Autumn 2005 Review

It was in a time of desperation. Tom Tin, a fourteen-year-old boy whose father has been taken off to sea to pay off his debts, struggles to help his father, but to no use. He runs away from home to find his lost parent when he falls in with an unfortunate crowd. This group of young thieves, believe that Tom is really a mysterious leader named "The Smasher". Because he looks so identical to this strange boy, the gang cannot tell the difference, and neither can the police. They arrest Tom and send him to live on a prison ship for young boys. There, he must learn to survive in the dark halls of the ship, and try to do something almost impossible: Tom Tin must escape.

I absolutely loved this book! From the very beginning, to the surprise ending it was phenomenal. Iain Lawrence's use of language throws you into a different world. The feeling of joy when a character triumphs, and the dejection of when the fail is of amazing. The characters had minds of their own and were unpredictable to the last moment. This story is fit for students 5th grade up. I would not let this adventure pass you by. I hope many read, and enjoy this amazing selection.

~ Tim Welsh, grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School