The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts

by Avi

High adventure from a master storyteller about one boy’s attempt to fend for himself among cruel orphan masters, corrupt magistrates, and conniving thieves.

In the seaside town of Melcombe Regis, England, 1724, Oliver Cromwell Pitts wakes to find his father missing and his house flooded by a recent storm. He’s alone in his ruined home with no money and no food. Oliver’s father has left behind a barely legible waterlogged note: he’s gone to London, where Oliver’s sister, Charity, is in trouble. Exploring damage to the town in the storm’s aftermath, Oliver discovers a shipwreck on the beach. Removing anything from a wrecked ship is a hanging offense, but Oliver finds money that could save him, and he can’t resist the temptation to take it. When his crime is discovered, Oliver flees, following the trail of his father and sister. The journey is full of thieves, adventurers, and treachery--and London might be the most dangerous place of all.

In the tradition of his Newbery Honor book The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Avi mixes high adventure and short, page-turning chapters with a vivid historical setting featuring a cast of highwaymen, pickpockets, and villainous criminal masterminds.

Praise for Catch You Later, Traitor:

“As a mystery, historical fiction, and love letter to 1950s Brooklyn, this novel succeeds on every level.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Suspenseful . . . Authentic period details . . . add a colorful backdrop to Pete’s quest as he navigates the murky gray area between truth and fiction. An excellent introduction to the frenzy of the McCarthy era.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“An involving, twisty mystery, grounded by the palpable emotional threat of Pete’s father being taken away. An accomplished historical mystery by one of kid lit’s most reliable craftspeople.” —Booklist

 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Historical, Juvenile, Childrens

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 2017

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

12-year-old Oliver Cromwell Pitts wakes up to a strange sensation. Everything he owns is shaking, and then . . . cold seawater dumps onto his head from a large gap suddenly appearing in the ceiling. Yelling for his father, Oliver hears only water rushing into the house. His father, Mr. Gabriel Pitts, is nowhere to be found. He did leave a note, which said, as far as Oliver could decipher, his father had gone to London to rescue Oliver’s sister, Charity, from some sort of trouble. Oliver, left alone without food or money, now has no ceiling or floor to call his own.

Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, making turning the page all but a given. Young boys will especially like this romp of a tale. The action is fast-paced and the story keeps you thinking and wondering. If you have never read a book about the London of 200-years ago, The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts is a great way to begin.

The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts is a wonderful story with lots of action and suspense. Being the first of a new series by Newbery Medal winner Avi, only increases the probability the series will continue to keep the reader in suspense, trying to keep one step ahead of Oliver. Adults will enjoy this 18th-century series as much as kids will love it, including girls. If the series continues as the initial book has, it may be a huge award-winner by year’s end . . .

Orioginally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews. To read the full review of this MG book, go to: http://bit.ly/UnexpectedLifeOfOliverC...

[Jenny Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads like a children’s classic in a Dickensian style minus the verbosity. More on that later.

What I love most about this novel are the characters, the story, and the writing style.

This story takes place in England, 1724. Oliver, his sister Charity, and his father Gabriel are a poor family surrounded by criminal masterminds. Charity goes to London and Oliver wakes up and realizes that not only is his father missing, but also their house is flooded from a storm. His father left him a note, but it’s waterlogged and he can’t read it. He has no money and their food is spoiled. He wants to go to London to reunite with his family, but has no idea how he’ll pay for the stagecoach to get there. His journey to London is full of adventure and obstacles. Throughout the novel, I kept thinking this was called The Unfortunate Life…He’s not facing minor obstacles, he’s facing a lot of hardship, plus he feels that his life is in constant danger. It wasn’t until the end that the title felt truly appropriate.

Oliver says throughout the novel, “Please, sir”, which always reminded me of the famous line in Oliver Twist, ”Please, sir. I want some more.” Oliver is a smart, resourceful twelve year old, although he’s small for his size and people often think he’s younger. His sister Charity is six years older than he is and plays a motherly role since Oliver’s mother died in childbirth. Their father Gabriel is, well, inept and full of empty promises. There’s a character whose first name is Ebenezer. There are so many criminals in this story! I’m not going to give a rundown of all the characters, but I will say that there are a lot of interesting ones. They’re developed enough for you to either care about them or hate them to the core. I will mention that Jonathan Wild is a character and he’s based on a real person.

The story almost has a constantly feeling of hopelessness, because every time Oliver turns around, he has another hurdle to overcome. What did give me hope was Oliver’s fighting spirit, persistence and Charity’s love for her brother. I loved Oliver’s adventures even if they did involve highwaymen and a brief stay in a poorhouse. There’s never a dull moment. The ending is left open. In fact, the last line of the novel says, ”To be continued in Book Two” .

The storytelling makes this a real page-turner. The pacing felt right on target. I can’t think of any moment when I wanted to skim to get to the good parts. It’s descriptive without feeling overdone. The dialogue makes the characters sound distinct. It was so easy to visualize the movie in my mind as I read it. There were plenty of sensory details.

As I said earlier, this has a Dickensian style. There were several aspects of this novel that made me think this. One aspect was the character names of Oliver and Ebenezer. Another was the predicaments of the main characters. They were poor and Oliver went to a poorhouse. Mostly, the writing style and overall tone reminded me of Dickens. It has a proper English tone in the narrative voice, but also has informal dialect in some of the dialogue. Here are a few quotes that may help explain what I mean.

”A solitary candle provided a pale yellow flickering, which threw out more dejection than light, the very replication of our minds.”

“Nary a friendly face did I see anywhere.”

“I could not think or breathe, though I could weep, and did, the kind of choking, sobbing cry that shakes the whole body and soul.”

As I was reading this, I could easily hear Simon Vance narrating the audiobook. In addition, there were Bible quotes that I thought were appropriate to the story.

I do have a tiny continuity error to mention. It’s not a big deal, but something that I noticed. Oliver is described as having curly, brown hair, but the boy on the cover has straight hair. With the light and shadow on the cover design, it also looks like his hair could be dark blond instead of brown. I know. I’m sort of nitpicking.

I have one other minor issue to mention. A young man is questioning Oliver and asks him if he heard about a wrecked ship in town being looted. The young man says to Oliver, ”Did you have a hand in that? Is that why you’re on the road at night?” When I read that, it just felt like it was too big of a leap in logic.

Overall, I loved this novel and I’m looking forward to reading another AVI novel. I recommend The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts to anyone who enjoys children’s historical fiction. It’s a quick, entertaining read.

Jenny’s Book Bag | Facebook | Twitter

[Jen Juenke · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I was blown away by this book. From the very first page, it grabs the reader and does not let you go till the very end!
I almost want to say that Oliver's story should really be called a series of unfortunate events, because its almost like he is always in the wrong place at the wrong time all the time! Yet Oliver never lets that get him down.
Oliver is resourceful, funny, smart, and a great book hero to root for.
READ THIS BOOK, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I like about reading a novel by Avi is that I can (almost) always count on it being an interesting work of historical fiction and his latest novel is no exception.

The story begins on the morning of November 12, 1724. Oliver, 12, wakes up to discover that not only has a violent storm flooded his home and his town of Melcombe Regis on the Dorset coast, but his father is also missing, and Oliver has no idea where he might be. His father left a note telling him where he went, but it is too waterlogged to read.

Left with no money and no food, Oliver heads outside, and discovers a shipwreck on the beach. He decides to explore a little even though he knows that taking anything at all from a shipwreck is a death-by-hanging offense. Still, when he discovers 30 shillings, he decides to “borrow” 23 shillings, which he figures is more than enough money to live on until his father returns.

Unfortunately for Oliver, his lawyer father has managed to offend pretty much everyone in Melcombe Regis, so when those in authority discover that he is alone and his father missing, they decide the best place for Oliver is in the poorhouse.

After hiding his ill-gotten shillings, and figuring the poorhouse is at least good for food and shelter, Oliver lets himself be taken to there with plans on remaining for only two weeks. But escaping it takes longer and is harder than he had anticipated. But escape he does, and decides to travel to London, where his older sister Charity lives and works and who may know something about what happened to their father.

The road to London, however, is paved with one setback after another for Oliver, including a gang of ruthless highway robbers, led by one notorious Captain Hawkes. Kidnapping Oliver, Hawkes already knows about the shillings he stole from the shipwreck, and decides that since Oliver is already a thief, he can be used for more highway robberies.

Just when you think that Oliver couldn’t possibly have more adventures and misadventures, Hawkes takes him to London, and next thing Oliver knows, he is reluctantly involved with the (real life) criminal Jonathan Wild. But will he ever find Charity and his father and get out of this mess?

The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts is a very exciting story. Each chapter ends with such a strong cliffhanger, that I couldn’t help but turn the page and keep reading. And I did finish the book in one sitting because of that.

Avi is really a master at placing his characters in difficult situations, and then following them step-by-step as their story plays out. In this way, it makes it so easy and rather understandable as we watch Oliver’s life spiral into crime.

Oliver narrates this engaging tale in language that authentically reflects the time in which he lives, but not so much so that it will put young readers off. Besides, Oliver is just too appealing to leave him to his fate without taking the journey with him.

I also feel that some of the novel's real strength lies in the vivid descriptions of life in early 18th century England. The abusive treatment of even very young children is part of Oliver’s experience in the poorhouse, where cold, underfed regimented children are forced to do hard, menial work for long hours and faced cruel punishment for any act of disobedience.

In Melcombe Regis and in London, there are depictions of the farce of 18th century "justice" as practiced in the Old Bailey and the prisons of the period (where prisoners are charged for the privilege of being incarcerated).

All in all, The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts is an exciting adventure. It is the first book in a series and I personally can’t wait to read Book 2 and see what else life holds for Oliver Cromwell Pitts.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was provided to me by the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers

This book was originally posted at Randomly Reading

[Tirzah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a non-stop action book full of adventure. As other reviewers have stated, it has a Charles Dickens-ey feel to it but with less of the wordiness. The story is told by Oliver, a young boy in 1724 England who finds himself on a journey to find his missing father and sister. Along the way, there are surprises and some unsavory characters that test Oliver's courage. I thought this was a standalone book, but after the unexpected ending on the last page we are guaranteed a second book! I would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction and/or adventure stories. And I would personally label it Young Adult; there's nothing mature or scary in it, but I feel like some of the themes and the vocabulary would appeal more to an older audience.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Algonquin for an early reader.
This is one of those books I found hard to put down. I finished it on the same day I started reading. Set in eighteenth century England, Oliver Cromwell Pitts does not lack for action or mystery. It begins with a storm hitting the seaside village in which Oliver lives and flooding his home. His sister has departed for London and his father goes missing. With Oliver now on his own he becomes a reluctant thief and this just the beginning.
Oliver ends up in a poorhouse, is befriended and mentored by a highwayman, runs with a group of thieves, comes under the wing of a fabled criminal mastermind and is taught to be a pickpocket.
We get to understand the living conditions which were harsh, the lifestyles which were not easy and all from the perspective of a 12 year old boy. The chapters are written from Oliver's point of view and he keeps them moving while setting a purpose for each.
The whole family is accused of being known as the Melcombe Regis gang and when brought to trial could be found guilty as charged resulting in a sentence of hanging, transportation to the American colonies as slaves, branded, whipped or perhaps acquitted.
No spoilers though! The premise for the second book in the series has been set and the bar is high. Let's hope it contains as much action and adventure as the first did!

[Margaret Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my 11 yo son. There are a lot of action and adventure but it was a little dark. The main character goes through so much torture! This book has a sequel and I didn't know that until the end.

[Sarah Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, but not my favorite. I will probably not read the sequel.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oliver Cromwell Pitts life has just gone down the drain. His sister has moved to London and after a horrible storm his dad disappears leaving officials to declare him an orphan and stick him in a working orphanage. Can he find his family and fix his troubles? Upper elementary

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE UNEXPECTED LIFE OF OLIVER CROMWELL PITTS by Avi is a wonderful book--as one has come to expect from the author.

The year is 1724 and Oliver Cromwell Pitts, a twelve-year-old boy who looks far younger than his years, wakes up to find his home flooded and his father gone. Oliver’s attempts to find his father and sister in London lead him to be branded a thief and a highwayman, and his adventures along the way make THE UNEXPECTED LIFE a book that is nearly impossible to put down.

Avi’s latest is full of rich history and fascinating characters. The plot is perfectly arranged, the action is well paced, and the characters—both the evil and the good—are interesting and keep you rooting for them or against them.

This is a book that should be a part of every middle grade classroom. The vocabulary, wordplay, and history can be the basis for multiple lesson plans across many subjects, and I suspect every reader will identify with Oliver Cromwell Pitts and his plight at some point. The beauty of THE UNEXPECTED LIFE is Avi’s ability to write for the period in a way that is accessible and believable. Although the vocabulary might present a challenge to some students, it never seems overwhelming, and it’s a great introduction to classics that focus on that time.

Another wonderful aspect of Avi’s latest book is that it’s the first in the series. I became quite attached to Oliver Cromwell Pitts, and I look forward to spending more time with him in book two. However, I have to say that by the end of this book I identified strongly with Oliver’s assessment of his father: “It was hard to know if he was exhausted, appalled, or simply unwilling to acknowledge the world in which he found himself.” THE UNEXPECTED LIFE OF OLIVER PITTS isn’t a sunshiny book. There are (age appropriate) dark moments, and there are really awful people. Oliver’s approach to it all saves the book from complete darkness and despair. After all, a favorite saying of Oliver’s father’s is “"People care nothing for suffering. To get on, you must mask your heart with false smiles." And Oliver is a champion at that.

I highly recommend this book, and my thanks to the publisher and YA Books Central for an ARC of the book in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

AVI is one of my favorite middle-grade authors. When I pick up one of his books, I fully expect to be whisked away on an adventure that I can't put down. I haven't been disappointed yet.

When The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts showed up on my doorstep, I was thrilled. A new book from AVI and I couldn't wait to jump into it.

It's about Oliver, who wakes up during a terrible storm to find his father gone, an empty pantry, and an empty money box. In desperation, he steals some money from a shipwreck. By doing so, he starts on a downward spiral into a life of crime. As he searches for his father and older sister, Charity, he's pulled helplessly along by his situation and the designs of others until he's in too deep to get out.

I love the way AVI builds momentum. Once you start reading this book, there's no stopping. It's completely engaging. As the reader, you watch helplessly as Oliver gets sucked deeper and deeper into his life of crime.

I loved how the author used a "voice" that felt realistic to the time period, yet still highly readable and engaging. The characters feel true to life — like they could have been real people.

My one complaint is that I have to wait so long for the next book!

This book is definitely going on my "to read again" shelf. I'm also passing it along to my daughter. She'll love it.

This is a historical fiction novel set in England. It will appeal to kids ages 8-12 who enjoy adventure, thieves, and unexpected plot twists.

Cover talk: I admit, I'm not crazy about this cover. The illustration itself is fine, but the title design makes the book look like a self-published horror novel. When I first saw it, I thought it was going to be a ghost story.

Content: Cruelty and thievery.

Source: The publisher sent me this book for review consideration.

Find more great middle grade reads on my blog Batch of Books

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem here isn't the book, it's me. I'm not the target audience, and in this case it definitely hurt my chances of enjoying this all the way. Most notably, I was irritated with the chapter headings and how innocent Oliver was--this kid grew up in the 1700s, how is he so painfully angelic?

With that being said, the historical elements are superb. It was a rough time to live in and the author pulls no punches with what could happen to our narrator. Will he be mugged and then gutted? Will he be hanged? Will he become a starving pickpocket on the streets of London? As an adult I know this isn't likely for the author, but I think kids might find a little more danger within the pages. It's the kind of book you introduce in the classroom to give some enthusiasm for a history lesson, and I think in that regard this is a massive success.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a small English town in 1724, Oliver awakes to a flood and a missing father. In order to survive he must steal from a shipwreck and face jail time, escape the poor house, evade criminals, and find his father and sister in London. This adventure will take readers ages nine to 14 on a dangerous tour through historic London. I love all of Avi's books. This one was not my favourite, but still a good page-turner.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts
Author: Avi
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher Algonquin Young Readers for sending me this ARC. So, I have been reading Avi since I was in the fifth grade, which is what I actually teach. I have had a love-hate relationship with Avi, meaning that I really liked some of his books and could not get through some of them. So, I really didn’t know how I would feel about this one whenever I was approached about featuring this series on my blog.

I really liked how fast paced this book was. There was no few chapters of world building and getting us familiar with the characters. Instead, we are thrown into the world and are expected to keep up. No, it’s not a bad thing. I personally like how Avi weaves in what we need to know throughout the story without boring us with all of the details. The fast pace and the characters really did remind me of Oliver Twist-sorry if that’s what you weren’t going for. (Don’t get me wrong, I do actually love Oliver Twist)

The characters started out as being a little bit flat, which I knew would change just based on what I have read of Avi. As the book progresses, we get to see just how complex and well written characters we have to read about. There are criminals who are acting like good people, good people who get thrown into the world of crime, and people who are just trying to do the wrong thing. We get to see the main characters, the Pitts, struggle with trying to keep their heads above water and not be thrown into this life.

I loved the historical setting. In case you haven’t realized, I do love history-just look at what most of the books are that I review. Anyway, I love British novels because it’s so fun to read about places outside of where I live. I really don’t know much about England in 1724, but I did like how Avi pulled in information from past events. For example, look at the title, English Civil War and we get to see this play out. We also get to see a little bit of the political tensions and see the gaps in classes. Now, most of what I read does focus on the wealthy, so this was a nice change to see something from the poor. I really do like getting to read about the struggles of the day to day people.

So, I really did end up liking this book. It is fast paced and full of action, which is something that the target audience-middle school, I believe- will enjoy. I do have the second book as well, so I will let you know what I think of the rest of the series.

Oh, The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts is actually out now so you can go pick up a copy yourself.

[Scuffed Granny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that there is some good historical fiction for children and this story, told from the perspective of a twelve year old boy who discovers that his father is missing on the night of a terrible storm, is a tour through the seamy world of thievery and poorhouses; a sort of "Fielding Light" in some ways, although Fielding's work perhaps has the immediacy of being contemporary which Avi's cannot. Also, Fielding's is a lot saucier which would be inappropriate in a book for children!

Oliver is a resourceful boy and a solid narrator as we follow him through the situation in which he finds himself. Left with no money and a smudged note, he tries to remain away from the adults who would confine him under the auspices of the law. His father, not being a popular man, has ruffled the feathers of a few influential people in the seaside town of Melcombe Regis and Oliver has to navigate their attempts to corral him, their motives being less than favourable.

Deciding to go to London to find his sister, Oliver encounters highwaymen and becomes an unwilling pawn in their designs for acquiring wealth.

There is lots to recommend this book for your older children. The action is well-paced and the evocation of place is done effectively. Avi ends most chapters with a suspenseful sentence which at times I found a little irritating but as a younger reader, they would prompt me to question where the narrative is headed and to read on, and so, they serve their purpose. I liked the inclusion of longer chapter titles which emulates fiction of the period and the depiction of Oliver's time in the poorhouse gives an introduction to the way that poverty affected the lives of those less fortunate and how adults are not always nurturing.

One thing that I would have liked to have experienced more is Oliver's emotions. He is a twelve year old boy, abandoned by his father, without anyone to call upon and I found his narrative a little bland in this regard. Maybe this is as a result of the first person viewpoint, a third person narrator perhaps being able to show more effectively the fear and uncertainty that Oliver was bound to be feeling, as an observer.

However, it conjured the world of the 1700s with its risks and its punishments very well.

This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery.

[American Mensa · Rating 3 out of 5]

One fateful November morning, Oliver Cromwell Pitts awakes to find his house in shambles after a treacherous storm. His sister is thankfully miles away in London, but his father is missing, leaving only a note. The note proclaims that Charity, Oliver's sister, is in deep trouble, and his father has gone to London to help her. Oliver has been left alone in a ruined house with no money or food. During the aftermath of the storm, when Oliver is out exploring, he discovers a shipwreck. Inside the shipwreck lies enough money to sustain Oliver until his father come home. It's too good to be true; but there's a catch. Removing anything from a shipwreck is a hanging offense, no matter the thief's age or motives. Nevertheless, Oliver takes the money. Soon, he's thrown into a thrilling adventure that lands him in London, where his sister resides. But London might just be the opposite of the safe haven Charity promised him.

My original thoughts before going into this book were Oh, it's written by a Newberry-winning author. It MUST be good. As I ever so slowly continued, however, my opinion faltered. I became slightly bored, and stopped reading completely after a while. When I finally picked it up again, it felt almost like a chore. However, as a I began to get into the story again, I was sucked into the criminal world of 1724, and no longer was the book merely something to read for days of extreme boredom. It was fast-paced, exciting, and unforgettable... at least, the second half was. The first half was full of paragraphs upon paragraphs by the narrator, young Oliver Pitts, telling us about his unfortunate circumstances. The second half, though, was full of the suspense and excitement I had originally hoped for in this book. The characters became fleshed out, and everything, even the tedious chapters of narration, came together into one, powerful novel.

My advice to you when you read this book is to not give up on it, like I almost did. It may bore you at times, but trust me, you will not be disappointed by the outcome of this novel.
Salonee V., 12, Metropolitan Washington Mensa

[Joan Roll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1724 and twelve-year-old Oliver Cromwell Pitts lives with his sister and father in the small English town of Melcombe Regis. Oliver’s mother died shortly after he was born. His father is a local attorney who has little desire to manage a household or care for children so he has given all of the household duties and parenting chores to daughter, Charity following the death of his wife.

Charity is now eighteen and wishes to find a different life for herself so she travels to London to live with an Aunt and Uncle. That leaves Oliver and his father to look after themselves. On a cold November morning Oliver wakes to find a storm has damaged and flooded their home. He cannot locate his father anywhere but finds a water damaged note left by his father. The note is barely readable but it indicates that his father has traveled to London without him.

Following the destruction of their house, Oliver finds himself in dire need of money to buy something to eat. Additionally, he will also need money to try to find his father. He discovers a wrecked ship and steals some coins from the sailor’s quarters. From that moment on his life become a series of disasters and difficulties. As he eventually makes his way to London he finds himself getting into deeper and deeper trouble.

Oliver is sure to be a favorite character for he is pleasant in spite of all of his difficulties. He is always hoping for the best and is the bright spot in the book.

The action is fast-paced. The chapters are short and intriguing. It is loaded with criminals and all types of adventures that are sure to keep a young reader interested. And there is the added benefit of learning a little bit about life in 18th century England.

It is a page turner that I would recommend to adult readers as well as to the intended tween audience. Looking forward to reading the sequel to this book and fingers crossed that it takes Oliver to a better and more stable life than he has experienced so far in the Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts.

[Virginia McGee Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts

Now and again, I run into a foregone conclusion when looking through the Net Gallery offerings of ARCs to be read and reviewed. I enjoy discovering debut writers, but if Avi is the author, my request is automatic. This master of historical fiction in The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts evoked another favorite author (Charles Dickens) and another favorite Oliver (Twist). The book begins with a tempest sweeping through his home and gets steadily worse from there.

Oliver, in 1700s England, left to his own devices after his father goes to London to seek his sister, finds his father’s unreadable note sodden from the storm. The note might have had some useful information – not that his father had been much help even when he was present with only repeated promises to be a better father next time.

In Dickensian tradition, Oliver goes from worse to much worse. As he describes his life about halfway through the book, “If you have followed my story – and I hope you have not skipped a word because I have labored extremely hard on each and every one – you should have noted that every time I move forward, I am thwarted by an adult.”

Avi has never disappointed me with a good read, including this book. The one difference? He’s left an enticing lead to a sequel. Naturally, I had to check and see when it would be coming out. According to his blog, the next book is “pretty much done” although he was talking to the editor about changing a word.

Don’t I hate waiting for the sequel to a book that’s had me turning pages?

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I was uncertain if I wanted to keep reading this book. The narrator spoke in an antiquated way, that wasn't always easy to follow. But then, Avi's strengths emerged and the my interest in the plot superseded any hangups with the historical tone. Plus, I found a rhythm in it and it became less noticeable. While this book is marketed to the JF crowd, I don't think I would recommend it that way. I'd go tween, YA or adults like me who appreciate Avi's style: historical settings/strong plot/good characterization. There's a dark theme thread of adults (even one's own family) of being completely untrustworthy, a fair amount of ethical musings about the wrongness/necessity of theft, and a general portrait of a bleak and dangerous existence for kids during this time period. Violence, murder, drinking, kidnapping and coercion are all included in this book. Avi does a great job in taking a historical time period and making it feel very real and interesting (without making it sound like a report with a thin story laid on top). I definitely cared about the main character and wanted to see how he was going to navigate the tricky situations he continued to find himself in. After having read this book, I feel like I have a sharper picture of what England was like during this time (1724) so the book serves to be both informative and entertaining. But again, one of its strengths is that the informative part is woven so skillfully into the actual story that Avi makes it look easy and interesting.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5. - I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads giveaway.

"The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts" tells the story of twelve year old Oliver Cromwell Pitts, a young boy living outside of London in the 1700s. After his mother died shortly after his birth, Oliver's six year old sister, Charity, was tasked with raising Oliver and his father (lawyer Gabriel Pitts). Deciding to live her life for herself, Charity moves to London. Only a few short months later, Oliver is awoken in the middle of a terrible storm to discover that his house has been ruined and that his father has left for London as well in search of Charity. Desperate and with few other options, Oliver decides to follow his family to London, and meets with dozens of unexpected and unpleasant obstacles along the way.

This book is listed a middle grade, but definitely has something for everyone- a good hearted and humorous young hero. Despite everything thrown at him, Oliver remains virtuous and I found myself easily rooting for him the entire way through.

As well, this book is fast paced from the first page and draws readers right in. This fast pace continues, and I found that there was almost never a good place to stop as the end of each chapter introduced a new peril for Oliver and Charity.

Overall, this is an intriguing adventure book, and I would absolutely recommend it for readers of all ages. I didn't realize that it seems to be the start of a new series until the very last page, and I'll be sure to follow up with the second book.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avi The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts, 313 pgs. Algonquin Young Readers, 2017 (Workman). $16.95 Content: Language: PG (3 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13.

Oliver is left destitute when his father disappears to London and although his father leaves a note it gets wet and the message is unclear. Oliver thinks he can avoid catching the eye of the townsmen who wrangle orphans to the poorhouse and have them do slave labor, but he is eventually caught. As Oliver finagles his way to London to try and find his father or his sister, he is caught up in a world of thieves and hardship.

I totally enjoyed this story and Oliver’s strong character. Up until the end this was an advisable read because it’s perfect for middle school boys with lots of action and a great twelve year old hero. I was super disappointed in the unfinished ending that leaves the reader completely hanging and I can’t find anywhere that says when the next book is coming out.

MS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[frumpburger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly exciting and engrossing novel, The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts tells the story of a young boy in 18th century England and the misfortunes--and wild adventures--that befall him when his father leaves him, on the same night a terrible storm hits their coastal village, to seek out Oliver's teenage sister in London. Making the acquaintance of a variety of unscrupulous characters, from highway robbers to local enemies of his generally disliked father, Oliver's Dickensian autobiography is written in the tone of the times, and it is clear that author Avi had a soft spot for the English literature of centuries past, as well as enough integrity to not gloss over the truly horrific quality of life many people endured in London during those times. The book, in its way, truly serves to take readers back in time. Whether you're a child or an adult looking for a bit of uncomplicated reading, this book is a breeze to plow through (to mix every metaphor) and never ceases to be engaging.

Now to sit and wait for the sequel.

Thanks to Algonquin and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exciting, fast-paced story.

Oliver’s story starts out as a series of unfortunate events. His sister goes to London to find a better life, but it isn’t the life she thought it would be. Then his father disappears to go save his sister. Oliver is caught at a shipwreck, suspected of stealing, and then sent to a poorhouse. Then he has to travel to London with highwaymen who steal from carriages along the way.

This story was very fast-paced. Oliver never stayed in one place for very long, so the setting was always changing. He met many different people throughout the story and most of them were connected in some way.

I liked the ending of the story. There was a lot of tension while Oliver was in London! I’m excited to see where the story goes in the next book, The End of the World and Beyond.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Judson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It reminded me a lot of both Oliver Twist and David Copperfield; the vibes are the same. The characters in this book are just amazing. I don't know if I've ever read such well-written and such detestable characters as the ones in this book. All characters were relevant and very distinct. The problem is that the book didn't surprise me. I predicted over half the events, and none of the others were shocking to me. I'm also not sure exactly what the moral of this book is. None of the bad characters really got seriously punished for their actions, and the good characters (relatively good, because none of them were particularly admirable) weren't rewarded. [MILD SPOILER WARNING] They were acquitted of their crimes by bribery with money that was earned by gambling.

On the whole, it was worth reading once for the characters, but probably not worth reading again.

[Bjipson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avi knows how to keep his reader turning the pages, with short chapters and cliff-hanger endings to each of those chapters. This is set in 1724 England and is told in Dickensian language with an Oliver Twist kind of plot. Twelve-year-old Oliver's father has gone to London while a freak storm leaves the Pitt home uninhabitable. As he searches for some food, he unintentionally becomes embroiled in the all-too-common thievery of the day. Making his way to London, he is "schooled" in how best to serve the thieves as a pickpocket while still hoping to escape from them and their wrongdoing.
Avi fans will enjoy; recommend to those who liked his Crispin series or his True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melcombe Regis, England, 1724. 12 year old Olivier wakes up to discover that his house is flooded from a huge storm and his father has gone to London. Unfortunately, the note his father left for him got wet and most of it is illegible. The only words he can make out clearly are London and the name of his sister Charity, who is in London with their aunt and uncle. With no adult, food, or money, Oliver must find a way to get to London...

**Spoiler Cliffhanger ending!

The writing style reminded me of Dickens. This book would appeal to readers who enjoyed Avi's other historical fiction books.

[Cornmaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very nice offering from Avi. In the vein of Crispin - 12 year old Oliver Cromwell Pitts finds himself all alone after a storm surge with a wrecked house, no father, no money, and no good way to survive. With all of the corruption in the town, he falls into a series of strange expriences as he makes his way to London to find his sister.

Definitely Dickensian, with a strong depiction of utter poverty and cruelty toward the poor. Pitts must operate by his wits and the ability to change his strategy as the conditions change. Kids not used to a 19th century style of writing will need to get used to it, but it's worth it.

I really liked this opening - no date yet on Book 2

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing-style was a little bland at time. There were paragraphs that I just skim read and other paragraphs that I skipped all together. There were moments when the author focused too much on minor setting details. This slowed down the pace of the story line.
Other than that it was a cute little book. Being a Juvenile fiction, it was told from the perspective of a child. We were all once children and it is interesting to be reminded of how the world appears through their eyes. It is also heartbreaking at times to imagine a child being forced to endure such difficulties as Oliver experienced in this book. Overall, the story had an Oliver Twist sort of air about it.

[Anais · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written page-turner, something akin to an upper elementary-aged primer for Dickens with its “darkful” tone, set in grimy, 18th century England and full of sinister villains. It seems that only the three main characters have any moral compass, and even one of these is a drunk gambler. Through the course of the story, the other two must compromise their moral standards for survival, a thought-provoking theme for dialectic stage readers. I love how Avi’s heroes tend to be young characters who are dignified, credible, and relatable. It is worth mentioning that the only Christians in this book (and their use of scripture) are loathsome and disingenuous.

[Rodger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes place in England in 1724, illustrating how terribly unjust the legal system was at that time. Oliver is a 12 year old boy, apprenticed to his father, a lawyer. Knowing the laws and their respective consequences, Oliver makes a poor choice to take something from a shipwreck (stealing), which is a hanging offence. His life turns upside down after that, getting mixed up with real bad guys, in a nonstop adventure that ends in a cliffhanger to be continued in the next book.

Content considerations:
Aside from stealing, the main character lies quite a bit and justifies his actions. Language: 'h' word and 'a' word.