A review by amynbell
A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson
After having read a disappointing children's book on Emerson, I found this one to be delightful. I love how it brings the setting into view from up above and slowly zooms in with the author asking the reader to find 12-year-old Dickens sitting in a doorway. Young Dickens is sad about the books he's had to sell and tired from a day's work in the factory. He spends the night alone writing. And the moment my child asks where young Dickens' parents are, we turn the page to find that they're in debtor's prison.
This story shows the world of the poor that Dickens gleaned from his life to write into his stories. It also shows the love of his family and the hope that Dickens was able to express in his writing. The illustrations are lovely, and the writing is perfect to tell young Dickens' story. I especially appreciated the 2nd person omniscient narrator taking us into Dickens' world for a small glimpse of some of the parts of his life that inspired [b:David Copperfield|58696|David Copperfield|Charles Dickens|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461452762s/58696.jpg|4711940] and others of his novels.
This story shows the world of the poor that Dickens gleaned from his life to write into his stories. It also shows the love of his family and the hope that Dickens was able to express in his writing. The illustrations are lovely, and the writing is perfect to tell young Dickens' story. I especially appreciated the 2nd person omniscient narrator taking us into Dickens' world for a small glimpse of some of the parts of his life that inspired [b:David Copperfield|58696|David Copperfield|Charles Dickens|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461452762s/58696.jpg|4711940] and others of his novels.