The Clockwork Three

This intricate historical fantasy novel follows the intertwined lives of three young protagonists: Giuseppe, an Italian boy forced to busk for an abusive padrone; Hannah, a sharp-witted maid seeking treasure to save her ailing father; and Frederick, an apprentice secretly building a wondrous automaton. Set in a gritty, fictional late 19th-century city, their paths converge as they realize each holds a key to the others' problems. The story explores themes of friendship, perseverance, justice, and the power of hope against a backdrop of poverty and peril. Parents should be aware of themes of child abuse, violence, and loss, handled with sensitivity but present.