Smith

By Leon Garfield

Part of the New York Review Children's Collection series

A young thief's stolen item leads to murder and a dangerous mystery.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 1,026 ratings

216 pages

$15.95Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In the gritty streets of 18th-century London, twelve-year-old Smith survives by his wits. When he picks the pocket of an old man, he unwittingly witnesses a murder. Now, with a mysterious item in hand, Smith must unravel its deadly significance. What secret could be worth a man's life? As danger closes in, Smith's cunning and courage are put to the ultimate test. Can he escape the shadows of the city, or will the forces of evil catch up with him? Dive into a thrilling tale of adventure and intrigue where every choice could be his last.

From the publisher

A Dickensian tale of a child thief caught in the middle of evil forces. Kids who love adventure, history, and a strong protagonist will love this middle-grade classic and Carnegie Medal-winning book. Twelve-year-old Smith is a denizen of the mean streets of eighteenth-century London, living hand to mouth by virtue of wit and pluck. One day he trails an old gentleman with a bulging pocket, deftly picks it, and as footsteps ring out from the alley by which he had planned to make his escape, finds himself in a tough spot. Taking refuge in a doorway, he sees two men emerge to murder the man who was his mark. They rifle the dead man’s pockets and finding them empty, depart in a rage. Smith, terrified, flees the scene of the crime. What has he stolen that is worth the life of a man? Smith is a gripping, engrossing, and utterly diverting tale of high adventure related by a writer whose scintillating style is matched only by the dazzle of his plotting. In the words of Lloyd Alexander, “Garfield is unmatched for sheer exciting storytelling. The reader simply can’t stop reading him.”