reported by Jeremy Polin, FictionFanatic.com

In The Traitors' Gate, Newbery Medal-winning author Avi returns to Victorian London as the setting for a fast-paced adventure enriched by fascinating period detail. The novel was inspired by the life of the young Charles Dickens, whose father was put into debtor's prison while Charles was forced to make his way in the world. Avi, who is known for his successful exploration of diverse literary genres, believes that the Victorian novel's style is ideal for telling a story for young readers. The short chapters, cliff-hanger endings, and larger-than-life characters help to make The Traitors' Gate a suspenseful page-turner full of action and surprises.

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