Plot Summary

Coram Boy

Jamila Gavin
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Coram Boy

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2000

Book Brief

Jamila Gavin

Coram Boy

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2000
Book Details
Pages

373

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 18th Century

Theme
Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

12-16 years

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Super Short Summary

Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin follows three interwoven narratives in mid-1700s England: Otis Gardiner and his son Meshak exploit vulnerable mothers by promising to deliver their illegitimate children to Coram Foundling Hospital but instead traffick or kill them; Alexander Ashbrook, who dreams of being a composer against his father's wishes; and an illegitimate boy, Aaron, who is secretly saved and raised at the hospital. The story involves child exploitation, infanticide, slavery, and the complex network of personal and societal struggles surrounding these events.

Mysterious

Dark

Emotional

Bittersweet

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.1

2,899 ratings

70%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin has been praised for its gripping narrative and rich historical context. Readers appreciate its complex characters and emotional depth. However, some find its multiple storylines and shifts in perspective challenging to follow. Overall, it’s lauded for shedding light on societal issues of the 18th century.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Coram Boy?

Readers who relish historical fiction with a blend of drama and moral complexity will appreciate Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin. Comparable to fans of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens or Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, this novel appeals to those intrigued by 18th-century English social issues and gripping, character-driven narratives.

4.1

2,899 ratings

70%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

Coram Boy was awarded the Whitbread Children's Book Award in 2000, a prestigious British literary prize recognizing outstanding children's literature.

The story is set in the 18th century against the backdrop of the real Coram Hospital, founded by Captain Thomas Coram to care for abandoned children.

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Coram Boy has been adapted into a play by Helen Edmundson, which premiered at the National Theatre in London in 2005 and received critical acclaim for its captivating storytelling and production.

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Book Details
Pages

373

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 18th Century

Theme
Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

12-16 years

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