Gaslight

by Eloise Williams

1899. All Nansi knows is that her mother disappeared on the day she was fished out of Cardiff docks. She can't remember anything else.

Now, with no other family to turn to, she works for Sid at the Empire Theatre, sometimes legally, sometimes thieving to order, trying to earn enough money to hire a detective to find her mother.

Everything changes when Constance and Violet join the theatre, both with their own dark secrets. Nansi is forced to be part of Violet's crooked psychic act. But it's when Constance recognises her, and realises who her mother must be, that Nansi's world is turned upside down forever. She is soon on the run for her life and she will have to risk everything if she's going to find the truth.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Childrens

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2017

Reviews

[Sarah Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong female lead with a smattering of other characters who are interesting enough but pale in comparison. This girl grows in the space of 200 pages, into the strong willed heroine she was always meant to be.

Set in Victorian Cardiff, with a real Dickensian bad guy, my only wish is that there was more of it. More world building so I could really BE there with her, more Constance and Bee. A little longer to really get to know them all and become really invested in their stories.

The main character Nansi is 14 years old. That would put this in the YA category, but it has a sort of Middlegrade/YA crossover feel to it. Thoroughly enjoyed it as a 33 year old though, so that really doesn't matter much!

[Tomos · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

Got this book off the author on a school trip and she signed it :)

It is about a girl looking for her mum, she lives in a theatre with a mean man. She is trying to get money for a detective to help find her.

Its 3 stars because i liked it, but it wasnt my favourite. I wouldve liked some pictures because I like cool drawings in books (its my favourite part). I was confused at some bits because it didn't really tell the story properly, and the ending wasnt clear too. It was good though just not my type of book.

Favourite things about this book:
Favourite character: Dont really have one
Favourite part: When the mean mans carriage flipped over!!

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1899 and life for a girl on her own isn't easy. Nansi doesn't know where her mother is. The last time they were together was on the day she ended up in the water at Cardiff docks. Nansi was rescued, but hasn't seen her mother since. She lives in a theatre where she works for Sid. She has to earn her keep by stealing and helping out with the shows. Sid has promised Nansi he'll save part of the money she makes, so she can hire a detective to find her mother. She isn't there yet though, will she ever be able to get the funds together?

Changes are being made at the theatre to attract a much needed bigger audience. Nansi needs to give up her bed and she has to help with a psychic show based on lies. When someone recognizes her because of her mother Nansi knows the time has come to fight for her future. Will she be able to find out what happened on that dreadful day she ended up in the water and when her eyes are finally being opened will she be able to uncover the truth?

Gaslight is a beautiful story about a brave and clever girl and her quest to find her mother. I loved Nansi from the start. She's resourceful, caring and also a little bit naive. She's an ideal main character for a gripping book and her adventures are fantastic. There are many interesting twists and turns and the story kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Nansi's dedication to find her mother is admirable and I liked her resilience. She never gives up and she's always there for the people she loves. Nansi is a terrific girl and I really enjoyed reading about her.

Gaslight is a fascinating book. Eloise Williams has chosen a perfect setting for her story. Cardiff in 1899 has an enchanting atmosphere and the theatre is fabulously worn and dark. It's a great place for secrets and its obscurity kept impressing me. Eloise Williams has a gorgeous writing style and her story is captivating from beginning to end. I already read this book twice, Gaslight is amazing and I know I will keep reading it over and over again. I love it when I've found a true gem. Eloise Williams has written a brilliant story, a wonderful book that I will treasure forever.

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1899 and Nansi lives in Cardiff. Being a young girl in these dark times isn't easy. Nansi had a dreadful accident on the same day her mother disappeared. She was fished out of the water at the Cardiff docks and never saw her mother again. Nansi now lives with her uncle Sid in a theater and she has to work to earn money. Sid promised her that he'll set aside some of the money Nansi makes for her, so he can hire an investigator to search for her mother. Nansi has to steal from the rich and has to participate in obscure theater shows that are nothing more than scams.

Nansi's never questioned Sid's story until recently. Sid doesn't treat the people at the theater very well and Nansi even has to share her closet room space with someone else. Nansi has a big heart and she's always looking out for other people. Being disobedient will come at a price, but Nansi is done with waiting around for Sid to do something. Will Nansi ever be reunited with her mother?

Gaslight is a beautiful story about family and friendship. Nansi dreams about what her life would be like when she'd be with her mother again and I loved her determination to find out the truth. Nansi is in some ways a typical young girl. She can be naive and too trusting, but she's also incredibly clever and resourceful. I connected with her right from the start and I was wishing for her to have the life she deserves.

Gaslight is a beautiful and intriguing book about family secrets. The cover is stunning and it matches the dark atmosphere of the story perfectly. I know that Suze absolutely loved Gaslight, so I couldn't wait to start reading and then I found it hard to stop, because I desperately wanted to find out what would happen to Nansi and the search for her mother. Gaslight is an enchanting story that grabbed me from beginning to end. Eloise Williams is a new author for me and after reading Gaslight I can't wait to read more of her books.

[Claire Fayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. For a start, it's by a Welsh author and set in my home town of Cardiff, but in Victorian times when things were a lot grimmer. Eloise Williams has created a wonderful heroine in Nansi - sparky, brave, sharp-tongued, which often brings her into conflict with the villainous theatre owner, Sid. What I loved most was the atmosphere - the author has brought Victorian Cardiff to life. You can almost taste the soot in the air and there's a real sense of brooding menace which builds all the way to the stunning conclusion. For fans of murder, mystery and excitement.

[Ruth Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, atmospheric read, devoured by me in a single sitting. Nansi is a real star turn and Victorian Cardiff is like a character in its own right: gritty and entirely believable. It's punchy melodrama and I love it!

[Laura Noakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully atmospheric, thrilling throughout and with a heroine I loved!

[Matt Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

My topic at school for the next term is the Victorians, so I’ve been on the lookout for a few class texts that will support our learning. Having seen a few articles about Gaslight online, I thought I’d give it a go. Thankfully, it’s a fantastic read that has given me a whole host of lesson ideas.

Told from perspective of Nanci, a young girl who lost her mother, this book is set in Victorian Cardiff. I liked the fact it was set in Cardiff, as the large majority of children’s books about the Victorian era are set in London. Throughout it tells of Nanci’s life in a music hall, how she survives the conditions and follows her journey to find her mother.

The book draws the reader in with its fast pace and by creating vivid images of the setting. The squalid conditions aren’t glossed over, neither is the sinister nature of Nanci’s existence. Yet despite the numerous dark and sinister moments, there are lighter moments when the themes of friendship and hope shine through.

Nanci herself is an instantly likable character, who has all the hallmarks of a great heroine. She is strong, determined and has a strong empathetic and caring nature. In fact, her relationships and the interplay between the characters is what made the book standout for me.

All in all, Gaslight is an engaging read with an accessible Dickensian feel. The unusual setting, strong protagonist and a tight plot will appeal to 9-12 year olds. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait to begin sharing with my class next week.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(received from Firefly Press in exchange for an honest review)
In her 2nd novel, Eloise Williams tells the story of Nansi, a young girl who works in a sinister, shady theatre/circus and is searching for her mother who she hasn`t seen since she was very young. I initially struggled to get into Gaslight as it`s quite slow paced until just over halfway through, but I did like the immersive descriptive writing as it allowed me to build a picture of the setting in my mind. I liked Nansi a lot as a narrator, mainly because of her unique `style` with the imagery, but I also sympathised with her and her situation hugely. Even though I did have a few issues with the pacing and also the book being very different in both plot and tone to what I`d thought when reading the blurb, I still enjoyed this and I think you would love it if you enjoy gothic books. 3.5/5

[Elizabeth Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaslight is a short book which is difficult to put down. Set in late Victorian Cardiff, the heroine, Nansi, survives by working and thieving for Sid, owner of the Empire Theatre, who “took her in” after she was fished out of the sea. But he is not a kind guardian; Nansi is physically and mentally abused by him and yet she stays. Her strength comes from her determination to find her missing mother and she finds peace in night-time swimming. The story portrays all the social ills of the time but also friendship and comradeship. The atmosphere of the theatre and its surroundings are clearly created, and the book includes several Dickensian characters. The title reflects the atmosphere of the theatre but also reminds us of the term “gaslighting”. If I was still teaching this would be the perfect book for my Year 6 book club.

[Charlotte Haigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great second half. I found the first half quite slow. But good vocabulary throughout especially as I was reading this with a group of year 7s! We are all very fond of using words like perplexed and flabbergasted now!

[rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful adventure that really makes me feel like the characters are real. There is a twist around every corner, and Nansi’s character develops throughout the book. This book is great for anyone of the ages 9-13 and I would thoroughly recommend it.

[Katie Dugdale]

I have added this book to my list of betterment as it is a book I would've enjoyed reading at school age- as well as now! Although I am already interested in this genre, it adds a new author to help develop myself as a teacher of reading. Following this book, Williams has brought out another book 'Seaglass' which I found first but after reading reviews found this book was published first.

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books deserve the tag 'future classic' ... but Gaslight does, I think. It's the kind of book I would have devoured as a child (and, indeed, did devour as an greying adult). A brave but put-upon protagonist, nasty baddies, fights, sneaking about, derring do ... and all wrapped up in lovely writing. Would make an excellent Christmas gift!

[Flapper72 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was recommended by a friend - in fact, old school, the book was actually leant to me by her. It was a nice wee read, aimed at younger people than me but still a lovely read. A young girl, in Victorian times, living in Cardiff and the horrible life she had whilst looking for her mum. Great use of language, not at all patronising although aimed at younger people but a heartwarming ending.

[Rhian Ivory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: the author is my friend but she's only my friend because she writes books as amazing as Gaslight. If she wrote anything less magnificent I'd stop talking to her immediately. I adopt a firm but fair friendship policy.

I read this book in two days because it's the kind of story in which the stakes just keep getting higher and higher. Nansi is an admirable heroine trying to survive the mean streets of Cardiff with the loathsome Sid as her benefactor. Her quest to find her mother seems to be forever just out of her reach until new blood comes to the theatre in the form of Constance and Violet who seem to know more than they should. Nansi's pursuit of the truth leads her down some very dark alleyways but she is relentless and brave and everything a reader wants and needs a great heroine to be.
This book is fast paced and tightly plotted full of adventure, humour, peril and strong female role models. As well as being spot on with plot and pace it also has moments of pure poetry in the writing which makes you want to read more from this author.
My daughter pulled the book out of my hands this morning and I haven't seen her since*.

*Of course I've seen her, I've also fed her and watered her but she's been lost in the world of Gaslight and has taken to grunting at me. I'm hoping conversation and manners will return once she's finished the book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written novel and I couldn't put it down - even though I'm a grown-up. Nansi is a great central character with plenty of gumption who's good at convincing herself to be brave when she's feeling nervous. I loved that about her and found myself rooting for her from the start. The setting of Victorian Cardiff is wonderfully atmospheric and I enjoyed the theatre references too - I didn't know where the term 'lime-light' came from before reading this book. The story is very satisfying, although I really didn't want it to end as it was such an enjoyable read. I thoroughly recommend it.

[Amy Kitcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are SO many things to love about this book. Nansi, the main character, is bright, funny, brave and loyal - and a true heroine. She's determined to find her missing mother, no matter how many obstacles Pernicious Sid puts in her way. The description of Victorian Cardiff are wonderful; the theatres, the docks, the Penarth tunnel - so much so that the location almost becomes a character itself! The plot was clever and interesting, just the right amount of twists and turns for a 8 - 12 reading audience. And the ending - let's just say I cried. My only criticism ... I wanted MORE!

[Cathy Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, it was a lovely story and very easy to read. The main character was strong and interesting and the villain was scary enough to terrify the older children target audience.

It did remind me of Oliver Twist, but this was probably intentional as there were lots of references to that era.

I did feel some of the other characters could have been developed more - for example we never find out how Constance knew Nansi's mother; overall it was a quick and interesting novel.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A

[Karen Minto · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful main character! Nansi was brilliant and bold, and it was so wonderful when she prevailed. I loved the fact that this was set in Victorian Cardiff, and the villain was a truly Dickensian fiend. For fans of mysteries and exciting historical drama.

[Christina Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric story with a plucky protagonist. Last few chapters were a bit rushed for me but I liked being immersed in the world of Victorian Cardiff. Full review to come.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, mysterious, grim. Sid is one of the most wicked men I’ve come across in a while - he is pretty deplorable - but Nansi is gutsy and brave and I loved her. Such a satisfying end too!

[Wioyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book overall an enjoyable read. I really liked the first act of the book as it revolved around Nansi's search, and her life in the theatre and what it was like for her, and the pacing was solid. The end however, felt a bit too rushed, especially with the final confrontation. I also feel that one major twist came a little out of nowhere as there was no buildup or foreshadowing to that revelation. The only thing the reader got was a sudden info dump from the characters.

Another point I'd like to make is that many of the characters weren't fleshed out as well as they could have been- I know the book is short so that leaves little place for all secondary characters, but my point still stands. Characters like Violet Night brought little to nothing to the plot, and the only aspect about her is that she's antagonistic. She, as well as supporting characters like Bee and Constance felt a little too two-dimensional for my taste.

Other than that, like I said before, enjoyed the book, and it was an easy read (the target demographic being ages 7-12). Overall I'd give the book 3/3.5 stars

[Jenny Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a whole magic lantern of a book, a sensory kaleidoscope of vivid characters and settings that play out a tale of thievery and theatre, lies and limelight ‒ and of the importance of finding, and holding on to, who you really are.

Just like the gaslight of the title, the gripping narrative fizzes and pops, from dark to light and back again. In this flickering world not everyone is who they seem, but some ‒ like main character Nansi, searching for her mother and for an identity to call her own ‒ are so much more than ever they imagined they could be.

I grew up with grandparents’ tales of Liverpool and London in exactly this period, and found the settings brilliantly accurate. But this is far more than a study of late Victorian life. The author uses her research with subtlety, so that the storyline and characters are embedded in their times, part of a living, breathing world, rather than cut-outs pinned against a backdrop of historical detail.

I enjoyed this book enormously, and missed it when I had finished. I really look forward to reading more by Eloise Williams.

[WallofText · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5 stars


I had to read this book for class so I was a bit apprehensive to start with, but overall this was an alright read. I really enjoyed the relationship between Nansi and Bee and was decently invested in the central mystery of the whereabouts of Nansi’s mother. However I found the main antagonist, Sid, to be a flat and not particularly interesting villain. Plus the ending was a bit too happy as well as several things being a bit too convenient. Still, for a children’s book this would have been 4 stars if not for how uncomfortable some of the graphic violence made me. I am not usually affected by this but something about the first person perspective and the manner the injuries were described irked me a lot. Overall a mixed experience for me.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I thought this book was a little like some of Jaqueline Wilson’s books. But though set in a similar time and having to do with the theatre, the story is much darker.
Where is Nancie’s mother? Why is Syd so hateful to everyone, especially Nancie. Why does he make her do such wrong things like stealing?
Although I listened to an audio recording, I still think this is what would be called a page turner. I think the choice for reader had a lot to do with it. She did very well at keeping the tension and fear real.

[Lauren rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaslight is a dark and thrilling novel set in Cardiff during the winter of 1899. Nansi is a strong fourteen year old girl who has had to adapt to the situation around her whilst trying to learn the truth about what happened to her mother. This story was incredibly fast paced and entertaining. The mystery of what happened to her mother and Nansi’s relationship with other characters really made this an enjoyable read.

[C E Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. See in the Victorian times it gave me characters I believed in, a storyline I could not wait to finish and a warm glow at the end. Only thing I couldn’t stop doing was seeing the setting as London not Wales... I think this was more to do with the fact I’ve never been to Cardiff so linked it to what I knew. Overall though definitely recommended by me.

[Julia Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this daughter to my ten year old daughter and she curled up in a corner and didn't emerge until she'd finished. A sure test of a good story!

Nansi is a great lead character; brave, feisty, flawed and on a mission. There are some great baddies and the author's cinematic writing creates an authentic and vivid atmosphere for her gripping tale.