About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts questioning social hierarchies or expresses a desire to forge their own path despite family expectations. Set in a 19th-century English mining village, this story follows Dick Ullathorne as he realizes that the dangerous, grueling life of a miner is not his only option. It is a powerful tool for discussing economic justice, the value of education, and the courage it takes to be the first in a family to try something new. While the setting is historical, the emotional themes of resilience during financial hardship and the internal struggle for independence remain deeply relevant. It is best suited for middle-school readers who are developing a more sophisticated sense of fairness. Parents will appreciate how the story validates the difficulty of breaking tradition while celebrating the protagonist's intellectual curiosity and grit.
