapters, names of minor characters (Lazarus Pinchpenny,Irma Spindletrap, Arnold Scubbins.)Not that you should pick this book up and expect to find Dickens. I just happen to be a fan of his; so I couldn't help finding similarities. Her writing style is very nicely uncomplicated; it doesn't take itself too seriously. There were definitely "Nichoals Nickleby" references; also "Oliver Twist" and "The Old Curiosity Shoppe" - possibly more that I didn't pick up on.

Someday I hope my children will be reading Dickens - Solomon Snow will be a good stepping stone along the way. Kaye Umansky's writing just might make his books feel familiar.

[Atziri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great children's book full of adventure, with lots of twists and turns. I am glad to have discovered this author as she seems to have many, many more books and there is a follow-up to this one with the same character. She is from England and seems to be well-recognized for her work. I think the author did a wonderful job painting the characters in the story to the point. As I read, I kept want to learn more about them and follow them in their adventures.

The story follows Solomon Snow who discovers he is a "foundling". He goes out in search of his silver spoon which he hopes will enable him to find his real parents. He, of course, doesn't have any money but along the way he befriends two girls with very unique personalities. Prudence Pridy, a 12 year old, who is writing a story and wants to be a writer. Rosabella, a 5 year old girl, who runs away from the circus and can be extremely annoying. Along the way they get kidnapped, become orphans in an orphanage and finally discover Solomon's supposedly real parents. But the end has a twist that I will not share as it is quite unexpected.

I listened to the audio version of the book and think it was OK. I would suggest to read the actual book instead because it would make a good reading exercise for younger readers as there are a few tong twisters and the story is written in English pseudo Charles Dickens era.

[Jannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I half read and half listened to this via text to speak in Moon+ Reader. At some point I fell asleep to the tts and had weird dreams about trying to escape a kidnapping and looking for a silver spoon except I kept getting kidnapped over and over again...
I was looking for something mind numbing, funny and cute. It delivered. It had the usual Kay Umansky sarcastic humor. My favourite character was Isabella / Prodigy obviously she is such a little upstart. Kids will love it methinks.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Dickensian characters in this book! My boys really enjoyed it, too.

[AuroraIce]

Bookshelf reread.

Each chapter is titled with a line that is said in that chapter, and a brief summary of what to expect in the chapter.

The story starts with Solomon being left on the doorstep of the Scubbinses, and the second chapter is when he’s about ten, a strangely well-mannered boy despite the pig-sty he lives in and the messiness of his family. They love him, but make him work. Him and his mom do all the work while his dad, citing a bad back, just sits in a chair smoking all day then can conveniently take himself to the tavern at night.

Their work is to do clothes washing for customers, and while Solly is on a delivery, he comes across Prudence, the poacher’s daughter. Most people don’t like her, she has a long pointy nose, and she’s always writing and reading, which people think isn’t right for a girl. She decides herself too smart for the strict school and is annoyed by her countless siblings, including the youngest only brother who gets special treatment. She finds Solly interesting for his manners and introduces him to new words, and the concept of a foundling, specifically a rich child left on a doorstep of poor people while his rich family search for him.

Solly brings this up at dinner and his parents respond with unexpected horror, revealing he is just that. He was in a basket, not the box from Prudence’s story, but he came with a silver spoon and a cloth and clothes. They got rid of the clothes, let him keep the cloth as his beloved crumb-catcher, and they kept the spoon for a while until Solly needed boots when he almost froze a foot. His dad trekked all the way to town to pawn it and get him boots that are too small.

Solly feels betrayed and runs off, where he encounters Prudence again, who suspected she was right about his origins and that he would go searching for his real family. She wants to tag along because her dad, her only writing supporter, is in jail again, and her family is annoying her and won’t notice her absence. She says people are more sympathetic toward girls so they’ll get a wagon ride if she comes. For some reason, Solly is very reluctant, but she convinces him.

The book she read about a foundling is actually one she’s writing herself, and throughout the story she cites her own main character in comparison to Solly, who doesn’t measure up, but they use this character to come up with ideas for how to handle their situations based of what that hero would do.

Along the trip they pass a circus, where the guy who runs it is enduring the tantrum of his Infant Prodigy, Rosabella. She throws a tantrum and wants candy and Prudence recognizes the behavior similar to her siblings, but is appalled when the circus master gives in. Rosabella ends up talking to them, and while Prudence hates her, Solly is polite to everyone and that wins Rosabella over, who wants to go with them to get sweets in town. They refuse her and have to rush to get her off their trail, but they fail and she catches up.

Prudence makes Solly promise they’ll hand her over to the authorities to take care of once they reach town. Rosabella already adores Solly and proves useful at acquiring them wagon rides, which Prudence is too unlikable to manage. The wagonmen keep giving gifts to Rosabella, who the story only refers to as The Prodigy except when someone verbally addresses her by name.

While seeking shelter for the night in an old barn, Rosabell and Prudence finally find common ground when startled by a mouse, tease Solly together, and both get called out by him for their negative behavior that they need to improve on. This makes them get along better and accept each other, and Prudence admits she’s writing her own story and wants to go to town to get it published, though it’s not complete yet.

Once in town, Prudence is embarrassed that Rosabella begins singing for money, as she hates her singing but everyone else loves it and pays her. They use this to buy candy, the first the pair has ever eaten, and soon track down a pawn shop, as recognized from a book Prudence read. The pawnbroker doesn’t want to deal with kids and won’t tell them about the spoon without the pawn ticket, and Prudence theorizes he sold it before the allotted time he’s supposed to keep it in case the seller changes their mind, which angers him into threatening to call the watchmen on them. I don’t know what they’d be in trouble for though. I’m unclear on when the spoon was pawned to this guy, if it’s been a year or not. Solly is still wearing the undersized boots, so I figured they’re new, but he got them because he nearly lost a foot in the cold winter, and the story is taking place as winter starts, so maybe it has been a year.

They plan to break in at night to look at the ledger the broker refused to show them, and Rosabella kept stealing stuff. She also wanted to keep a rabbit she saw and they said no, but she retrieved him when going back for her dropped candy. The other two try to get into the shop with the key Rosabella stole, but the hole is frozen and she suggests blowing warm breath in to melt the ice. Solly does, but by putting his lips to the keyhole, which freezes them there.

Rosabella then suggests hot water, which they don’t have until a boy, Freddy who always says “larrikins!”, climbs out of the nearby rubbage heap, which he says keeps him warm, and goes to get free soup to pour over Solly. The pair then go inside and Prudence scans the ledger to learn the spoon was sold to the lady who runs the Thrift House, which Freddy says is an awful place.

Some dangerous boys corner them when they come out of the shop, having noticed them since Rosabella’s street performance, and since Freddy works for the chimney guy they don’t wanna mess with, they send him away and abduct the others to take to Granny, the child farmer who fattens up runaways and then sells them to rich families without kids, or sweatshops, or whoever will buy them for whatever purpose.

She seems nice at first, feeding them sweets and giving them somewhere warm to stay, but they really don’t like it and she confiscates their stuff (including Prudence’s writing which she doesn’t get back, only her pencil) and locks them in and makes them wear outfits they don’t like. They try to lower a note down by making Prudence stitch it into Solly’s napkin to wrap around Mr. Skippy the rabbit out of the barred windows, but it lands right in front of Granny, who scolds them and throws the napkin in the fire and throws Mr. Skippy out.

Freddy sees Mr. Skippy out in the snow after running from his employer in order to save them, and he climbs down the chimney since they’re being punished to sleep in the dark while the room gets cold. They climb up the chimney into a blizzard to escape, but Solly is really scared and unmotivated until Rosabella gives him his only partially burnt napkin she picked up while climbing. She then holds his hand as they travel the rest of the way to somewhere to sleep.

They make their way to Thrift House, funded by the city and run by corrupt Ms. Spindletrap, who uses all the money for herself and makes the orphans cook and clean for themselves, putting the biggest orphans in charge to make them feel special and giving those ones occasional perks to make sure they work right. She loves silver and uses the money to buy any she finds, especially spoons. She bought Solly’s a year ago, so it really was sold too soon, and it is her favorite.

The group arrives to meet Ploot, the orphan freshly put in charge of answering the door, the worst job since he was recently upgraded to monitor but included a tin spoon when serving Spindletrap because no one told him not to, so now he’s punished with the worst job. He also has the sleep in the coal hole. She allows them to come in and see her, but gets offended when they ask about the spoon and kicks them out.

As they’re leaving, Ploot confirms she does have tons of silver spoons, so they decide to stay and learn more about the place so they can seize the chance to check the spoon. A man from the city board comes to check on things, thinking they’re overpaying the orphanage, but he knows nothing about children and never even looks at the orphans, he just gets taken to her office, where she fills him with alcohol and compliments and makes a lot of claims about how she adores the orphans and they want to help out and she’s given up so much just to ensure they’re well-being, and he falls for it, which was annoying.

Rosabella took the opportunity while she was answering the door to go into her office and steal the spoon, so she overheard their conversation. The man, being friends with a rich couple who lost their baby years ago, asked about a spoon and referenced his friends. She claimed to know nothing, but this allowed Rosabella to come out with the spoon and all the information. The ledger said Solly’s spoon said VIP, so it’s the right spoon.

They leave but spot Freddy’s former employer and the dangerous boys who work for Granny, so they jumped onto the back of a departing wagon to escape. After getting out of town, the sturdy wagonman who thinks townsfolk are wimpy gets to meet Rosabella, who asks to be delivered to Hightower where the couple lives. After arriving, he’s shocked that more kids were on his wagon and he doesn’t like them like he likes Rosabella.

The entire book includes interludes to the perfect parents, who lament their son’s disappearance daily. Lady Elvira hasn’t gone a single day without bemoaning and crying over him, and Charles seems fine but sympathetic about her feelings. I’m surprised he’s endured her crying all this time. So many people met in this story are selfish and evil, so it just feels weird to have this couple who genuinely care for each other. Charles hosts a party to lift her spirits, and she makes things awkward because everything reminds her of her lost son and she must remind everyone of that, and then she ends the party early to go mope because she hasn’t done that nearly enough every single day in the last ten years. At least this means she truly cares.

So the perfect parents let them in after hearing about a spoon, and when Solly starts talking, they rush to Freddy in recognition and hug him. His real name does not fit the initials VIP, but he vanished the day all their doors were open because they were having their chimney cleaned, and never put it together to check on the chimney cleaner, which Solly brings up later because he finds it odd.

So he doesn’t find his real family, but he’s kind of relieved because he misses home. The perfect parents are very grateful, give them a reward and food, and pay to have them sent home. At the circus stop, since there are missing and reward posters for Rosabella, they return her and get that reward while she plans to put Mr. Skippy, who never reacts to anything but food yet she claims he talks to her, into her act. She reverts back to her original pampered ways, forgetting all the improvements she gained on the adventure, and becomes demanding and tantrum-throwing, preventing them from saying goodbye and Prudence rushes away in annoyance.

Their families welcome them back happily, then put Solly to work immediately and Prudence gets scolded, but the perfect parents got her dad released from jail, though he won’t stop poaching. Prudence begins writing anew, planning to change her hero into someone more like Solly because he’s likable, as he never brought up her nose like so many others do, and he says he’s forgotten and stopped noticing it, which she points out makes him nice. It’s been months and they only talk when they have breaks in their business, and Prudence isn’t super chatty, always preferring alone-time. Elvira writes them updates Prudence has to read to Solly, and the perfect parents have arranged tickets and traveling means for them to all go to the circus together for a proper reunion, which I assume it where the next book takes place.

I wasn’t expecting a next book, but it feels like a relief since Solly didn’t find his real answers. Now he at least has his spoon to eat with. I didn’t remember most of this book, only that the parents we meet turn out to not be his, and how the show version of A Series Of Unfortunate Events gives you hope that the parents are alive, only for those to be the Quagmire parents instead, and then they also die. After meeting Freddy, I figured he was probably the real child because I knew it was someone they brought with them, so it was either him or Ploot.

Rosabella was quite useful, and she had a fun way of talking. So did Freddy. I don’t know if I’ll read more though, and I don’t know where this book came from. It’s one of the many that just appeared on my shelf I guess. I don’t know why that happens so much, it was like I decided to acquire books for my bookshelf and suddenly they were just there, willed into existence. There’s only one that I actually noticed its appearance and had no clue how it suddenly got there, and I even asked people about it. So these other ones must have a more understandable source. I don’t know.

He felt sure it was no place for a young girl of tender years and a mile-long nose.

“You heard us. We’re befriending you.”
“I dunno about that.”
“I’m afraid you haven’t got any say in the matter. We need a sympathetic orphan on our side, and you’re it. You’re going to help us steal Solly’s spoon.”
“You’re crazy. Stark raving mad, the lot of you.”
“Hey, that’s no way to talk about your new friends.”
“I ain’t your friends!”
“Yes, you are. Isn’t he Solly?”
“You are,” said Solly, adding, “Sorry.”

“That’s parents for you. They take us for granted.”

Valerian Isambard Proud. Victor Inigo Plockett. Vincent Igo Poodleflower. Any of those would do nicely. Except, perhaps, the last one. These are the names Prudence suggests could be Solly’s birth name, along with Verdigris Igor Pucksnoot. I thought they were fun.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umansky, Kaye The Silver Spoon of Solomon Snow, 304 p. Candlewick -

One fateful day, Solomon Snow discovers that he truly is a foundling, left in the snow with only a napkin and a silver spoon as the keys to his origins. Along with Prudence, a girl too smart for the village, he ventures to Town in search of spoon, which his stepfather pawned more than a year earlier. Along the way they acquire a little girl, a rabbit and chimney sweep – all of whom are key to solving the mystery.

Written after the author was inspired by Dickens, the parody of old Victorian novels. I know adults would appreciate the book, but I am not so sure about children.

EL-OPTIONAL

[D. George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute book! :)

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and easy read

[Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't much of a thriller or all that suspenseful. It was pretty bland overall in climaxes and challenges because I predicted the ending correctly. The book might've not had any unseen events that destroy progress for the main characters but it was an overall fun and detailed journey. It even had nods to the spoon and why it couldn't have been Solly's because Solly's was a silver spoon with VIP and the perfect parents said something about the initials of their son's spoon, or how their baby was stolen and not lost.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. The characters were amusing and the story well-told. I found the "perfect parent interludes" rather boring, but I understood their purpose. The rest of the story moved along quickly, with enough twists and turns to make it interesting, and a lively sense of humor throughout.

[Rebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling. So funny and lighthearted. The characters and cities have the most hilarious names. I really loved all the kids and their personalities shined through. Felt a lot like a Kate DiCamillo book. Fun for older elementary age kids.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok middle grade adventure.

[Sarah]

Skimmed it. Got it from the Di. I was dissappointed by the ending. My questions were unanswered.

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Dickens fan, this book was exceptionally cute and funny. I would have thought it was insanely clever as a kid, and my enthusiasm is only slightly dampened as an adult!

[LisaSunshineGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to see this is the start of a series. Excellent story with great humor, plot and characterization. Made me think of Goose Chase by Patrice Kindl.

[Suzanne Brayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young adult book. A bit too formulaic for me. A knock-off of the Prince and the pauper idea with little creativity.

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute little book. The characters are fun and totally entertained me. I would be interested in reading more by Kaye Umansky.

[Molly Riordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

[Anna Wiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little book. Nothing particularly compelling, but it did make me chuckle out loud a few times, and I will be passing it on to my nephew.

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lots of fun1 Loved the characters, the writing style, the humour. The ending was a little let down, but still a very enjoyable read.

[Carissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

a self-admitted dickens-fan, this has all the ear-marks of the poor, unfortunate soul. it’s an okay book, but one of those that i found myself reading and thinking, “i could write this.” (but of course, i haven’t written it or anythign like it so i have no right to think such things, but you get the idea.) one of the book’s habits which i couldn’t decide whether it was endearing or annoying was that each time they’d get stuck in a spot, one character would turn to the other and ask, “well, what would the hero of that book you’re writing do in this situation?” and the other character would respond and then that very thing would happen. i think it leaned more towards endearing, but might get annoying if it continues heavily in the proposed sequel. also, i got a little sick of the sickly-sweet “prodigy” character, rosabella. i realize that she was a caricature, but again, i’d be heartily sick of her by book two. let’s just say, i’m not really motivated to read the sequel, but it was okay. nice packaging.

[Samantha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solomon Snow always knew he was different. His different last name, his please's and thank you's, his dislike of pottage, allergy to hay and straw, always dabbing his mouth with his crumb catching cloth, his washing his hands before he ate.....the list could go on forever. Truth is, it was staring him in the face his whole life. He was a foundling. A baby left on a doorstep and taken in because the couple needed a new washing basket. Not only did they use his basket, but they sold his fancy clothes and the precious silver spoon. The spoon with the initials V. I. P. The spoon that would lead him to his family. Solly goes on a wild adventure into town to find said spoon with bossy Prudence, and the infant prodigy Little Rosabella, meeting a grumpy pawn broker, a dishonest orphanage owner, and a street urchin that had more potential then they thought.
Super cute book! I read it in less then 3 hours. Quick read, but cute :)

[LFPL Teen Services · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solomon, age 10, has just discovered that he is foundling and the only link to his real parents is a silver spoon. Regretfully, his father (or who he used to think of as his father) has sold it in a pawn shop in town. Solomon leaves his world behind to find the spoon and his true destiny. Joining him on his journey is Prudence Pridy, a 12 year old, who is trying to get her book published. Along the way they also meet Rosabella , a 5 year old girl who has run away from the circus after throwing a world class tantrum. The three find themselves steeped in all kinds of trouble and turmoil, such as, getting kidnapped, becoming orphans in an orphanage and meeting strange characters. Find out if Solomon reconnects with his parents and discovers where he really belongs.
Cat.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was a bit charming. I liked that the author left some fun surprises at the end. It didn't turn out as I predicted it would. And I am glad.

Mostly this book is for younger readers, who don't do well with too much suspense stress. There is some suspense, but it really isn't very intense. The book seems pretty predictable, until the end, which wasn't too far out there.

I found this book entertaining but not something that was constantly on my mind when I was away from it. It was a SUPER easy read.

I loved the end and what Prudence tells Solly what quality she likes about him the very most. I wish someone would tell ME that I posess that same quality!

[Lisa the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to an extremely well done audio version of this story.

I liked the quirky characters in this story. At times they almost seemed like caricatures, but for this book it worked and even added to the charm of the story.

The plot was also a bit convoluted, but again it worked in this book.

A bit reminicent of Dickens, and in fact makes veiled referrence to plot points straight out of Oliver Twist. This book is very tounge in cheek where Dickens was quite somber.

This is a witty bit of "dark comedy" well written for children.

[Richelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids and I really enjoyed this book. It had interesting characters, good plot, fast pace and it was also funny and quite entertaining.

Upon learning that he is a foundling, Solomon Snow sets out with a friend to find his silver spoon he was left on the doorstep with and to find his real parents. He adds to his entourage as his quest progresses along and there are some good twists in the plot as well. My favorite character was the infant prodigy with her dumb bunny, Mr. Skippy. I want to read another book with her as the main character!

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book screamed Dickens to me. It was funny and heartwarming. The characters were so strongly developed that it made up for the predictable plot. However, there was a bit of a cliffhanger so reading the next books in the series are essential. This is a British book so I'm having issues finding copies of the rest of the series, but look forward to reading them so that I can complete Solomon's story.

[Carmen Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would a young boy do to find out about his parents? The answer to that is EVERYTHING. When Solly finds out he was abandoned on his current "mom" and "dad's" doorsteps and left with only a silver spoon with engravings, he feels something compelling him to find out who his real parents are. Leaving home, getting lost, going hungry, sleeping in strange places is all a part of what he goes through.

[JennEllen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot of this story is a mile wide and an inch deep--the characters find themselves in pickle after pickle, but never have to stay there for long. At first I was going to excuse this lack of depth on it being a children's book...but I realized that I have read children's books that do manage to accomplish the task of being accessible to children while still having some depth to the plot. The story is enjoyable...but it lacks a certain amount of suspense as problems are solved too quickly.

[R.J. Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book and its sequel are great read-out-loud stories to share with your family. I read these to my children a few years ago and still joke about "Miss Bunnykins". The characters were enjoyable to read and fun to voice. My family had fun speculating on the outcome of the mysteries. We were disappointed when we came to the end of the second (and final so far) book of the series. It would be nice if Solomon Snow and his friends had some more adventures in the near future.