The tale describes the life of a little girl chimney sweep, Nan, in late 19th century London. She has lost her friend and mentor, Sweep, and now works for a horrid abusive boss.
But Sweep left her a small lump of coal.
This coal turns out to be a Jewish goyim, a monster that is tasked with one thing and then disappears.
Nan and her friends work to free themselves from the grip of their evil boss. Meanwhile they learn to love a monster and live bravely.
This review from "Happily Ever Elephants" on Amazon captures my thoughts exactly:
"I love stories that teach without being didactic, ones that encourage you to make new discoveries every time you open their pages. Sweep is that and so much more - a book that tackles tough topics and follows Nan as she puts one foot in front of the other after facing so many unspeakable losses. Sweep is separated into two sections, appropriately called Innocence and Experience, and they so beautifully illuminate Nan’s journey from a guileless young child to a tween fraught with complicated questions and even more troubling realizations about society and her place within it. Why are children forced to work dangerous jobs? Why are kids losing their lives due to nothing but their unfortunate lot in life, and what on earth can she do to change it?
Simply put, Sweep is a feat. It is an adventure of the greatest kind, an ode to friendship, a discovery of self, and a testament to the power of one voice to create change. But my favorite part? Sweep excels in its exploration of “monsters,” finds tenderness in the terrifying, and combats all of our preconceived notions about the frightening things that keep us up at night. Exquisite - this masterpiece will stay with me for a long, long time."
