Gaslight
Eloise Williams
1899. All Nansi knows is that her mother disappeared on the day she was fished out of Cardiff docks. She can't remember anything else. Now, with no other family to turn to, she works for Sid at the Empire Theatre, sometimes legally, sometimes thieving to order, trying to earn enough money to hire a detective to find her mother. Everything changes when Constance and Violet join the theatre, both with their own dark secrets. Nansi is forced to be part of Violet's crooked psychic act. But it's when Constance recognises her, and realises who her mother must be, that Nansi's world is turned upside down forever. She is soon on the run for her life and she will have to risk everything if she's going to find the truth.
Reviews
An amazing book full of suspense and bravery.
Principal Rapunzel Waterfall 08.01.2023
I thought it was a really good book and it kept you wanting to read more. My thoughts of what I have read are that not everyone is kind and patient and willing to help others. Another thought is that I thought one person in the book would be nice, but turned out to be the bad person so it was a bit of a plot twist. My favourite character was Nansi because she was determined, kind and selfless. This book was fictional but because it was set in the Victorian Era I found out how people lived and how hard it was to earn money and use it to buy food. I would recommend this book to other people who are eight or over because younger children might not understand the situation Nansi was put in.
Viscountess Cynthia Pineapple 17.07.2022
a book about stealing and misunderstanding and unfairness. I liked it but it had some very heart piercing moments especially when Bee had to make a green dress.
Anonymous 11.09.2021
My favourite part is when Nansi finds her mother after Sid had lied to her all this time by saying that her mother was dead and that she was just on the beach so he took her in and pretended to be a good foster father, but he also asked Nansi to steal and his temper was easily flared up like a fire. My least favourite part is when Sid strangles Constance after she threatens to tell Nansi that her mother really is alive and that she knows where she is trapped, but she won’t if Sid can make her a star, with all the money and fame that she had always dreamed of, however, she didn’t manage to make that come true because she was then killed. The only thing that Nansi can remember from her past is that she was running away from someone and she can remember the pretty appearance of her mother. Sid, says that she is dead so he pretends to be a good foster father, but Nansi is also asked to steal to get enough money to have a detective to find her mother. Everything changes when Constance comes over and she learns what Sid had lied about to her, the secret and the lies all mixed together. Having this valuable information, Nansi sets out to find her mum after almost getting killed by her own foster dad. In the end, Nansi and her mum can live happily with Nansi’s friend, Bee.
Anonymous 16.08.2020
This book is so gripping and I couldn't stop reading it at night! It's a bit sad but it has a really happy ending for all the characters. I would definitely recommend it for upper juniors and lower KS3. I felt sorry for Bee when she had to make a green dress using arsenic which made her quite poorly
Dona Ariel Piano-key 16.07.2020
This fictional book is fantastic! It is enthralling and exciting. It has some beautiful descriptions and is full of action, betrayal, mystery and hope. It is in the “young adult” section yet I think it is suitable for ages 11+. It has a brilliant end and a thrilling plot.
Anonymous 06.09.2018