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Nick the Saint
America is in the throes of the Industrial Revolution. Profits are soaring as the country expands, but beneath the nation's rise to power is the dirty secret of child labor. Forced to work endless hours in hazardous conditions, children are exploited and losing their lives. One man is willing to take a stand against the corruption and greed. Nick the Saint is the story of a vigilante fighting to protect the sons and daughters of New York. "Anthony Szpak's magical myth reinvention Nick the Saint will leave even the most cynical of readers hard-pressed not to happily ditch all their normal defenses in exchange for the simple pleasure of warming themselves at the hearth of this courageously warmhearted retelling, one that Dickens would not only approve of, but gratefully applaud." -- Michael J. White, author of Weeping Underwater Looks a Lot Like Laughter
388 pages, Paperback
First published December 25, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 21, 2016
A free digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s tough to describe what Nick the Saint is. There are fantastical elements set in New York during the Industrialization, but the fantasy aspects are too few to regard it as an actual fantasy book. However, it isn’t realistic fiction because most of the events that happened in this book are no way a part of history. As you can see, it is rather difficult to review this book. A struggle, in fact. Which is why I apologize in advance for the incoherence and inarticulateness of this review.
Nick the Saint is the story of a man named Nick who was wrongly imprisoned by Fergus Crank, a powerful man in New York who had everybody under his thumb. With the help of Benny, a crazy inventor, and a priest, Nick runs around town to sabotage all of Fergus’ businesses, freeing the children forced to work under the power-hungry man in the process. Obviously, this is not the story of St. Nicholas, the man we all presume to be the actual historical figure behind Santa Claus.
Prison does things to a man; it forces him to stifle the joy, to bury it so no one can use it against him, but after a while, it gets pushed so deep the man fears he’ll never find it again.
Nick the Saint was compelling enough, but being told in third person with varying perspectives, it lacked the certain depth and moving narration that would have stirred up something more than a shallow enjoyment in me. Yes, I did enjoy the book, but was I touched? Did it stir something in me? No. I pitied the working children but that pity was more for the fact that child labor continues to happen until now, instead of the sympathy provoked by excellent writing. In short, the plot was engaging but the characters lacked distinctiveness, personality and charisma. I did not connect with any person in this book, nor was I on the same wavelength as they were.
For me, a book is truly great is when the gap between the reader and the characters of the story is bridged. Nick the Saint failed to do that. There was always a huge chasm that separated me from Nick, Molly, Benny or any other character featured in this story.
“Didn’t matter. People needed to know – and I’m not just talking about slaves, but all people – they need to know there were still those willing to stand and fight, to defend the ones who can’t defend themselves.”
The fantastical feature of Nick the Saint left me baffled and confused. As it is set in the Industrialization, there were a lot of gadgets presented, including a dancing doll, a bulletproof vest, magnetic hands and a flying sleigh. This was rather jarring to the overall atmosphere of the book. We had the grittiness of the city and the depressing quality of life and the sudden bouts of these technological advances were nonsensical and absurd. At the start of the book, Benny mentions that he was sent to prison after building a flying car for the president which didn’t work. This was just a total ‘huh’ moment for me and these were the parts of Nick the Saint, that made it a little ridiculous.
In A Nutshell:
Overall, Nick the Saint was a semi-disappointment. It was an engaging read but I felt that the gravity of its subject had to have at least stirred up some sort of emotion in me as I was reading it. The dryness and flatness of the characters coupled with the senseless fantastical elements didn’t make it better. As the sneak peek at the end of this book revealed, there is a sequel, but I don’t think I’ll be reading that anymore.
It’s tough to describe what Nick the Saint is. There are fantastical elements set in New York during the Industrialization, but the fantasy aspects are too few to regard it as an actual fantasy book. However, it isn’t realistic fiction because most of the events that happened in this book are no way a part of history. As you can see, it is rather difficult to review this book. A struggle, in fact. Which is why I apologize in advance for the incoherence and inarticulateness of this review.
Nick the Saint is the story of a man named Nick who was wrongly imprisoned by Fergus Crank, a powerful man in New York who had everybody under his thumb. With the help of Benny, a crazy inventor, and a priest, Nick runs around town to sabotage all of Fergus’ businesses, freeing the children forced to work under the power-hungry man in the process. Obviously, this is not the story of St. Nicholas, the man we all presume to be the actual historical figure behind Santa Claus.
Prison does things to a man; it forces him to stifle the joy, to bury it so no one can use it against him, but after a while, it gets pushed so deep the man fears he’ll never find it again.
Nick the Saint was compelling enough, but being told in third person with varying perspectives, it lacked the certain depth and moving narration that would have stirred up something more than a shallow enjoyment in me. Yes, I did enjoy the book, but was I touched? Did it stir something in me? No. I pitied the working children but that pity was more for the fact that child labor continues to happen until now, instead of the sympathy provoked by excellent writing. In short, the plot was engaging but the characters lacked distinctiveness, personality and charisma. I did not connect with any person in this book, nor was I on the same wavelength as they were.
For me, a book is truly great is when the gap between the reader and the characters of the story is bridged. Nick the Saint failed to do that. There was always a huge chasm that separated me from Nick, Molly, Benny or any other character featured in this story.
“Didn’t matter. People needed to know – and I’m not just talking about slaves, but all people – they need to know there were still those willing to stand and fight, to defend the ones who can’t defend themselves.”
The fantastical feature of Nick the Saint left me baffled and confused. As it is set in the Industrialization, there were a lot of gadgets presented, including a dancing doll, a bulletproof vest, magnetic hands and a flying sleigh. This was rather jarring to the overall atmosphere of the book. We had the grittiness of the city and the depressing quality of life and the sudden bouts of these technological advances were nonsensical and absurd. At the start of the book, Benny mentions that he was sent to prison after building a flying car for the president which didn’t work. This was just a total ‘huh’ moment for me and these were the parts of Nick the Saint, that made it a little ridiculous.
In A Nutshell:
Overall, Nick the Saint was a semi-disappointment. It was an engaging read but I felt that the gravity of its subject had to have at least stirred up some sort of emotion in me as I was reading it. The dryness and flatness of the characters coupled with the senseless fantastical elements didn’t make it better. As the sneak peek at the end of this book revealed, there is a sequel, but I don’t think I’ll be reading that anymore.
December 27, 2014
* Full Review can be found here: http://therevboard.com/2014/08/30/the... *
Anthony Szpak is the author off our 386-page Historical Fiction read, “Nick the Saint”.
Let’s Play “What If?”
I’ll Start:
What If Santa Claus was a New Yorker who was born and raised during the birth of the Industrial Revolution, and has ZERO Magical Powers or Properties?
This is a story about Nick Klaus, where his parents were killed in a tragic accident and is raised by his father’s second-in-command (and the ULTIMATE Definition of “Superior Antagonist”) Fergus Crank at Klaus Kandles during the beginning phases of the Industrial Revolution in New York City (AKA Manhattan).
Nick’s undying feelings for his Love Interest Molly, which is coupled with his disdain and downright disgust and hatred for Crank, is his motivation to make things right between himself, Molly, and those around him after key events derailed their happiness.
Nick and Benny Tinkerton (a young and brilliant inventor whom Nick met during a Dark Period in Nick’s young life) have a “Shrek and Donkey” relationship: Nick being Shrek.
Also, many glimmers of American History are seen (Lincoln’s supposed truth of his demise, the history of The Underground Railroad, the aforementioned Industrial Revolution, etc.).
It is VERY IMPORTANT to note that this story IS NOT for the Weak at Heart: it is GRAPHIC to the point where you will certainly envision how poor the conditions are/were during those times, the visualization of the people’s physical condition, and stopping to wipe tears WILL happen.
There were missing words and misspellings as well (I.E.: “No,” Father Dawkins said, “but we have scale back.”, instead of “No,” Father Dawkins said, “but we have TO scale back,” as found on page 245. On page 298, “They man was watching crazy Mrs. Adilman with her two bowls of soup”, as opposed to “THE man was watching crazy Mrs. Adilman with her two bowls of soup.”).
Also, several minor characters were mentioned by name. This is perfectly fine, for as long as they have a key role in the story’s progression. Some minor characters could have remained nameless for they were not heard from again in the story.
When I received “Nick the Saint,” I read the first four paragraphs of this story and said to myself, “OH GOD: I AM GOING TO HAVE TO POWER THROUGH THIS BOOK!!!”
I knew as a reviewer, an author, a blogger, and all around writer, “Nick the Saint” DESERVES AND DESERVED a fair shot from me.
By the end of the first chapter, I am glad that I did.
Also, I spoke with Miss Labels about my snap judgment about “Nick the Saint,” where I told her that I was Wholly Wrong for passing judgment before the end of Chapter 1. I even told her that I would make it a point to purchase Mr. Szpak’s book from Amazon: NOT BECAUSE of Guilt, rather I thoroughly enjoyed his book. As long as Mr. Anthony Szpak has extra eyes on his work, I can GUARAN-DAMN-TEE that he will have a series unlike any other in our current time.
I got my copy, my friend: Keep Writing.
Anthony Szpak is the author off our 386-page Historical Fiction read, “Nick the Saint”.
Let’s Play “What If?”
I’ll Start:
What If Santa Claus was a New Yorker who was born and raised during the birth of the Industrial Revolution, and has ZERO Magical Powers or Properties?
This is a story about Nick Klaus, where his parents were killed in a tragic accident and is raised by his father’s second-in-command (and the ULTIMATE Definition of “Superior Antagonist”) Fergus Crank at Klaus Kandles during the beginning phases of the Industrial Revolution in New York City (AKA Manhattan).
Nick’s undying feelings for his Love Interest Molly, which is coupled with his disdain and downright disgust and hatred for Crank, is his motivation to make things right between himself, Molly, and those around him after key events derailed their happiness.
Nick and Benny Tinkerton (a young and brilliant inventor whom Nick met during a Dark Period in Nick’s young life) have a “Shrek and Donkey” relationship: Nick being Shrek.
Also, many glimmers of American History are seen (Lincoln’s supposed truth of his demise, the history of The Underground Railroad, the aforementioned Industrial Revolution, etc.).
It is VERY IMPORTANT to note that this story IS NOT for the Weak at Heart: it is GRAPHIC to the point where you will certainly envision how poor the conditions are/were during those times, the visualization of the people’s physical condition, and stopping to wipe tears WILL happen.
There were missing words and misspellings as well (I.E.: “No,” Father Dawkins said, “but we have scale back.”, instead of “No,” Father Dawkins said, “but we have TO scale back,” as found on page 245. On page 298, “They man was watching crazy Mrs. Adilman with her two bowls of soup”, as opposed to “THE man was watching crazy Mrs. Adilman with her two bowls of soup.”).
Also, several minor characters were mentioned by name. This is perfectly fine, for as long as they have a key role in the story’s progression. Some minor characters could have remained nameless for they were not heard from again in the story.
When I received “Nick the Saint,” I read the first four paragraphs of this story and said to myself, “OH GOD: I AM GOING TO HAVE TO POWER THROUGH THIS BOOK!!!”
I knew as a reviewer, an author, a blogger, and all around writer, “Nick the Saint” DESERVES AND DESERVED a fair shot from me.
By the end of the first chapter, I am glad that I did.
Also, I spoke with Miss Labels about my snap judgment about “Nick the Saint,” where I told her that I was Wholly Wrong for passing judgment before the end of Chapter 1. I even told her that I would make it a point to purchase Mr. Szpak’s book from Amazon: NOT BECAUSE of Guilt, rather I thoroughly enjoyed his book. As long as Mr. Anthony Szpak has extra eyes on his work, I can GUARAN-DAMN-TEE that he will have a series unlike any other in our current time.
I got my copy, my friend: Keep Writing.
August 30, 2014
Reviewed on behalf of The Review Board
This is the story of Nick Klaus, born into a comfortable life: Then—it all goes wrong. His parents are killed, and he grows up in poverty and forced labour. There are many ups and downs in his life, and then he gets his chance for revenge. In exacting his retribution, Nick ends up doing a lot of good.
This is a new take on the story of Saint Nicholas, and as well as having darker and lighter moments, it also has a nice thread of humour running through it. I laughed aloud on more than one occasion. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and on the merits of entertainment alone, I would offer it Five stars. However . . .
The sad fact is that this excellent story is let down very badly by way too many spelling mistakes and missing words. Add to that the need for a thorough edit, and you are left with a book that is wanting. Sentence constructions are full of comma splices, missing commas where they really need to be, and commas in the most unlikely places. There are also unannounced Point Of View changes, which can be confusing at times. Especially when it happens right in the middle of dialogue—at one moment I am reading from inside Nick’s head, and then suddenly I realise I’ve been in Molly’s head for some time, so I have to go back and re-read it to get the sense of the scene again. Not good.
This sentence is a classic example of what a comma can do to change the sense: “Mr Limpnicky forked over the money to the orphans he’d saved by buying from Fergus,” Now, the author isn’t trying to tell us he’d saved the orphans by buying from Fergus (which is how it reads as it is), but rather that he’d saved the money by buying from Fergus, and forked this money over to the orphans. Putting a comma in here would help to clarify things a lot, but even with that in it would be a clumsy sentence and could be optimised.
On the flip side, there were some wonderful lines in the book: “Barnaby didn’t have a moral compass, or if he did, his thumb moved the needle until it pointed to ‘okey-dokey’.” This one really caught my attention and made me smile.
Towards the end of the book there is a major plot mistake—a certain character has badly injured his knee and ankle in a fall, and suddenly he “flew” up the stairs. And, he was carrying a child in his arms! Really?? Mmm.
With the above mentioned amount of errors in a book, I would probably give it Two stars. But the brilliance of the story rescues it from such ignominy. Taking the thing as a whole, I offer it Three out of Five stars, which translates into Six out of Ten stars on The Review Board’s rating system. With some editing and proofreading, this would novel would achieve an easy five stars. I would read more of this author, and can only encourage him to take care of the proofing and editing in this otherwise wonderful YA Fiction novel.
This is the story of Nick Klaus, born into a comfortable life: Then—it all goes wrong. His parents are killed, and he grows up in poverty and forced labour. There are many ups and downs in his life, and then he gets his chance for revenge. In exacting his retribution, Nick ends up doing a lot of good.
This is a new take on the story of Saint Nicholas, and as well as having darker and lighter moments, it also has a nice thread of humour running through it. I laughed aloud on more than one occasion. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and on the merits of entertainment alone, I would offer it Five stars. However . . .
The sad fact is that this excellent story is let down very badly by way too many spelling mistakes and missing words. Add to that the need for a thorough edit, and you are left with a book that is wanting. Sentence constructions are full of comma splices, missing commas where they really need to be, and commas in the most unlikely places. There are also unannounced Point Of View changes, which can be confusing at times. Especially when it happens right in the middle of dialogue—at one moment I am reading from inside Nick’s head, and then suddenly I realise I’ve been in Molly’s head for some time, so I have to go back and re-read it to get the sense of the scene again. Not good.
This sentence is a classic example of what a comma can do to change the sense: “Mr Limpnicky forked over the money to the orphans he’d saved by buying from Fergus,” Now, the author isn’t trying to tell us he’d saved the orphans by buying from Fergus (which is how it reads as it is), but rather that he’d saved the money by buying from Fergus, and forked this money over to the orphans. Putting a comma in here would help to clarify things a lot, but even with that in it would be a clumsy sentence and could be optimised.
On the flip side, there were some wonderful lines in the book: “Barnaby didn’t have a moral compass, or if he did, his thumb moved the needle until it pointed to ‘okey-dokey’.” This one really caught my attention and made me smile.
Towards the end of the book there is a major plot mistake—a certain character has badly injured his knee and ankle in a fall, and suddenly he “flew” up the stairs. And, he was carrying a child in his arms! Really?? Mmm.
With the above mentioned amount of errors in a book, I would probably give it Two stars. But the brilliance of the story rescues it from such ignominy. Taking the thing as a whole, I offer it Three out of Five stars, which translates into Six out of Ten stars on The Review Board’s rating system. With some editing and proofreading, this would novel would achieve an easy five stars. I would read more of this author, and can only encourage him to take care of the proofing and editing in this otherwise wonderful YA Fiction novel.
August 12, 2016
Saint Nick as a Hero of Labor and Defender of the Innocent
This is an ambitious novel that ranges all over the place, and it's so full of big ideas and small pleasures that I was happy to tag along. The basic idea is that during the Depression in America a young man arose from poverty and exploitation to champion the cause of child workers. We follow "Saint Nick" from his forgotten and short lived life of privilege through all of the labor and industrial turmoil of the era. What you get is Emma Goldman meets Jack London meets Batman meets Lemony Snicket, and it's such a sprawling and good hearted mashup you are willing to roll with the punches, even when real punches are being thrown.
The first chapter of the book has a light and good humored feel, as Nick is born into a business family headed by a loving and benevolent father. Suddenly a destitute orphan, the book turns dark as Nick falls into the clutches of an evil master of child exploitation. Then we have young love. Then we are in jail on trumped up charges. Then we escape. Then we seek revenge. And so on. Each stage of the story has a different feel, sometimes gritty, sometimes tender, sometimes action oriented, sometimes philosophical. But through it all Saint Nick drives on with the triple goals of getting his true love back, exacting revenge on the entrepreneur who ruined his life, and saving the lost children. (Along the way there are some very clever explanations of the real reasons for Santa Claus things we take for granted, like the sleigh and the deer and so on.)
In all of this Nick is surrounded by compelling supporting characters. His fellow ex-con sidekick Benny is a hoot and nice comic relief. Evil Fergus, the businessman who mastered child exploitation while ruining Nick's life is sufficiently villainous. Molly, Nick's childhood sweetheart and now Fergus's captive wife, is a model of innocence and desire, and quite a pistol in her own right. And the list goes on and on.
Is this sloppy and obvious in places? Sure. It isn't John Steinbeck. But it addresses the same issues with the same sympathies, and it does so with gusto and craft and subtle humor. That's not a bad mix for an adventurous young reader. (Everything is wrapped up at the end, but a sequel that seems a bit more action/adventure oriented is promised.)
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
This is an ambitious novel that ranges all over the place, and it's so full of big ideas and small pleasures that I was happy to tag along. The basic idea is that during the Depression in America a young man arose from poverty and exploitation to champion the cause of child workers. We follow "Saint Nick" from his forgotten and short lived life of privilege through all of the labor and industrial turmoil of the era. What you get is Emma Goldman meets Jack London meets Batman meets Lemony Snicket, and it's such a sprawling and good hearted mashup you are willing to roll with the punches, even when real punches are being thrown.
The first chapter of the book has a light and good humored feel, as Nick is born into a business family headed by a loving and benevolent father. Suddenly a destitute orphan, the book turns dark as Nick falls into the clutches of an evil master of child exploitation. Then we have young love. Then we are in jail on trumped up charges. Then we escape. Then we seek revenge. And so on. Each stage of the story has a different feel, sometimes gritty, sometimes tender, sometimes action oriented, sometimes philosophical. But through it all Saint Nick drives on with the triple goals of getting his true love back, exacting revenge on the entrepreneur who ruined his life, and saving the lost children. (Along the way there are some very clever explanations of the real reasons for Santa Claus things we take for granted, like the sleigh and the deer and so on.)
In all of this Nick is surrounded by compelling supporting characters. His fellow ex-con sidekick Benny is a hoot and nice comic relief. Evil Fergus, the businessman who mastered child exploitation while ruining Nick's life is sufficiently villainous. Molly, Nick's childhood sweetheart and now Fergus's captive wife, is a model of innocence and desire, and quite a pistol in her own right. And the list goes on and on.
Is this sloppy and obvious in places? Sure. It isn't John Steinbeck. But it addresses the same issues with the same sympathies, and it does so with gusto and craft and subtle humor. That's not a bad mix for an adventurous young reader. (Everything is wrapped up at the end, but a sequel that seems a bit more action/adventure oriented is promised.)
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
February 5, 2014
The Nick in this book might qualify for sainthood but he is definitely not the Nicholas who was canonized. Nick Klaus, orphaned son of Karl & Klara Klaus immigrants from Scandinavia, is raised by Fergus Crank who took over the Klaus Kandles Factory after Karl & Klara were killed. Fergus also took Nick whom he raises not as a son but as a unimportant employee of the factory. Fergus Crank could be used to make Ebenezer Scrooge at the beginning of “A Christmas Carol” seem a model of generosity & kindness. Starting with Nick Crank discovers the joy and profit of using unregulated child labor. When Fergus discovers that teenage Nick has fallen in love with Molly, the girl Crank has chosen for himself, he makes certain that Nick is arrested, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on Riker’s Island. By a twist of fate Nick & a fellow inmate escape and end up in the shanty towns of Central Park. There they meet a priest who appears to be the perfect aide to destroying Fergus Crank but unfortunately everything is not as it seems. The tricks and sabotage that Nick and company use against Fergus Crank are varied and not always sensible but it is difficult to try to ruin a man who has most of the politicians and police in his private employ. As the book draws to a close Molly, her daughter and the child laborers are heading North via the Underground Railroad while Nick and his deer-pulled sleigh try to keep Fergus focused on him so the others can escape. It was a quick, easy read but I kept having reality trying to interfere with the story, which was stretching my imagination to the limits.
February 8, 2014
“Nick the Saint” is Steam Punk Meets Santa Claus with Fabulous Results!
“Nick the Saint” may need a genre all its own. It’s an adventure story, set in a gritty, steam punk version of a New York style city in the early industrial age. It’s a love story between an unloved boy and a coveted girl. It’s an epic good versus evil where the good guy is knocked down over and over but never out. All in all, “Nick the Saint” is a fresh, fun and engrossing novel for the Young Adult market. Young Nick Clause never knew his parents due to a tragic accident. His father’s greedy assistant takes the boy, and his assets, and never tells Nick the truth. Eventually, Nick rebels and the greedy Fergus gets him thrown in jail. What follows is an entertaining, engaging and excellently written story that will keep readers turning pages. While I believe this book is marketed as Young Adult, there’s too much to enjoy here to keep it in that category. The steam punk elements have a touch of wry humor to them as they begin to re-create some of the more recognizable elements of that other Claus like the sled and red coat. Author Anthony Szpak creates memorable characters that you will both love and love to hate!
“Nick the Saint” is an excellent choice for fantasy readers of middle grades and up. It is gritty, grimy and altogether a great read!
This book was provided to me by the publisher for this review. The opinions, however, are entirely my own!
“Nick the Saint” may need a genre all its own. It’s an adventure story, set in a gritty, steam punk version of a New York style city in the early industrial age. It’s a love story between an unloved boy and a coveted girl. It’s an epic good versus evil where the good guy is knocked down over and over but never out. All in all, “Nick the Saint” is a fresh, fun and engrossing novel for the Young Adult market. Young Nick Clause never knew his parents due to a tragic accident. His father’s greedy assistant takes the boy, and his assets, and never tells Nick the truth. Eventually, Nick rebels and the greedy Fergus gets him thrown in jail. What follows is an entertaining, engaging and excellently written story that will keep readers turning pages. While I believe this book is marketed as Young Adult, there’s too much to enjoy here to keep it in that category. The steam punk elements have a touch of wry humor to them as they begin to re-create some of the more recognizable elements of that other Claus like the sled and red coat. Author Anthony Szpak creates memorable characters that you will both love and love to hate!
“Nick the Saint” is an excellent choice for fantasy readers of middle grades and up. It is gritty, grimy and altogether a great read!
This book was provided to me by the publisher for this review. The opinions, however, are entirely my own!
June 23, 2014
Nick the Saint
Anthony Szpak
Copyright 2013
Nick is orphaned after an accident and is taken in by Fergus who forces him to work from the time he can walk. When Nick meets a girl named Maggie and tries to run away with her Fergus accuses him of kidnapping and hebis sent to prison on Rykers Island when he is released he is determined to try and put a stop to the forced child labor.
Nick wants to put a stop to Fergus Crank and the way he forces children to work in such horrible condition and he wants politicans to pass a law stopping this from happening but Fergus has the police and the mayor in his back pocket.
When things stop going Fergus way he is determined to put a stop to it even if it means many workers including children are killed and he plans to frame Nick for the crime.
I give this powerful novel about a man determined to make a difference five out of five stars.
Happy Reading
Michelle
Anthony Szpak
Copyright 2013
Nick is orphaned after an accident and is taken in by Fergus who forces him to work from the time he can walk. When Nick meets a girl named Maggie and tries to run away with her Fergus accuses him of kidnapping and hebis sent to prison on Rykers Island when he is released he is determined to try and put a stop to the forced child labor.
Nick wants to put a stop to Fergus Crank and the way he forces children to work in such horrible condition and he wants politicans to pass a law stopping this from happening but Fergus has the police and the mayor in his back pocket.
When things stop going Fergus way he is determined to put a stop to it even if it means many workers including children are killed and he plans to frame Nick for the crime.
I give this powerful novel about a man determined to make a difference five out of five stars.
Happy Reading
Michelle
June 18, 2014
An interesting take on a Depression-era version of Santa Claus as the hero comes to the aid of child laborers. A lot of the elements are somewhat cliched, but when you are retelling a folk legend, that's probably expectable. It doesn't detract from the overall read, though. I think YA readers will enjoy this one.
ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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