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The Boy in the Smoke: an extraordinary historical timeslip adventure
From the acclaimed author of Sadé and her Shadow Beasts comes Rachel Faturoti's brand new story - about a boy and his dad dealing with the threat of eviction and a boy from the past who might be able to help ... perfect for fans of A Kind of Spark.
Isaiah and his dad have recently moved to a new flat, but now his dad is struggling to pay rent due to illness. Soon, the landlord threatens eviction.
In history class, Isaiah is intrigued to discover that in the Victorian period, his school used to be a hospital and his flat block was once a workhouse.
In the basement of the flats, Isaiah discovers an old fireplace. When he lights it, a boy called Jacob appears. He tells Isaiah he's been sent to the workhouse after his dad disappeared. But he wants to escape. Can Isaiah help Jacob even though he's from the past ... and will Jacob help Isaiah to find a way to save his home?
Isaiah and his dad have recently moved to a new flat, but now his dad is struggling to pay rent due to illness. Soon, the landlord threatens eviction.
In history class, Isaiah is intrigued to discover that in the Victorian period, his school used to be a hospital and his flat block was once a workhouse.
In the basement of the flats, Isaiah discovers an old fireplace. When he lights it, a boy called Jacob appears. He tells Isaiah he's been sent to the workhouse after his dad disappeared. But he wants to escape. Can Isaiah help Jacob even though he's from the past ... and will Jacob help Isaiah to find a way to save his home?
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2023
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Faturoti
8 books28 followersRachel Faturoti is a British-Nigerian YA and children’s fiction writer, editor, and poet with a passion for broadening the scope of authentic Black representation in YA and children’s fiction. She believes it’s important for readers to see themselves represented well in stories.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 8, 2023
Wow what a brilliant and captivating story! I picked this up earlier and have quickly finished it in a matter of hours!
I think that says all you need to know! My fave from this author so far
I think that says all you need to know! My fave from this author so far
October 12, 2024
Warmed into it. A nice story about connection and the people around us.
July 9, 2023
The Boy in the Smoke is a great read. Isaiah is a smart boy, full of charm, caring for a Dad who never knows when his chronic illness will flare up. Ever since Mum left times have been hard. When Isaiah discovers he can communicate with a boy from the past, he's set on a quest to help the boy find his missing father by finding answers in the present. Through his journey he will learn about courage, and resilience, and that it's okay to ask for help.
The depiction of chronic illness and poverty is not clumsily done. It is thoughtful, and nuanced, and for younger readers will encourage them to not be in a rush to judge their peers. More than that, it is fun and engaging. A compelling story that shows us how the past often collides with the present.
A stellar addition to Rachel Faturoti's growing bibliography.
The depiction of chronic illness and poverty is not clumsily done. It is thoughtful, and nuanced, and for younger readers will encourage them to not be in a rush to judge their peers. More than that, it is fun and engaging. A compelling story that shows us how the past often collides with the present.
A stellar addition to Rachel Faturoti's growing bibliography.
July 31, 2023
Ever since 13-year-old Isaiah's mum left and his dad got ill, he's been struggling to keep believing that things will get better... then Isaiah meets Jacob- a boy from the past- through a forgotten fireplace in his tower block. Jacob has a mystery on his hands and he needs Isaiah's help. Can Isaiah change Jacob's life for the better? And in doing so, can he change his own?
Once again Rachel Faturoti has delivered an absolutely fantastic children's book that I didn't want to put down. The Boy in the Smoke has a brilliant mystery plotline whilst also reflecting on the impact of parental separation, living with chronic pain, ableism and class differences in a nuanced and digestible way. Within tackling these topics, there is also an underlying message to younger readers to be kind to your peers.
There's an excellent cast of characters, realistic classroom dynamics (that felt very nostalgic to me) and witty dialogue that really shine through the page. Within the process of trying to help Jacob, Isaiah learns a lot about the history of his own town and some of the similarities between the past and present. His character development and resilience throughout the book is lovely to read.
I highly recommend adding this to your lists! Also if you haven't read Sadé and her Shadow Beasts yet, you're seriously missing out.
Once again Rachel Faturoti has delivered an absolutely fantastic children's book that I didn't want to put down. The Boy in the Smoke has a brilliant mystery plotline whilst also reflecting on the impact of parental separation, living with chronic pain, ableism and class differences in a nuanced and digestible way. Within tackling these topics, there is also an underlying message to younger readers to be kind to your peers.
There's an excellent cast of characters, realistic classroom dynamics (that felt very nostalgic to me) and witty dialogue that really shine through the page. Within the process of trying to help Jacob, Isaiah learns a lot about the history of his own town and some of the similarities between the past and present. His character development and resilience throughout the book is lovely to read.
I highly recommend adding this to your lists! Also if you haven't read Sadé and her Shadow Beasts yet, you're seriously missing out.
December 23, 2024
🔨 This is a really really lovely book with themes that I think will strongly resonate with a lot of young people I teach. Isaiah’s parents are getting divorced and he is a young carer for his father. He also lives in poverty and tries desperately to hide this from his friends.
🔨 This is perfect for readers aged 9-13 and I would easily give it 4 stars for that age group.
🔨 There were some more subtle moments seeing Isaiah’s challenges living in poverty, and facing discrimination, that were very moving.
🔨 Love the educational element teaching the reader about The Industrial Revolution. I’m going to be very happy to put this on my classroom bookshelf!
🔨 I loved the characters of his class teachers; I could picture myself saying some of the things Mr Paterson does!
👎 I think the relationship between Jacob and Isaiah could have been further developed.
🔨 This is perfect for readers aged 9-13 and I would easily give it 4 stars for that age group.
🔨 There were some more subtle moments seeing Isaiah’s challenges living in poverty, and facing discrimination, that were very moving.
🔨 Love the educational element teaching the reader about The Industrial Revolution. I’m going to be very happy to put this on my classroom bookshelf!
🔨 I loved the characters of his class teachers; I could picture myself saying some of the things Mr Paterson does!
👎 I think the relationship between Jacob and Isaiah could have been further developed.
August 7, 2023
This book views social status beautifully. I consider it a time travel book with umff. It is great for middle grade readers and beyond to read this emotional charging novel especially as it tugs at your heart towards the end wondering what will happen to the narrator and the boy in the smoke. Bravo to the author!
November 15, 2023
Interesting and I loved the imagination put into this. If you like history, you will love this book.
November 1, 2024
4.25⭐
Isaiah's life is a bit tough at the moment. His parents are separated, his mom living abroad to study and his dad finding it difficult to work following an injury. Things get so bad that Isaiah and his dad face eviction from their current home and they have to rely on the food bank for their supplies. But he manages to keep these troubles away from his friends and pretend everything is fine. When a long-forgotten fireplace in the basement of his building mysteriously allows him to communicate with a boy from the past, Isaiah learns something about what life was like over a century ago and at the same time discovers a way in which he might be able to save himself and his father.
This is a very engaging story, funny at times but also heartwarming and thought-provoking. Isaiah is a likeable protagonist and his thoughts and feelings are relatable enough. The book explores the effects of poverty both in the past and the present, and this is done in a thoughtful manner that is bound to provoke empathy in its young readers. Through the character of Isaiah's dad, we are also exposed to the reality of living with chronic pain.
This is a good book to read alongside your child as the writing will appeal to adults as well and there is much to discuss after reading
Isaiah's life is a bit tough at the moment. His parents are separated, his mom living abroad to study and his dad finding it difficult to work following an injury. Things get so bad that Isaiah and his dad face eviction from their current home and they have to rely on the food bank for their supplies. But he manages to keep these troubles away from his friends and pretend everything is fine. When a long-forgotten fireplace in the basement of his building mysteriously allows him to communicate with a boy from the past, Isaiah learns something about what life was like over a century ago and at the same time discovers a way in which he might be able to save himself and his father.
This is a very engaging story, funny at times but also heartwarming and thought-provoking. Isaiah is a likeable protagonist and his thoughts and feelings are relatable enough. The book explores the effects of poverty both in the past and the present, and this is done in a thoughtful manner that is bound to provoke empathy in its young readers. Through the character of Isaiah's dad, we are also exposed to the reality of living with chronic pain.
This is a good book to read alongside your child as the writing will appeal to adults as well and there is much to discuss after reading
December 31, 2023
There are many issues affecting many people in our societies today. The cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone. Foodbanks, and threats of eviction for people living in rented or temporary accommodation, may only affect the few but there is no denying the significance of their impact on individual and family life. These issues are in the news, they are in the newspapers, and they are most likely on social media. But in a book, in a fictional story, it is possible to delve deeper. Rachel Faturoti’s The Boy In the Smoke does this for us. It brings teen and YA readers into a world that may be very different from their own but one that could be a reality for those around them.
Isaiah and his family are struggling. Isaiah has always had an easy smile as well as a short, sharp, answer for his teachers. He is also very good at fixing things, at making people happy. It makes him happy to be like this, to do these things. However, mum has left and now dad is ill which means it is getting harder and harder for Isaiah to keep up with everything. He doesn’t want to let his friends know how much he and his dad are struggling, he wants to keep believing that things are going to get better. Just when he thinks he might lose hope Isaiah meets the boy in the smoke. The boy he somehow connects to through a forgotten fireplace he found in his tower block. This boy desperately wants to solve a mystery from his past, and Isaiah to help. Can Isaiah’s help change things for them both?
Isaiah and his family are struggling. Isaiah has always had an easy smile as well as a short, sharp, answer for his teachers. He is also very good at fixing things, at making people happy. It makes him happy to be like this, to do these things. However, mum has left and now dad is ill which means it is getting harder and harder for Isaiah to keep up with everything. He doesn’t want to let his friends know how much he and his dad are struggling, he wants to keep believing that things are going to get better. Just when he thinks he might lose hope Isaiah meets the boy in the smoke. The boy he somehow connects to through a forgotten fireplace he found in his tower block. This boy desperately wants to solve a mystery from his past, and Isaiah to help. Can Isaiah’s help change things for them both?
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews