It’s rare to find a saga novel that centres around a male character. This was my first novel by Lindsey Hutchinson and I devoured it, I loved the plot, the characters and the feel good happy ending.

Desperate to avoid the workhouse twelve-year-old Jared Johnson does everything he can to survive the inhospitable streets of Birmingham. Jared is blessed with the gift of the gab and soon attracts the attention of the King of the Tatters, Toby McGuire. Recognising a kindred spirit, Toby soon has Jared out on a cart hustling for rags. Jared loves driving his horse Bess shouting "any old rags" as loud as he can, and it's not long before he's thriving. But not everything goes smoothly for Jared and his new friends.

I'm a massive fan of Lindsey Hutchinson. I love everything about her books. After the deaths of his mother and sister, Jared had to fend for himself. This is another heartwarming book. It's well written and I always like her style in writing. The characters are well developed, some you'll love and others you'll love to hate. There was one character in particular that I couldn't wait to see him get his comeuppance. I loved Jared. He had such a sensible head for a young boy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I hope there is another book to come about Jared, his friends and the rest of the tatters. I would love to see how things turned out for them.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LindseyHutchinson for my ARC of #TheRaggedOrphan in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing vibrant saga of life in a rag’n’ bone yard…..Lindsey Hutchinson writes very well and her characters come to life. I absolutely loved this book and I am looking forward to the sequel already!

The Ragged Orphan by Lindsey Hutchinson is a marvellous historical novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The action is set in and around Birmingham, my home town, and I was familiar with many locations, making it easy to picture the scenes.
Life was hard and many people lived hand-to-mouth. There was no welfare state. Tragic circumstances saw orphans seeking work for themselves rather than enter the dreaded workhouses.
We see the courage, grit, determination and hard work of many plucky young lads. Life has dealt some hard hands but they never give up.
Poverty is made harder for some by the demon drink. The head of the household not only spends his wages down the pub but also uses his family as punching bags.
We witness philanthropy and kindness of one owner of a rag and bone yard. He has a huge heart, helping those who need it most.
There is a search for family. Some have become fractured over the years but we all want someone who loves us.
The Ragged Orphan was a consuming read that brought history to life under the masterful pen of Lindsey Hutchinson.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

A heartwarming story featuring Jared who at 12 has just become an orphan after his mum and sister have just died, his dad had left when he was much younger. Not wanting to be taken to the workhouse he heads off onto the streets alone
Trying to make a living he inadvertently starts to buy rags on Toby Maguire's patch who is the local hard man, rather than running away he goes to see him personally to explain with surprising results
Brilliant, loved it, couldn't put it down

This was a beautiful heartwarming story that just flowed off the pages.
Well written this captivating story held me from the beginning to the end.
It was one of those books that once you start reading you can just lose yourself in.
Jared Johnson is now an orphan after the death of his mother & little sister.
He has no idea where his dad is, as one day he was there & the next he was gone never to be seen again.
He wants to avoid the workhouse at all costs & scavenges for food to survive.
Jared has a way with words & soon bit by bit he finds a way to get a roof over his head & some food to eat.
After attracting the attention of the king of the tatters he ends up working for him & is given a horse named Bess to help him on his rounds.
He is quite successful at it but this attracts enemies within the workforce & needs to watch out for himself.
A Heartbreaking yet heartwarming interesting read that will keep you turning those pages.
I thoroughly enjoyed this uplifting story.

Another heartwarming story from Lindsey Hutchinson, Jared loses both his mother and little sister when he is just 12 years old. Knowing he cannot stay in the house he lived in, he goes scavenging in the market before heading to the churchyard overnight. After a couple of nights he realizes he can't carry on, and remembers an abandoned cottage a little while away. The cottage needs lots of work but Jared finds himself an old pram and makes a cart from it. He goes around being a rag and bone man when it turns out he's poaching on someone's patch. He decides that rather than get hurt, he will face the man whose patch it is. Toby McQuire recognises enterprise and gives Jared a chance.

There is so much more to this tale that you will love!. I devoured this novel in a few hours - I was captivated.

Lovely atmospheric and emotional book but Lindsey Hutchinson always draws you into the story and you cannot put the book down. Brilliant 5*

The story of a young lad and his life as an orphan. Very well written and in its way a fantastic read. A lot of research has gone into this book and it shows. 5 stars

Thanks to Netgally and publisher for this ARC

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I have read most if not all of Lindsey Hutchinson’s books having read a lot of her mothers as well.

She is a super storyteller and seems to be able to write about a multitude of subjects and obviously does a lot of research into her books.

This made a change - the story of a young lad Jared and his life once her becomes orphaned. He tried to do the best with his life finding somewhere to live and begins collecting ‘rags and bones’ (why had I never associated bones with real bones resulting from cooking and stock making? ). He comes to the attention of an Irishman who who would like everyone to think he is a hard man when underneath the tough exterior is a heart of gold.

The book was well written and kept me captivated throughout, I often would read ‘ just another chapter’ before bed.
There was sadness, some brutality and plain cruel news and love, redemption and family’s getting back together and getting to know one another again.
As is often the way with a saga type novel the ending was rather rushed but nevertheless there was an ending - and the possibility of further tales from Jared and his chums?

Thank you again - this deserves its 5 stars

Read this book in one sitting as I could t put it down, we follow jarad after losing his mum and sister he is left an orphan as his father walked out many years previously, wondering how he will survive he scavengers at the markets just to get by, determined to do better he finds an abandoned house which he takes refuge in and comes up with a plan to earn his way.
He takes to collecting old rags and cleaning them to sell on to others and as he does this finds he's accidentally working on someone else's pitch, doing as his mum taught him he goes to see the owner of the tatters and apologises for working one of his pitches the owner admires the fact jarad has confronted him and offers him a job, determined to succeed jarad offers the owner Toby some ways of bringing more income to the business and as a result he earns tobys trust and this leads to a better life
With some twists and turns along the way it's a story you can't put down as you want the young lad to have some luck and you need to keep reading to find out of this happens
Wonderful storyline and some lovely heart warming characters
Ten out of ten

Heartwarming saga. Full of ups and downs. Jared is a great character,who develops and grows throughout the book. The rest of the cast are pretty good too.

Can he find a family and a future, Jared Johnson is only twelve years old starvation has robbed him of his mother and fever has taking his sister from him, Birmingham the heart of the black country, he would avoid been forced into the workhouse, leaving everything to Mrs Spittle next door he takes off to the market hall, scavenging food in the church yard grounds finds an old cottage, and a job with Toby McGuire what lies ahead for him.
Jared is a bright young boy that everyone takes to their heart, an uplifting story, a unique story, his friends are family with their own story to tell.
I loved this book, such a heart warming read to the end

This has been a mostly pleasant, heartwarming read as we follow "orphaned" Jared from his destitute days, until he does better. The story starts out rather sadly for him but picks up as he finds ways to keep himself fed and his wits alert about him. He confronts Mr. Toby MaGuire with surprizing results. He meets other lads of similar circumstances. He has some scrapes with and makes some friends - one of whom is Seth.

This historical fiction is targeted at the adult reader and although the storyline touches on the harsh realities of alcohol abuse and what a person does under its influence, I found it to be otherwise, an easy read. I also found myself happily amused and satisfied with the outcome of all interchanges among the books' characters and what the work of kindness can accomplish. I feel other readers would most likely concur.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

January 2023

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

The Ragged Orphan by Lindsey Hutchinson


Was very interested to read this book as unusually it's about a young boy. So many books of this genre are from the prospective of a young girl who finds herself in a similar situation.
Very well written , lots of heartbraking moments and also times that gladden your heart.
Loved it .

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Another brilliant family saga by a brilliant author

Can’t wait to read more

The Ragged Orphan
by Lindsey Hutchinson
When 12-year-old Jared Johnson’s little sister dies, just hours after his mother breathes her last after wasting away so her children could eat, he knows he is on his own.
My goodness! This book was a wonderfully written gem. I read the book, it was a bit sad, ok sometimes very sad. Yet, it would make me smile and laugh as well. The sweetness and drive of Jared Johnson in the won. I was wanting it to go and on. LOVED the cover as well. Seems it was a bit of Jared.

A really great English family saga. This one is about young Jarad, who after losing his mo and sister has to find his way in the world. Becoming a tatterer he finds friends and support. Great read!

Wow, I confess I chose this book looking for a great and I most definitely wasn’t disappointed!
Jared Johnson suddenly becomes an orphan trying to beg food to get by when he makes himself a cart to collect rags which brings home to the attention of Toby McGuire, king of the tatters. Jared’s gift of the gab helps him talk his way out of a difficult situation.
There are some wonderful characters in this book, one of my favourites was Alice, Mr McGuire’s housekeeper, the banter she had with her employer brought some light to the sad parts.

I’ve loved all Lindsey’s books so there was no reason why this one wouldn’t follow on.