About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like they do not fit into any one group or is struggling with the weight of being different. Set in a dark, atmospheric Victorian England where humans and faeries live in a tense, post-war truce, the story follows Bartholomew, a changeling child caught between two worlds that both reject him. It is a sophisticated mystery that explores themes of systemic prejudice and the courage required to protect one's family when the law will not. While the setting is fantastical and steampunk inspired, the emotional core deals with the reality of living on the margins. Parents should be aware that the book carries a darker tone similar to Lemony Snicket or Coraline, featuring moments of genuine peril and a mystery involving murdered children. It is an excellent choice for mature middle-grade readers who appreciate rich, Dickensian prose and stories where the underdog must find their own inner strength to survive.
