(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Shane Cluskey. After their parents' tragic (and explosive) demise, Basil and Dahlia Bloom sit on a train barreling toward Philadelphia with their social worker, Mrs. Hassenblasset, who warns of their imminent separation. Distraught, the two leap from the moving train and begin a grueling quest to land themselves anywhere but apart from each other. Their wanderings ultimately take them to New York City, bruised, beaten, and hungry. Lured by the smells of a bakery, the children are caught dumpster-diving by celebrity chef Laurel Fox. She whisks them away to her luxurious apartment, seemingly transforming their lives in the blink of an eye. But despite their new wardrobes, the endless library, and the home-cooked meals, Dahlia and Basil sense something sinister behind Fox's keen interest in their tears. Black-and-white illustrations pepper the narrative with sharp corners and ominous shadows as the children attempt to escape one trap after another. The tone is largely due to its self-proclaimed-Dickensian narrator, who breaks the fourth wall often with wry asides, humorous advice, and anachronistic references, even making assertions about what's appropriate in a book for children. With a decidedly Lemony Snicket flavor and hints of Lowry's The Willoughbys (rev. 3/08), McCullough's variation on "Hansel and Gretel" satisfies the need for a fright but also deftly touches on the reality of grief, guilt, and the powerful bond between siblings.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 4-6 Eight-year-old Duck, orphaned as an infant, is the youngest member of a gang of urchins called the Crowns, who forage and pickpocket and scam their way through Avilogne (think medieval France) to survive--barely. In the city of Odierne, the Crowns find temporary shelter in a crumbling, abandoned cathedral watched over by forgotten, brooding, sentient gargoyles, one of whom narrates interspersed chapters. Duck is reluctantly apprenticed to kindly, trusting baker Griselde, who is nearly blind, in order to carry out ruthless gang-leader Gnat's scheme to steal from Griselde on a regular basis. And we're off--into a riveting novel full of tension and action; sensory-rich scenes and settings; and vividly portrayed, believable characters. As the seasons progress, we experience with Duck her moral dilemmas (taking advantage of the generous but vulnerable Griselde feels wrong); crisis of identity as she is torn between being a loyal apprentice and serving the Crowns; growing attachment not just to Griselde but to the wider community to which she now belongs; a terrible, costly betrayal; and an ultimate rescue. There are revelations at the end (one involving the gargoyle narrator), but they're as nuanced as the rest of the novel. Eagar's themes never feel tacked on but instead are thoroughly kneaded into her characters and story.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 Born in prison in Chennai, India, to a Hindu mother falsely accused of stealing from her employer, Kabir has known only a harsh life behind bars. Upon his ninth birthday, he is released to the outside world. He wants nothing more than to find his Appa's (father's) family in the neighboring state of Bengaluru (Bangalore). All Kabir knows of his father is that he is Muslim; Appa didn't tell anyone of his marriage to Amma; and he stopped writing to them after he left India to work in the Gulf. When Kabir befriends Rani, a Kurava (Roma) girl, they team up to find Kabir's paternal grandparents, and the pace of the plot quickens. Short chapters and paragraphs guide the story to its bittersweet conclusion for both Rani and Kabir. As in The Bridge Home (rev. 1/19), Venkatraman portrays children's experiences of poverty and other social issues; here, she explores Hindu-Muslim animosity, how the Indian caste ­system predetermines social status, and how biased institutions interact with (and ultimately fail) those of lower caste. This earnest, heartfelt adventure will transport many readers to a different setting while guiding them to draw parallels with contexts closer to home. An author's note addresses the Roma community in India, water shortages, and incarceration rates in relation to caste.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) 4-6 In 1872 Edinburgh, mute pickpocket Danny inadvertently helps a wealthy menagerie owner purchase an elephant at auction. Mr. Jameson concocts a P. T. Barnum–type spectacle in which Danny, posing as an Indian prince, rides the elephant, Maharajah, across Scotland and England. Young animal lovers and fans of historical fiction alike will enjoy this big-hearted adventure based on true events.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Fifteen-year-old Rain lives with her jewelry-peddling father in a tent community outside of Seattle. When the city clears the "Winterfolk" community, Rain finds herself isolated and shoe-less in the big city, trying to find her way home or to a new safe haven. Lyrical language draws readers into Rain's distinctive worldview as she navigates the risks of homelessness in this uniquely set, thought-provoking coming-of-age story.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Don Tate. Set in 1895 New Orleans, this fictionalized account of the instrument-making street kids who formed the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band is brought to life with bouncy, colloquial narration and brightly colored, super-cartoony illustrations. Author and illustrator notes with historical context about the orphans that comprised the real-life band fill in occasional gaps in the storytelling. Includes instructions on "how to zip-zee-zoo on a homemade kazoo."

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA When Jack is spirited away to a dark street in another time, he's convinced that his insulin must not be working properly. But he keeps returning, and a shadowy street waif becomes determined to keep Jack there forever; meanwhile, classmate Lucy is also having visions of the same girl. Supernatural melds intriguingly with fairy tale in this twist on Andersen's "The Little Match Girl."

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 In the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, fictional street boy Ram's life intersects with that of a real self-taught artist, Nek Chand, creator of an amazing garden of sculptures fabricated from recycled materials. Ram helps save the garden from destruction in this compelling contemporary story that also successfully weaves in parts of the Ramayana, the great Indian epic. Author's note. Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Guided by the spirits of his recently deceased parents, eleven-year-old Mor struggles to support his younger sisters in their rural Senegalese village. Harder still, Mor must save enough for his sister to attend private school and steer clear of the brutal Danka Boys gang. Although the novel is lengthy for middle-grade, strong, vibrant storytelling brings the community to life. An author's note discusses street children in Senegal.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 4-6 The Nameless City series. Color by Jordie Bellaire. Kai, part of the ruling Dao class, and City native Rat (The Nameless City) continue their unlikely friendship as the Nameless City transitions from uneasy peace to turmoil. Intrigue, assassinations, and enemies (from without and within) make for exciting action, while peaceful moments allow the series additional character development. This second graphic novel's cinematic illustrations feature especially strong coloring and setting-building.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Carson Ellis. In 1961 Marseille, France, twelve-year-old Charlie witnesses children working together as pickpockets, and he becomes an active participant in their schemes. Charlie's worlds collide when the Whiz Mob gang works a Big Tip--a gala at which his American diplomat father is an important guest. Fans of the more fantastical Wildwood Chronicles will appreciate this clever caper's similarly witty, self-aware narrative voice and personality-filled pencil illustrations. Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) YA Homeless on the streets of London, twelve-year-old Bully survives with his dog, Jack. His discovery of a lottery ticket worth millions sets off a desperate chain of events. As Bully struggles to collect the winnings he is too young to legally claim, others scheme to steal them. Byrne's complex portrait of Bully--clever and rough, independent and angry--propels the story.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 Color by Jordie Bellaire. In the ancient Nameless City, Kaidu, son of a Dao (the latest army to take the City), and a native City girl named Rat form an unlikely friendship. As trust builds during an uneasy time of peace, each tries to see life through the other's eyes. Action-packed graphic-novel illustrations lavishly build the Asian-inspired setting, but depictions of the main characters aren't always visually consistent.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA This is the harrowing story of a boy whose father ran afoul of the North Korean government, resulting in the once-privileged family's banishment during a famine. When Sungju's parents disappear while searching for food, he must survive on the streets. Not many details of children's lives in North Korea have reached us, making this memoir an important, if stiffly written, contribution. Glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Isaveth's poor family struggles to survive in magical, socially stratified Tarreton. When her father is wrongly arrested for the murder of an important political figure, she sets out to prove his innocence with the help of an enigmatic street boy named Quiz. Magic, mystery, and adventure mix well here; the investigation takes surprising twists and offers a reflection on inequality.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(4) YA Flea, part of a first-century Jerusalem street gang, witnesses the arrival, public reception, and crucifixion of "Magician" Yeshua in a retelling that casts Jesus and Judas in new light. Flea's brutally conveyed desperation is a compelling backdrop for the well-paced narrative, which is skillfully built from the source material, but anachronistic dialogue ("Look, lady...") and a passive protagonist tend to undercut both believability and impact.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) YA Fletcher brings front-and-center a minor player in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables: Eponine, the Parisian street girl who takes a bullet meant for Marius, the true love of Jean Valjean's ward, Cosette. Sensory details and rich prose vividly reveal setting and character, as Eponine fights to overcome her wretched, sordid upbringing in order to do good.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) YA Timid rat Efren ventures into the human London when his king dies, discovering a doctor's plan to kill all rats. Street kid Dogboy, Dr. Ross-Gibbon's assistant, can talk to animals, which presents him with a unique dilemma: help the doctor with his work or save the rats? Blacker's detailed world-building takes precedence over characterization in this sometimes gruesome, mature animal fantasy.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(2) YA Hak Nam Walled City, based on a real place in Hong Kong, is described as "Hell on earth." The narrative rotates among three teen protagonists who desperately want to escape. Mysterious Dai teams up with Jin, who's passing as a boy and searching for her sister, Mei Yee, who was sold into prostitution. A riveting, suspenseful tale of violence, danger, and survival.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2015

(3) YA Frustrated with his dysfunctional home life, sixteen-year-old Andrew runs away on Thanksgiving. At the bus station, he hooks up with a troupe of eccentric teenage street performers who live as "freegans" and travels the country with them as he tries to figure everything out. While Kaufman offers familiar characters with universal feelings, she breathes much originality into the coming-of-age story.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt