Mist
by Marta Palazzesi (Author)
Winner of the Bologna Strega Ragazzi Prize 2020
"A not-to-be-missed tale of courage and compassion."-Katherine Applegate
The incredible story of a boy's quest to give the ultimate gift to a caged wild animal: freedom.
London, 1880, 13-year-old Clay is a mud lark, scavenging on the banks of the Thames for anything he might sell for money to buy food. One day Clay goes to the camp of the circus that has newly arrived in town and meets Ollie, a girl about his age, who lives with the circus. Ollie brings him to the cage of "the last wolf in England". Mist, as he calls it, is fierce, angry, and indomitable, perhaps due to the cruel treatment of its tamers, which Clay secretly witnesses.
From that moment on, Clay is resolved to give the wolf its freedom and return it to the wild. But first he must build trust with the wolf and, with Ollie's help, find a way to release Mist back into the wild. This suspenseful novel will have readers rooting for Clay and Mist as they navigate their way through the obstacles that lay in their path.
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Kirkus Reviews
A heartfelt, attention-grabbing animal adventure.
Publishers Weekly
In 1880 London, 13-year-old orphan Clay and his friends Nucky and Tod--collectively known as the Terrors of Blackfriar Bridge--get by as mud larks, searching the grimy banks of the Thames for anything worth reselling. The trio also defend their territory from other mud larks and avoid being caught by men from local factories, who kidnap orphaned youths to work at their facilities. When Smith & Sparrow's Amazing Circus comes to town, advertising "the last living wolf in the United Kingdom," Clay is intrigued, and a chance encounter with Olivia, the circus fortune teller's granddaughter, enables him to see the fearsome creature up close. Learning that the wolf, which Clay has named Mist, will be killed if it can't be tamed, Clay decides to free it--but first, he must gain Mist's trust. Though a loosely plotted third act diminishes gratification, this gritty adventure from Palazzesi (The Adventures of Young Lupin), populated by numerous uniquely rendered characters, captures the high-adrenaline spirit and danger of living by one's wits, especially as Clay works to redefine his priorities and baseline for happiness while combatting financial precarity. Most characters cue as white; Olivia reads as having Romani heritage. Ages 9-12. (Sept.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"Readers of this page-turner will be unable to resist rooting for Clay and Mist. Clay is a compelling protagonist with a strong voice, and kids will eagerly follow along as he works to gain Mist's trust. A heartfelt, attention-grabbing animal adventure."-Kirkus Reviews
CHRISTOPHER TURNER is an Italian to English translator, editor, and professional writer. He has translated many children's books into English in his 30-year career including the popular Geronimo Stilton books. He lives in Wimbledon, London. Learn more at: www.chris-turner.net
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV016040 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | Europe
