A Queer Coming-of-Age Historical Novel
Welcome to 1840s Manchester
Twelve-year-old mill girl NELLIE DOYLE faces eviction and starvation when her father loses his job. But growing up in the notorious Manchester slum of Little Ireland has made her plucky. She befriends CHLOE VALENTINE and has a chance meeting with a circus owner who seemingly grants seven wishes. They embark on a journey to improve their circumstances. Amidst wishes for peace, freedom, and family reunion, Nellie realizes her growing feelings for Chloe, learning that magic doesn’t always work as expected, and sometimes, you must create your own.
★★★★★
goodreads review
This is a beautifully told, well-researched historical adventure suitable for children aged maybe 8 – 12 years old. There are magical realist elements and a completely age appropriate lesbian love story, too. Engels appears fleetingly in the background, and the harsh life of Victorian cotton mill workers is continuously foregrounded.
The narrative voice and use of details makes the reading experience completely immersive. Manchester in the nineteenth century in all its filth, class differences, and multiculturalism spring to life with the agility of a circus performer. Nellie, the narrator, lives in Little Ireland, in poverty, with her family, and her love interest, Chloe, is a Black orphan living in the workhouse.
This was great to read as an adult and it would be magical and eye opening for a child!
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