RAR #213: Sweep: A Story You Don’t Want to Miss

09/15/22 • 36 min

It’s Victorian London in the late 1800’s... and it’s been five years since the Sweep disappeared.

Orphaned and alone, Nan Sparrow has no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days doing dangerous work–sweeping out chimneys.

The job is thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again.

This time, though, she gets stuck in a chimney fire.

She wakes to find herself unharmed in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from soot and ash.

The golem we’ll come to know as Charlie. He’s large and lovable, and Nan, our heroine, will raise him almost like her own child. He is, after all, her protector.

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

This book, written by Jonathan Auxier, won the 2019 Sydney Taylor Book Award. And it has won a place in my all-time tippy top favorite books. It’s a Charles-Dickens-like adventure about the everlasting gifts of friendship and wonder.

In this episode, I want to introduce you to the book... and to the man who wrote it.

Find the rest of the shownotes at https://readaloudrevival.com/213/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!

It’s Victorian London in the late 1800’s... and it’s been five years since the Sweep disappeared.

Orphaned and alone, Nan Sparrow has no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days doing dangerous work–sweeping out chimneys.

The job is thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again.

This time, though, she gets stuck in a chimney fire.

She wakes to find herself unharmed in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from soot and ash.

The golem we’ll come to know as Charlie. He’s large and lovable, and Nan, our heroine, will raise him almost like her own child. He is, after all, her protector.

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

In this episode, I want to introduce you to the book... and to the man who wrote it.

Find the rest of the shownotes at https://readaloudrevival.com/213/.

Previous Episode

RAR #212: The 10 Best Questions We Ever Got, Andrew Pudewa & Sarah Mackenzie

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!

Have you ever REALLY worried about one of your kids?

What should you do if you don’t feel like you read aloud well?

What’s the point of poetry memorization?

What would you tell a mom who is confused about all the different homeschooling philosophies and methods?

How do I know that I’m doing enough?

What about homeschooling high school?

These are all questions you might have...

I’ve had them too.

Andrew Pudewa and I answered questions just like these at all five Great Homeschool Conventions in 2022. Today on the podcast, we’re sharing a recording of that session with you.

Find the rest of the show notes here https://readaloudrevival.com/212/.

Next Episode

RAR #214: Am I Doing Enough?

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!

Have you ever asked yourself, “Am I doing enough?”

I think we’ve all asked that question.

If you’re homeschooling your kids, you might ask it every single day. It might even wake you up at night and feel like an elephant sitting on your chest. 🐘

Today, we’re going to talk about it.

Find the rest of the show notes https://readaloudrevival.com/214/.