Twisted Threads Of Polly Freeman

by Pippa Goodhart

It s 1838. Polly is sent from a London workhouse to Quarry Bank Cotton Mill. The family who own Quarry Bank care for their apprentice children better than most mills do. But Polly is owned by the mill just as the slaves in America who grow the raw cotton sent to the mill are owned. Can Polly and her friend Min escape What surprises will Polly discover about her own family A life or death adventure in which Polly Freeman learns who she is and what she wants.

Paperback

About the author

Pippa Goodhart is the author of over a hundred children’s books, including the prize-winning picture book You Choose, and the Winnie the Witch series which she writes under the pen name of Laura Owen. She trained as a teacher and worked for many years in bookselling before becoming a mother and a writer.

See Laura Owen

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Twisted Threads of Polly Freeman by Pippa Goodheart is a set at the start of the Victorian age and follows the life and adventures of the main character, Polly Freeman. The story opens when Polly is living in poverty with her Great Aunt Jemima, sewing to make ends meet but barely scraping enough to get by. On the day the story opens they take a chance to find the money to pay their rent to avoid being evicted and when it goes wrong, both end up being sent to a London Workhouse, where they are separated, Great Aunt Jemima to the lunatic ward and Polly to work with the other children there, spending long hungry days, splitting tar covered rope. Her dreams of escaping come when she and her friend, Min, and other children are picked to go to the north of England to work in the cotton mills, with the promise of better conditions and some education too. Living conditions are slightly better but working conditions at the mill are very dangerous, with Polly’s friend Min, dying from a serious injury while working. This results in Polly attempting to escape and unite with her Great Aunt Jem, which results in other adventures before they are finally united at the end.

I had an idea that this story would be rooted in some real historical events linked to children sewing in history. What drew me to this book initially was indeed the sewing theme from the beautiful front cover which is has a fabric textured look to it with an embroidered images with what I now know are all objects related to the story: flowers, scissors, thread, a sparrow and a water mill. While this is a very readable, exciting adventure story, it is also a book that opens up much opportunity to find out about the appalling conditions and lives many children had working in both the St Pancras Workhouse and the Quarry Bank Mill. The poverty, long working hours in dangerous working conditions, starting from such a very young age. The book also has hints throughout about Polly’s heritage and who her father was. It is a towards the end that we find out who he was and without giving anything away, brings in another aspect of the history of cotton mills to research, explore and understand.

Alongside this there are themes of friendship, resourcefulness and resilience to explore. There is also a very comprehensive chapter at the end from Pippa Goodheart where she shares the real people and places that she based this story on. So, while this is a thrilling story to read with a very ingenious and strong main character, it also delivers on bringing to the forefront, the very real and difficult life many children had living in these terrible conditions in Victorian England.

[Jemma Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sensational story! Gripping from start to finish and full of twists and turns.

[Hannah Fazakerley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t come across any of Pippa Goodheart’s historical novels for the 9-12 age group before this, but I will certainly be seeking out the others for our school library (and so that I can enjoy them too!)

Set in 1838, at the beginning of the Victorian era, Polly Freeman lives in poverty with her Aunt. Sadly things get worse for them and they end up in the Workhouse. Later still, Polly is picked to travel from London to the north of England to work with other children at a mill. Will this change her fortunes for the better and she and her Aunt ever be reunited?

This exciting and fast paced story, grabs hold of you and pulls you in immediately. Polly is a fantastic heroine, stout heated and determined; the beautifully described period details immerse the reader in history from the outset. I loved the fact that the story is based on real people, places and lives that once were lived. Pippa Goodheart is excellent at weaving history and imagination together, with a great balance of historical detail and rip-roaring storyline where no punches are pulled with regard to what life would have been like at the time.
In short, Pippa Goodheart is a master storyteller and if you are searching for a historical adventure with danger, tragedy and self discovery, then this is the book for you!

[Fi Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was kindly gifted to me, in return for an honest review. So here goes…
The book is set during the Victorian era, which instantly caught my attention as this is personally one of my favourite eras to explore. It follows the working life of a young girl, Polly. She hasn’t been blessed with fancy clothes or a comfortable home, she lives in poverty. Poor Polly is moved from one tough working environment to another. The book really emphasises the hardship of poorer families during this period. The characters are perfectly written, and fit well into a tough topic.

As a primary school teacher, I would love to read this book to children in the higher years. The Victorians are covered in the curriculum and I think this book would certainly support that topic. Such a comfortable read, leaving the reading wanting more.

[Shey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book that I absolutely adored. The way Pippa writes her characters means you become invested in them very quickly - I cried a couple of times! It made a nice alternative to Street Child and I particularly liked it due to me having visited the setting of the book on many occasion! Excellent book, really enjoyed it. 😊

[Susan Doherty]

An easy read which I enjoyed. I liked the look of the front cove as I'm interested in sewing. It does highlight the appalling and dangerous conditions that young children were placed in to work during Victorian times.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this with my 9 year old daughter, she also liked it. We found the historical afterword at the end fascinating too. I mostly find children's books too long these days, drawn out. This was a nice length, 240 pages. A good read.

[Sophie De Pablo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a light and easy read, I finished it in a few sittings but I found the characters lacked depth and I wasn't particularly invested in the outcome. I'm sure younger readers would enjoy it.

[Cristiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️