Tor, a Street Boy of Jerusalem

"Tor, a Street Boy of Jerusalem" by Florence Morse Kingsley is an early 20th-century novel that transports readers to Jerusalem during the time of Jesus, where we meet Tor, a scrappy street kid whose life is a daily grind of hunger and survival. Envious of even the sparrows and hardened by his circumstances, Tor's world starts to shift when he encounters Peter, a mysterious stranger, who unexpectedly steps in to help him. This act of kindness pulls Tor into events that shine a light on his difficult life. The novel highlights his struggles as a beggar in Jerusalem, his clashes with those in power, and the first glimmer of hope he finds as he searches for his new master, Jesus, beginning his transformation as he comes to understand faith and service.