Wild Boy

Murder mystery meets carnival flair in a rollicking Victorian adventure centered on a boy with a unique appearance — and unique gifts.

In the seedy underworld of Victorian London, a boy is born and abandoned. Snatched up by an unscrupulous and abusive showman, Wild Boy, covered in hair from head to toe, becomes a sideshow freak. Isolated from other children and wickedly abused by the cruel master who bought him, Wild Boy becomes an avid observer, developing Sherlock Holmes–like deductive skills. Although he is tormented and insulted, kicked and spat at, his quick mind takes in everything he sees. When a murder occurs at the fair, Wild Boy is hastily accused. Can he use his powers of deduction to save himself? And will the talented and spunky young acrobat Clarissa be with him — or against him? Readers will be swept along by the cinematic pace, immersed in the vivid historical setting, and gripped by suspense as they wait to find out if a better fate could possibly await someone so very different.[A] fantastical adventure story...
—Kirkus Reviews

[A] thrilling mystery, full of morbid twists and macabre turns.
—Booklist

Sherlock Holmes meets Oliver Twist... Jones explores the traditional themes of acceptance and identity. ... [Wild Boy] may appeal to children who like unusual characters and quirky historical settings in their detective stories.
—School Library Journal

[T]hose who ... want atmospheric action and loads of it can queue up for a peek at this title and wait for the forthcoming sequel.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

With the seedy London streets as a backdrop and a number of unsavory characters, this is a fast-paced atmospheric mystery. Readers will be rooting for the unlikely duo and come away with a greater sense of empathy.
—Library Media Connection

Short chapters and the book’s fast pace make it an ideal choice for those who like mysteries.
—Reading.orgRob Lloyd Jones is the author of more than thirty books, primarily historical nonfiction and adaptations of classic literature. He writes for television and is a senior editor at Usborne. Rob Lloyd Jones lives in London.