This is an easy and fast read about a 14-year old boy called Tom Tin in the late 1800s London. After Tom's father was hauled off to debtor's prison, he finds himself being accused of a crime that he didn't commit. He was sentenced to serve seven years onboard a run down ship where other boys his age is also living. He spends his time dreaming of escape and trying to survive day after day.
I found this book boring. Even though it was a short read, it took me a few weeks to finish it because I just couldn't get into it. I would pick it up and read a chapter here or there just to get to the end. There was so much packed into these 200 pages that it made it all seem unbelievable and I kept rolling my eyes with each new element was added.
My favorite character was Midgely, one of the convicts on the ship. However, I was not happy with what happened to him and how his story was written. Without him, Tom's story wouldn't have went the way it did so I wanted to see Midgely have a happy ending.
I wouldn't recommend this for children to read as it has some touchy subjects but if you find this story for a good deal like I did ($2) then it's worth a read to pass the time.
