Sweepings
of the Street
"I believe all who enjoy the historical fiction genre will absolutely devour this book.... I cannot wait to see what is next for Amanda Denney."
Reader Views - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read entire review
Bronze Award in Teens (12-16), Reader Views Literary Awards, 2022
View full list
Finalist in Young Author (written by under age 25), Next Generation Indie Book Awards, 2023
View full list5-star review from Literary Titan, 2023 Read entire review
Twelve-year-old Sarah Lee longs to remain in the golden fields under a starry sky forever, but life has other plans for her. After the bleak spring of 1816 yields meager crops, Sarah’s family flees its home in the English countryside to labor at a textile factory in newly industrial London. A factory accident several months later leaves Sarah’s father out of work and her family desperate for money. Despite the worries of her older brother Thomas, Sarah disguises herself and ventures into a dangerous new job.
Sarah soon learns that life in London is not as simple as it seems. She meets Jamie, a sullen, aggressive boy who helps her adjust to the new conditions. But Jamie has dark secrets of his own, and his reluctance to trust strangers clashes with Sarah’s burning curiosity about his past. As the city creeps towards winter, Sarah and her friends stand face-to-face with the horrors of London poverty—rising prices, rampant crime, disease, and hopelessness—and it becomes clear that not everyone will make it out alive. Everyone has a secret, and the consequences can be more devastating than any of them can imagine.
Set in Regency-era England, this coming-of-age novel delves into the effects of poverty, child labor, exploitation, grief, depression, loss of innocence, and premature responsibility on children and families. Sweepings of the Street delivers a powerful, timeless story against a rapidly changing historical backdrop.
Other reviews
"The novel is richly detailed and well-researched. It’s easy to find yourself transported to the gritty streets of industrial London."
- Jessica, Goodreads
"Sarah is a well-written character and you can't help but root for her and her family."
- Macy, Goodreads
"Denney’s storytelling shines through in the deeply drawn characters and the visceral depiction of human emotions and relationships."
- Literary Titan
"The story of poverty, pain and overcoming adversity gives hope to those who struggle."
- Maggie, Amazon
"The author's writing takes the readers back in time to establish a connection with a time that is long gone yet profoundly speaks about the struggles and devastations."
- Booktalkopedia
"The author does a great job of capturing what real life looked like for most people caught up in the gears of the Industrial Revolution... I really found myself invested in Sarah, the lead character, and all of her friends."
- Tim, Goodreads
"Amanda Denney has a true talent for telling a story."
- Jane, Amazon