Books like Song of the slums by Richard Harland
Seventeen‑year‑old Astor believes she will marry the charming Lorrain Swale, but her family’s sudden desertion leaves her a lowly governess in their household. Determined to break free, she is introduced to Verrol, a charismatic stranger who leads her toward the streets of Brummingham.
There, Astor finds a street band that creates a vibrant new form of music, electrifying the slums and drawing attention far beyond the city’s boundaries. As the band gains momentum, the Swale brothers pursue them, turning their newfound success into a battle of ambition and belonging.
The novel explores themes of friendship, social mobility, and the redemptive power of music against a backdrop of youth, gang dynamics, and everyday struggles.
First publish date: 2013
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/YA Contemporary Fiction
Authors: Richard Harland
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