Sweep: The Story of a Girl and her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

Victorian London's skyline was that of chimneys. Homes and buildings large or small had one to several of these smoke stacks. Fireplaces burning dirty coal or wood, their chimneys had to be cleaned. Small to fit inside, orphaned children were indentured to a meager life of cleaning the sooty, filthy chimney stacks.
Nan was cared for lovingly by the Sweep. Together they lived a meager, but warm life. The Sweep taught her all there was to know about cleaning chimneys, telling her stories, giving her the shirt off his back. Nan's life changes when the Sweep disappears, leaving Nan his hat, and a warm piece of charcoal. 

Nan, now an orphan, is indentured to the stern Wilkie Crudd, who's team of young children are forced to clean chimneys in exchange for a meager sustenance. Nan is his best sweep, jealously teased by deceptive Roger, rated second best sweep. When Nan is cleaning a private school's chimney, she gets stuck. When the school calls for help, Roger comes to her rescue, deciding this is his opportunity. Rather than rescue, he performs "The Devil's Nudge." Setting a fire in the fireplace below, guaranteeing Nan's death.

Everyone believes Nan is dead, but Nan doesn't die. She discovers herself in the school's attic, breaking through the chimney's stone. The small piece of charcoal the Sweep gave Nan saved her life. The piece of charcoal grows. It grows arms and legs. It has personality, it talks, and desires a name. Nan names him Charlie, an appropriate name for a monster made of charcoal. Nan learns that this "monster" is her Golem, her protector. They stow away in an abandoned house and life gets better, until they are discovered.

This fantasy is warm and full of heart. The text is lyrical. The story is told with love and compassion. Imagine sitting by a warm fire, with blanket and hot chocolate, and then totally entranced by the voice of the storyteller. I loved this one.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 4.5 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 10 • Lexile Level: 630 • Publisher: Harry N. Abrams • Pages: 344 • Copyright: 2018 • ISBN: 978-1-419-73410-2 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

CYRM 2020/21 Nominee, Middle School