Genre: YA (maybe even perhaps MG) historical fiction with a touch of magic and a little steam punk too
Rating: A
For: an impromptu blog tour
From: An ARC from the author
Awhile back when we had our blogger party, Matthew Kirby showed up with one ARC of his book, The Clockwork Three. I'm not sure he understood how brave this was, to show up at a book blogger party with one ARC! So, after he realized the enthusiasm that existed and that many of us were salivating over it, he decided we had to share, and so he decided to send his ARC on a blog tour. Those of us interested in reading and reviewing the book put our names and addresses inside and promised to mail (or deliver) it to each other.
Matt Kirby with his ARC and Bree Despain with hers!
This past week it came to my door, courtesy of Jenni Elyse. So I spent the weekend completely devouring this story! I expected it to be some sort of fantasy. Instead, it was more of a historical fiction taking place in perhaps the late 1800's in a New York type city (I don't think the time and setting was every really named, if it was I totally missed it!) In this city, many different landmarks featured prominently and played important parts.... the fancy old hotel, the huge park/reserve, an old church, a pleasantly creepy graveyard, and the opera house.... just to name a few.
The story is about three young kids all with different issues and problems they are facing, big ones. Each chapter switches back and forth between their points of view. There's Guiseppe who has been sold to a guy who forces him to play his violin on the street, then turn in the money makes. Then there's Frederick who becomes an apprentice after being rescued from an orphanage by a clock maker. And finally, there's Hannah who works as a maid in the fancy hotel to keep her family alive.
Of course, their stories all mesh together and over the course of their adventures, they manage to help each other with all their different goals and problems. It's really a wonderfully sweet, heartwarming story. All touched with just a bit of magic, the sort of magic that makes you believe that it might even be real.
I loved the old fashioned feel to this story and really felt immersed in the city and the lives of these kids. I think this book had everything! A little bit of scary, a little bit of magic, a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance.
Bottom line: I loved it!
Other Reviews:
The Unread Reader
Cranberry Fries
And for more on author Matthew Kirby, check out his website here.
You know, I think I was at the very bottom of the list. Not sure if it's even going to make it to me! Darn, guess I'll have to rely on my library :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm.... should we sneak you in now, since I can't seem to get a hold of Julie who is next on the list? :)
ReplyDeleteThe book sound interesting. I like the premise, and the setting. Going to have to try and get my hands on it at some point.
ReplyDelete