I love reading both YA fiction and historical fiction and was particularly impressed with The Haunting of Charles Dickens, a book I received a while back and only managed to read recently due to work and school commitments. The story centers around teenage protagonist Meg Pickel, who is desperately searching for her missing brother, Orion, who inexplicably disappeared six months earlier. Luckily for Meg, a family friend, Charles Dickens, aids her in her search.
The novel is filled with historical details, made all the more vivid by the illustrations of Greg Ruth, and drawing readers into the dark underbelly of London during the time. The historical details blend in with the story and bring this period to life, and as a reader, I felt transported into the London of the past, with all its bleakness and despair. The author masterfully recreates the period and lends the work a high level of credibility, a crucial ingredient for the success of a historical novel. Even the language used is for the most part faithful to the time period. The only drawback is that at times, the overly descriptive language can get a wee bit tedious, but other than that, I felt the author did an excellent job recreating 19th century London.
Credible, in-depth characterization is another important element I look for in a work of fiction, and Meg Pickel is a character that young adults will easily relate to. She is full of pluck and derring-do (walking on rooftops at night!); is observant and candid; curious and intelligent. It was heartening to see a strong female character in a story set in a period when females were for the most part subservient to men.
I loved this story and look forward to more of such from the author. I hope this book finds a fan following among young adults, and it would be wonderful if this motivates teenagers to look up the classics of English literature written by Charles Dickens, such as Great Expectations (my favorite of Dickens' novels), and David Copperfield, among many others.
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