This book was on so many recommended lists that I finally found a copy to read. Someone even said it would be a book they would take to a deserted island for reading. That really made me want to read it. It turned out that I loved this book too. Stories about monsters or horror are not my go-to genre, but this isn't horror. Think Mary Poppins, Oliver Twist, and Jewish folklore with fantasy and historical fiction.
The story is set in Victorian London and the main character is an orphan who is raised by a chimney sweep until he has to leave her when she is only six years old. Nan ends up having to work for an evil chimney sweep lord who employs little children to clean out the chimneys in London. The little ones are the only ones who can easily fit inside a chimney in order to clean it. When she is in a life or death situation, a small chunk of dust comes to her rescue!
In the title, the book calls the creation Nan has a monster but I would say he is more like a gentle guide golem. A golem is a clay figure brought to life in Jewish folklore. The book refers to Jewish mythology, child labor, historical history, and a little bit of mysticism and magic. The writing is very beautiful and you can recognize the quality of this author's craft in this book. It won the 2019 Sydney Taylor book award for an outstanding book for children that authentically portrays the Jewish experience.
This book gets a 5 rating from me. I thought it was an amazing read! It is about a 4th or 5th-grade reading level and is 368 pages long.
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