A Pickpocket's Tale Book

Molly Abraham, a street rat from London, has made her way in the mean streets of 18th century London as a pickpocket. Now she's been ratted out and hauled before the magistrate. Molly is sentenced to an indenture in America until she comes of age. She discovers that some wealthy Jewish men want to rescue her because of her heritage, which she knows nothing about. She's purchased by a New York merchant, Mr. Bell, because he wants to do a mitzvah, a good deed for someone. Molly soon finds herself struggling to understand her new life and new home. She longs to return to London where she knows who she is and how to survive. Does she still have the street smarts to steal something that would pay her passage back? Does she really want to?

This is a very nice period piece set in 1750. I've read other books about young thieves but the Jewish angle makes it a bit different. I'm familiar with Jews in New York more from the late 19th century than in this time period. I learned a bit about Jewish culture and daily life in old New York. I especially liked the geography of New York: trees and farmland in Manhattan - imagine that! My only real complaint is that the characters sound too modern. Aside from Molly, they all speak modern English. Molly's thieves' cant was a bit tough to understand but there is a glossary in the back of the book.

Molly is a tough character to like. She's been on her own for two years and lived in the worst neighborhood in London. She's seen things Mrs. Bell could never even dream of. Molly's background makes her tough and when she arrives in unfamiliar territory, she tries to apply her street smarts and it makes her seem ungrateful and unappealing. Slowly she grows and the reader will come to like her in the end. I admire her resiliency.

Young readers 10+ would probably enjoy this more than adults but the writing style is very good and not preachy or overly simple. It's a good, quick read for someone who wants to learn a little bit about this time and Jewish life in old New York.