The Breaker Boys
By Pat Hughes

     In the spring of 1897, Nate Tanner has problems. He has no friends. He's angry at the world since the death of his mother. And he's been kicked out of boarding school. He's a tough kid to like -- until he meets the Breaker Boys, young immigrant boys who spent all day sorting coal in the dark breaker building of his family's coal mine. With these boys, Nate finally fits in -- until the rift between miners and mine owners grows into deadly trouble. Because young Nate is so painfully unlikable, the book is a bit tough to get into at the beginning, but once the breaker boys burst into the plot with their rough camaraderie and exuberance, the book is irresistible. Pat Hughes does a fine job of presenting the harsh reality of child labor without losing the resilient spirit of children. The book also avoids the easy depiction of mine owners as callous and greedy -- the characters are as complex as the issues involved. The mixture of joy, fun, and gripping drama make this a truly memorable novel and an excellent addition to any classroom study of child labor.