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At the height of his career - during the time he was writing Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend - Dickens wrote a series of sketches, mostly set in London, which he collected as The Uncommercial Traveller. The persona of the 'Uncommercial' allowed Dickens to unify his series of occasional articles by linking them through a shared narrator.

The post Dickens’ fascination with London [map] appeared first on OUPblog.

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Before I plunge into my book review, just a reminder of the contest for a free copy of The Fourth Wish, in Kindle or paperback (winner's choice). To read the rules for the contest -- which ends Friday, September 9th -- go here. (Please comment for the contest on that post so I can keep your points straight.)


Many of you know I like to read mysteries and historical novels when I'm not reading children's books. And I indulged in quite a few adult reads (and reviewed them) while I was recuperating from my foot surgery. So this is one last review of a book that combines both mystery and a historical setting: Victorian London, when streets were foggy, and you could hear the clop-clop-clop of horse hooves against cobblestones as doomed victims set off in carriages, and cases were solved without a swat team kicking in a door and waving guns. The book is The Diary of a Murder, by Lee Jackson. I bought the print version, but I see it is also out in Kindle now (in the UK).


A bit of background for this discovery: While gathering information for my middle grade mystery set in Victorian London (which is a tamer tale indeed), I came across Lee Jackson's wonderful website, called (appropriately) Victorian London. In it you will find a treasure trove of Victoriana. He provides a dictionary listing various topics, from maps, to transportation, whatever; and a click on any one topic will take you to a wealth of original sources (including Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, under Diet, where you can see what meals to plan for each month of the year in 1861. Mr. Jackson also provides some of the original "penny dreadfuls" for your reading pleasure. And he has a wonderful blog called The Cat's Meatshop, well worth following. The Diary of a Murder is his seventh mystery novel, and he has also published two nonfiction books: Victorian London and A Dictionary of Victorian London, An A-Z of the Great Metropolis.  And renowned mystery writer, Andrew Taylor, has said, "No one knows Vicorian London as Lee Jackson does -- historical fictin doesn't come more authentic than this."

On to the the review:
The Willises are concerned because their married daughter, Dora Jones, has disappeared after planning to visit them in Chelsea. When Sergeant Preston and a constable go to the Jones's home to investigate, they find the daughter brutally murdered and the pages of a diary scattered about. The diary is by Dora's husband, Jacob Jones, a clerk at the Crystal Palace. But Jacob appears to have fled the scene. Detective Inspector Delby is called in, and the story unfolds in chapters that alternate between Jacob Jones's diary, and the investigation by the inspector and the sergeant.

The story that follows reveals a doting husband, a humble clerk, who married above his station (Dora's father is a draper, and rich, and does not like young Jacob). Jacob gushes about his sweet wife,  confesses his yearnings to be a writer, admits his frustrations with his in-laws, who seem

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*Young adult (tween) book, set in Steampunk Victorian London, sort-of a mystery
*Young hunchback as main character
*Rating: The Hunchback Assignments is a fascinating book with two lovable main characters, a fascinating setting, and evil villains who may keep you up at night!

Short, short summary:

Modo, a young hunchback, is rescued by Mr. Socrates when he’s a baby from a traveling freak show. He is raised in isolation and as an agent for the Permanent Association, a secret spy agency that is protecting Great Britain behind the scenes. Modo has the remarkable ability to change his face features to resemble anyone else, and this is how he is able to go in public in spite of his disfigurement. (Sometimes, he also wears a mask.) When he’s 14, Mr. Socrates sets him out in London on his own and hopes his training has taught him to be resourceful enough to survive on his own. He soon is visited by another agent (although he doesn’t know it at the time) named Octavia Milkweed, who is a spunky, former street urchin turned spy. They start investigating the Clockwork Guild and the disappearance of several street children. Octavia and Modo soon discover the Guild is also altering the minds of the sons of prominent government officials, including Prince Albert, and they realize the horrific plans that the Guild is using the children for. As the jacket cover states, “Modo teams up with another young agent, Octavia Milkweed, for an assignment that takes them from the Tower of London to a terrifying world deep beneath the city.”

So, what do I do with this book?

1. Tweens/young teens can most likely really relate to the self-image problems Modo has in this book. Although we have very few hunchbacks walking around, most teens dislike something about themselves and worry about their self-image. You can discuss with teens or ask them to journal how Modo deals with society, about how he hides behind a mask or his remarkable ability to change himself, and how they think he feels. Then they can relate this to themselves (this would most likely be better for a journal assignment or a small group discussion rather than a large class discussion).

2. Arthur Slade gives clues throughout the book about what the Clockwork Guild is doing with the street children and young men. From the potion the men and children drink to the bolts in their shoulders, readers can try to figure out what exactly is going on–although the end result of the Clockwork Guild’s experiments is almost unbelievable. Anyway, readers can make predictions based on clues as to the devious plans throughout the novel. Solve the mystery before Modo and Octavia!

3. Steampunk means that the book is set in the past, but technology is included that wasn’t actually invented back then. Think League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. So, ask teens to dissect the setting–which parts are Victorian London? Which parts are Steampunk? How do the two parts work together to create this fascinating setting?

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