NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofTheNightGardener!ASydneyTaylorBookAwardWinner!“Astunninghistoricalfantasy...withcompellingcharacters.“―SchoolLibraryJournalSTARREDREVIEW*“Ayoungchimneysweepgathersanunusualfamilyaroundherinthisbittersweethistoricalfantasyofloveandloss....Asheartbreakingasbleakmidwinter--andashopefulasearlyspring.“--KirkusReviewsIt’sbeenfiveyearssincetheSweepdisappeared.Orphanedandalone,11-year-oldNanSparrowhadnootherchoicebuttoworkforaruthlesschimneysweepnamedWilkieCrudd.Shespendsherdayssweepingoutchimneys.Thejobisdangerousandthankless,butwithherwitsandwill,Nanhasmanagedtobeatthedeadlyoddstimeandtimeagain.WhenNangetsstuckinachimneyfire,shefearstheendhascome.Instead,shewakestofindherselfunharmedinanabandonedattic.Andsheisnotalone.Huddledinthecornerisamysteriouscreature--agolem--madefromsootandash.Withvividcharacters--tough,whip-smartNan;lovable,childlikeCharlie;theirengagingcompanions;eventhemarvelouslyDickensianvillains--bestsellingauthorJonathanAuxieraddressesissueslikeDickensianchildlaborandanti-Semitism,butneverbecomespreachyoroverbearing.AsNanpainfully,tentatively,haltinglypermitslovetomakehervulnerable,shealsogainsstrengthandpurpose.Sweepisthestoryofagirlandhermonster.Together,thesetwooutcastscarveoutanewlife--savingeachotherintheprocess.Lyricallytoldbyoneoftoday’smostpowerfulstorytellers,Sweepisaheartrendingadventureabouttheeverlastinggiftsoffriendshipandwonder.
