This book is about a girl named Nan Sparrow who is a chimney climber and the best on her team but while climbing a shool flue she gets stuck and a boy on her team named Roger who hates her sets the chimney on fire purposely instead of doing it in one of the safer ways. Instead of burning to death she wakes up in the attic where her char which was something her former sweep had left after he had disappeared is alive with eyes and a mouth. She decides to name him charlie. Then they move into the abandoned house of 100 chimneys. Nan teaches Charlie to read and spell with the help of Toby Squall as hiding from Nan’s master in which Nan hates to the core. During Charlies process of learning he uses ash and soot to make himself a golem.

I like this book because the main character is a strong female. The story is also fast paced and the characters are very cool and they do some cool things.

I recommend this book to kids who like the series Peter Nimble. I really liked that series.

I give this book 15 strong character stars.

Sweep is a beautiful story. Nan is a strong and likable character.. Sweep, her guardian before she ended up as a chimney sweep, was very kind and loved her dearly. That is very clear from the story. Then why did he mysteriously leave her one night never to return? She ends up with the cruel chimney master, Crudd. As the story unfolds we see glimpses of the Sweep in Nan’s memories and dreams. When Nan gets stuck in a chimney an attempt to rescue her by setting a fire in the chimney forces her to take a dramatic turn. She creates her own golem and sets about to change the her life. Readers get a glimpse into 19th century England and how horrible lives where for young children abandoned by their parents and caught into the work fo cleaning chimneys-a dangerous and deadly job.

I am grateful I got to read Jonathan Auxier’s book Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster. While the title and cover art intrigued me, I was immediately swept away into the world of Nan Sparrow, the stories of her Sweep, and the discovery of Charlie. With themes of protection, social justice, poverty, and literacy, and characters that are colorful, quirky, and real, Nan’s story is at heart about relationships, and how they can save us. This book has humor, heartbreak and haunting images of the evils of child labor. I look forward to holding this book in my hands, and then sharing it with my students.

Fantasy, child labor commentary, sad-happy heart warmer? Really? Absolutely!And with the creative pen of Jonathan Auxier, it all works remarkably well. Chimney sweep Nan loses her beloved “Sweep” who has always loved, protected, and taught her and must now indenture herself to a cruel and abusive master. But Sweep has left her with a new guardian, one with amazing gifts and abilities. A terrible accident frees Nan from her servitude, leaving her to fend for herself and find new purpose. The “fantasy” aspect of this book comes from Nan’s amazing, sweet, innocent giant named Charlie and reviewers should avoid giving anything away about him so that readers can enjoy the gradual unveiling of a fabulous character. Readers of Auxier’s other books will continue in their education on 19th century London and the societal ills that plagued the city with a story that centers around young “climbers” who crawl up into the city’s chimneys to clean them and collect the soot while risking life and limb for very little payment or even adequate food or shelter. The sad and happy parts are entwined throughout the entire book and by the end, only the most cold-hearted won’t sigh with contentment and find their heart warmed. Highly recommended without any reservations or content notes for grades 4-6 but many in older grades will also enjoy this one. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley.

Literary references abound in this book, but it is the story that will captivate readers. I will never be able to watch “Step in Time” again without thinking of the reality. I always thought Dick Van Dyke’s character in Mary Poppins was sad; this confirms it.

It took me a few chapters to get into this story, but once Charlie showed up I was hooked. Charlie is a soot golem who talks a lot like Baymax from Big Hero 6, so I love him. I loved too the interactions between Nan and the scrappy Jewish kid who keeps an eye out for her even though she has proven she doesn't need him to. I sometimes was confused by the terminology the sweepers used to describe the layout of the chimneys, but that didn't inhibit my enjoyment. In fact, the description of what it was like to actually be in a chimney are downright terrifying. A wonderful piece of writing by Auxier.

I really enjoyed this one and believe it will be a huge hit among middle grade students. It is the perfect mix of fantasy, history, and realistic fiction.

Digital review copy received from NetGalley.

This book was a mixture of Historical Fiction and Fairy Tale. All the elements are woven tovether perfectly and the story itself is whimsical and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed this story and parts practically made me bail like a baby. Its safe to say that ks is a new favorite of mine.

Is it a fairytale mixed with historical fiction? A fable mixed with social commentary? Yes! And so much more. Mr. Auxier has written a thought provoking adventure filled with determination, strength, friendship and love. It is a parable that teaches of the need to do something when we witness a wrong. Most of all, Sweep is beautiful story about the necessity of reaching out and caring for others.

As far as I know, there wasn't a Golem in Victorian London, but the truth of this historical fantasy is that there had been chimney sweeps since the great fire of London in 1666, and it was't until 1875 that a law was passed that was strong enough to protect the children that were as young as four, that were used to climb up and clean the chimneys.

This story takes place just in 1874, and is about one such Sweep, a girl named Nan, abused, indentured to a cruel master, whose original master died, and left her a piece of char that gave her warmth. It is from this warm char that she grows her monster, or Golem, Charlie.

The original book was called Soot Golem, which is sweet, and to the point, but the name was changed, I believe, to show that it was a girl sweep which was a bit unusual, although girls were used as sweeps, as were boys.

This was a fun book, as we follow Nan, and Charlie, the monster, as they try to survive in Victorian London, while hiding from her previous master, who wants her dead.

The only issue I had with the story, where I had to suspect my disbelief, was not the golem, but on the house they hid in. Surely the neighbors would have noticed, a) smoke from the chimneys, and b) light from the windows. Although, this was the height of the "london fog", where the air was very polluted, so perhaps they couldn't notice such things.

Good characters, good friendships, and Charlie is a delight.

#SweepTheBook #NetGalley

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.