I really enjoyed this book because you learn how tough life was for poor children in Victorian times. The workhouse sounded horrible and I wouldn't want to go there. Children had to steal from richer families just to get food and sometimes they got caught and were punished.

After Jim escaped from the workhouse life didn't get better for him and he was still treated badly. He was forced to work with Grimy Nick shovelling heavy coal all day long with no breaks at all. Grimy Nick didn't give Jim enough food and sometimes the dog got more food than him.

At the end of story it tells you about how he met Dr Barnado, a kind man who wanted to help poor children and that is where Jim lived and got an education.