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phantomignis's review against another edition
3.0
Took me a very long time to finish, but I did very much enjoy the characters and the plot of this book however, my one grip was that it was quite slow at times making me lose interest therefore, why it took me so long to actually finish the book. However, I want to thank Hannah Tinti and Goodreads giveaways for allowing me the opportunity to win this book, thanks!
gillybeanreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
caitlin_89's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.5
If you like Charles Dickens, this is like a shorter, faster, American version of Oliver Twist. But with a twist!
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Twelve-year-old Ren is an orphan with a missing hand. How he lost that hand is a mystery, as he was abandoned at Saint Anthony’s Orphanage for boys when he was an infant, without any note or identifying marks, save for embroidered REN inside the gown he was wearing. Occasionally a man will come to choose a boy, but Ren is never chosen. Until one day when a man appears, claiming to be Ren’s brother. Benjamin’s plausible story of how Ren lost his hand convinces Father John and Ren leaves the orphanage. But Benjamin may not be who he claims to be, and Ren is quickly absorbed into a gang of scam artists, grave robbers and petty thieves.
I had heard good reports of this novel and I was intrigued by the premise. Tinti captured my attention at the beginning and certainly kept me reading, but I found it very dark and distasteful. The scenarios, schemes, and twists in the plot just seemed like a list of “what will be next to befall this kid.” I never quite understood any of the characters – what motivated them and what held them together in their relationships to one another. The ending was quite a stretch, in my humble opinion, as if Tinti needed to wrap it up and give the reader some hope for the future.
Tinti does give the reader a real sense of the time and place. Though the year is never mentioned, this is a horse-and-wagon economy with some mines and some factories. The Army sometimes recruits older boys from St Anthony’s so perhaps there is a war being fought. There’s never any mention of an automobile, so I’m thinking Industrial Era, say circa 1812-1815. I loved the descriptions of the farmer’s fields, barns, animals … all new vistas to Ren’s eyes. I also really enjoyed Mrs Sands and descriptions of life in her boarding house.
But the things I liked about the book can’t quite make up for my general dislike.
I had heard good reports of this novel and I was intrigued by the premise. Tinti captured my attention at the beginning and certainly kept me reading, but I found it very dark and distasteful. The scenarios, schemes, and twists in the plot just seemed like a list of “what will be next to befall this kid.” I never quite understood any of the characters – what motivated them and what held them together in their relationships to one another. The ending was quite a stretch, in my humble opinion, as if Tinti needed to wrap it up and give the reader some hope for the future.
Tinti does give the reader a real sense of the time and place. Though the year is never mentioned, this is a horse-and-wagon economy with some mines and some factories. The Army sometimes recruits older boys from St Anthony’s so perhaps there is a war being fought. There’s never any mention of an automobile, so I’m thinking Industrial Era, say circa 1812-1815. I loved the descriptions of the farmer’s fields, barns, animals … all new vistas to Ren’s eyes. I also really enjoyed Mrs Sands and descriptions of life in her boarding house.
But the things I liked about the book can’t quite make up for my general dislike.
angela_reads_books's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book in a local book store and bought it for 75 cents. I’m very surprised I actually enjoyed the story about this orphaned boy with one arm. Definitely a cute book and a good find!
shareen17's review against another edition
4.0
This is a laugh, exclaim, and gasp out loud, read-until-you're-finished kind of book. The characters are intriguing, the story compelling & the writing very good. Just do yourself a favor and don't read the back of the book, because it gives too much away. Just know it's the story of a boy who's been raised in an orphanage that is one day claimed by a man who says he's his brother but turns out to be a thief and con-artist. The book is about right and wrong in extreme circumstances and the meaning of family. I loved it. I might have to change my star rating to five stars, but since I hardly ever give out five stars I'll have to think about it first.
colleengeedrumm's review against another edition
4.0
How one does anything unpleasant, I suppose. Remove your senses from the process, and look beyond the task at hand. Eventually a kind of numbness takes over, and you find that you can do anything.
laila4343's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun read! I couldn't wait to turn the pages and find out what was going to happen.