LitPick Review
The Adventures of the Flash Gang, Episode Two: Treasonous Tycoon by Sandra Waugh and M.M. Downing is set in the 1930s, and it follows the story of Lewis and Pearl, two "streeters" who are thought to be killed in a horrifying fire. While hiding in Grub Factory with their friends, the two children are determined to expose the nefarious crimes of Pickering, a steel baron who murdered Lewis' father. As one of their friends and other streeters begin to disappear all of a sudden, Lewis and Pearl go to great lengths to find out what is going on. In the process, they realize that Nazi sympathizer Pickering's plot is more deeply rooted than they had imagined. Can they save their fellow streeters before it is too late?
Opinion:
Treasonous Tycoon, the second episode of Sandra Waugh and M. M. Downing's The Adventures of the Flash Gang trilogy, is a brilliant piece of work that kept me glued from beginning to end. The action-packed story never gets dull, and I absolutely love how Waugh and Downing paint the picture of the turbulent lives of the street children. The character of Pearl is marvelous; her optimism and loyalty, even in the face of acute misery and danger, are simply unmatched. The way Waugh and Downing portray the friends' emotions makes the characters sound quite natural. Despite occasional moments of conflict and envy, their bond remains intact throughout the story. Though it is not the primary focus of the story, I feel that the perspective of the streeters in the book can invite important discussions about why many disadvantaged children engage in misdemeanors. I would recommend the book to readers aged ten and above.
