Helpful Score: 2
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. It was a fantastic read, I really enjoyed it. Extremely well written, I loved the writing style and enjoyed how the stories of three children were woven together.
Giuseppe is an orphan who is living as a busker and trying to survive under a brutal padrone named Stephano. When he finds a green violin that seems magical when he plays it he thinks it may help him escape back to his home in Italy. Frederick is a clockmaker's apprentice who wants to make something spectacular so that he can make journeyman and set up his own shop. If only he could find a way to build the head for his clockwork man. Hannah is a maid at a hotel; she works long hours to support her father who is paralyzed, her mother who cares for him, and her two younger sisters. When she finds out about a treasure hidden somewhere in the hotel she is desperate to find it. These three teenagers find their mysteries and stories entwine.
I absolutely loved this story. It takes place in London in the Victorian time period. It is more about magical realism than any straight out magic. There is a steampunk theme throughout because of all of the automatons and clockwork that Frederick does. The writing is just absolutely beautiful; it flows wonderfully, is descriptive, and easy to read. I really enjoyed the writing style a lot.
The characters are absolutely wonderful, they all strive to be the best they can and are hopeful despite their dank surroundings. Each of the children has mysteries from the past that they need to solve and are striving to create better futures for themselves and those around them. These characters were absolutely engaging and lots of fun to read about.
In the beginning of the book each chapter is from a different characters' perspective, but occasionally the characters cross paths. Then as the book goes on the three characters' stories become increasingly dependent on each other and more and more entangled.
The plot was full of twists and turns and surprises. You never knew exactly how anything was going to end up. There are so many mysteries in this book and it was such fun to read how these mysteries were solved and there outcomes.
There is magic in this book but it is subtle. In this case it is the magic's subtley that make it feel even more magical. Guiseppe's violin playing is magical, Frederick's automaton are magical, and Hannah's search for the treasure is too.
I loved how nicely everything was wrapped up in the end. This is a book suitable for all ages. The story-telling is very well done and just expertly told.
Overall just a wonderful book. I highly recommend it to readers of all ages. Readers who love mystery in a Victorian setting and with a touch of magic will love this. The writing quality and story telling ability of the author are exceptional. The characters struggle, but are hopeful and I love the way things end. Just a wonderfully told story, I will definitely check out Kirby's future books.
Giuseppe is an orphan who is living as a busker and trying to survive under a brutal padrone named Stephano. When he finds a green violin that seems magical when he plays it he thinks it may help him escape back to his home in Italy. Frederick is a clockmaker's apprentice who wants to make something spectacular so that he can make journeyman and set up his own shop. If only he could find a way to build the head for his clockwork man. Hannah is a maid at a hotel; she works long hours to support her father who is paralyzed, her mother who cares for him, and her two younger sisters. When she finds out about a treasure hidden somewhere in the hotel she is desperate to find it. These three teenagers find their mysteries and stories entwine.
I absolutely loved this story. It takes place in London in the Victorian time period. It is more about magical realism than any straight out magic. There is a steampunk theme throughout because of all of the automatons and clockwork that Frederick does. The writing is just absolutely beautiful; it flows wonderfully, is descriptive, and easy to read. I really enjoyed the writing style a lot.
The characters are absolutely wonderful, they all strive to be the best they can and are hopeful despite their dank surroundings. Each of the children has mysteries from the past that they need to solve and are striving to create better futures for themselves and those around them. These characters were absolutely engaging and lots of fun to read about.
In the beginning of the book each chapter is from a different characters' perspective, but occasionally the characters cross paths. Then as the book goes on the three characters' stories become increasingly dependent on each other and more and more entangled.
The plot was full of twists and turns and surprises. You never knew exactly how anything was going to end up. There are so many mysteries in this book and it was such fun to read how these mysteries were solved and there outcomes.
There is magic in this book but it is subtle. In this case it is the magic's subtley that make it feel even more magical. Guiseppe's violin playing is magical, Frederick's automaton are magical, and Hannah's search for the treasure is too.
I loved how nicely everything was wrapped up in the end. This is a book suitable for all ages. The story-telling is very well done and just expertly told.
Overall just a wonderful book. I highly recommend it to readers of all ages. Readers who love mystery in a Victorian setting and with a touch of magic will love this. The writing quality and story telling ability of the author are exceptional. The characters struggle, but are hopeful and I love the way things end. Just a wonderfully told story, I will definitely check out Kirby's future books.
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
Desperate to escape from his cruel master and make his way back to his home in Italy, Giuseppe is excited to find a green violin that is like new. Playing it every day in the streets, he is able to make large amounts of money for his escape. Storing it in a crypt of a man by the name of Stroop, he dreams of the day he will be able to buy his passage home. However, his cruel master, Stephano, grows suspicious of Giuseppe and begins watching him like a hawk.
Once a great stonemanson, Hannah's father has become an invalid after suffering a bad stroke. Her mother must stay home and care for him as well as the two youngest children. Forced to work in a hotel as a maid, Hannah longs to be able to go back to school and move out of the tenement housing they live in. When her father falls seriously ill from a bedsore, Hannah's desperate attempts to get money for the medicine her father needs all fail. Her only hope is to find the missing treasure of Mr. Stroop, a once wealthy, prominent, living person in society.
Apprenticed to a clockmaker, Frederick was lucky enough to escape the orphanage life. Curious to a fault, Frederick seeks unique ways to becoming a journeyman in his field. When he gets the idea to make a clockwork man, he begins saving pieces of scrap metal from around the shop and starts creating them into the form of a man. All he needs is a head.
Their lives spun together like clockwork, these three's paths become entwined for better or for worse. Working together to try and meet all three of their goals, they are able to find a way into Mr. Stroop's old hidden room above the hotel, find a clockwork head for Frederick, and help Giuseppe get out from under his oppression. Their plans, however, soon backfire and make matters worse.
Now, Giuseppe is on the run for his life from his cruel master, Frederick has mysterious men from the town museum after him for stealing their clockwork head, and Hannah is on the run from the police for theft and burglary from the hotel she was working at. Their only hope is to find the treasure. Will they succeed?
An amazing adventure filled with excitement, action, and friendship. The characters are well-developed. The plot is unique, well-done, and does a great job of holding the reader's interest. Those who like fantasy, adventure, and mystery will all enjoy reading THE CLOCKWORK THREE.
Desperate to escape from his cruel master and make his way back to his home in Italy, Giuseppe is excited to find a green violin that is like new. Playing it every day in the streets, he is able to make large amounts of money for his escape. Storing it in a crypt of a man by the name of Stroop, he dreams of the day he will be able to buy his passage home. However, his cruel master, Stephano, grows suspicious of Giuseppe and begins watching him like a hawk.
Once a great stonemanson, Hannah's father has become an invalid after suffering a bad stroke. Her mother must stay home and care for him as well as the two youngest children. Forced to work in a hotel as a maid, Hannah longs to be able to go back to school and move out of the tenement housing they live in. When her father falls seriously ill from a bedsore, Hannah's desperate attempts to get money for the medicine her father needs all fail. Her only hope is to find the missing treasure of Mr. Stroop, a once wealthy, prominent, living person in society.
Apprenticed to a clockmaker, Frederick was lucky enough to escape the orphanage life. Curious to a fault, Frederick seeks unique ways to becoming a journeyman in his field. When he gets the idea to make a clockwork man, he begins saving pieces of scrap metal from around the shop and starts creating them into the form of a man. All he needs is a head.
Their lives spun together like clockwork, these three's paths become entwined for better or for worse. Working together to try and meet all three of their goals, they are able to find a way into Mr. Stroop's old hidden room above the hotel, find a clockwork head for Frederick, and help Giuseppe get out from under his oppression. Their plans, however, soon backfire and make matters worse.
Now, Giuseppe is on the run for his life from his cruel master, Frederick has mysterious men from the town museum after him for stealing their clockwork head, and Hannah is on the run from the police for theft and burglary from the hotel she was working at. Their only hope is to find the treasure. Will they succeed?
An amazing adventure filled with excitement, action, and friendship. The characters are well-developed. The plot is unique, well-done, and does a great job of holding the reader's interest. Those who like fantasy, adventure, and mystery will all enjoy reading THE CLOCKWORK THREE.
