Friday Memes: Sweep: the story of a girl and her monster by Jonathan Auxier

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

Sweep: the story of a girl and her monster by Jonathan Auxier. 260 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, September 25, 2018. 9781419731402. (Arc courtesy of publisher.)

Publisher synopsis: For nearly a century, Victorian London relied on “climbing boys”—orphans owned by chimney sweeps—to clean flues and protect homes from fire. The work was hard, thankless, and brutally dangerous. Eleven-year-old Nan Sparrow is quite possibly the best climber who ever lived—and a girl. With her wits and will, she’s managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again. But when Nan gets stuck in a deadly chimney fire, she fears her time has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from ash and coal. This is the creature that saved her from the fire.

Sweep is the story of a girl and her monster. Together, these two outcasts carve out a life—saving one another in the process. By one of today’s most powerful storytellers, Sweep is a heartrending adventure about the everlasting gifts of friendship and hope.

First Line: There are all sorts of wonderful things a person might see very early in the morning.

Page 56: "Roger!" Nan shouted. "Roger, no-" Her cries were cut off by a hollow whoof as the match hit the coals. Air was drawn down through the chimney, like a beast drawing a deep breath.

I did not read Auxier's debut, The Night Gardener when it first came out because I don't like horror. I thoroughly enjoyed Peter Nimble, so I got The Night Gardener on audio and fell in love in spite of my scaredy-cat ways. I was entranced by Sophie Quire and psyched when I learned of Sweep!