The City of Orphans is a great historical fiction book by Avi. It is about Maks Geless, a 13 year old son of Danish immigrants who lives in the tenements of New York in the 1893. Maks works as a newboy (newsie), but like all the other newsies who sell The World, he has to watch out for Bruno, and his Plug Ugly gang. One day, the gang corners him, and he is forced to run into a small alley where he gets cornered by the gang. When they beat him up, he calls for help. In the middle of the alley, a homeless person gets up and beats the Plug Uglies with a stick.
She is Willa, a homeless girl. Her mother died, and her father disappeared, so she now lives alone on the streets of New York. Maks takes her home telling her that she can get food there, and that his mom is very nice. Upon arrival, however, they learn that Maks' oldest sister Emma, who works as a maid at the Waldorf Hotel, has been jailed for stealing a watch from there! Maks knows that she would never steal. Maks and Willa learn some detective skills and try to find out who really stole the watch, all the while having to evade the Plug Uglies.This is a very good book, and is also a great way to learn about New York in the late 19th century.
I rate this 7+ out of 10.
