The old house in the city : $b Or, not forsaken

"The Old House in the City: Or, Not Forsaken" by Agnes Giberne is a late 19th-century novel that drops us into the lives of two young girls, Ailie Carter and Lettie, as they try to make it in a rundown London house. The book shines a light on the tough themes of poverty and survival, showing us how these kids search for kindness even when things look hopeless. We're thrown right into the grim world of Ansty Court, where Ailie is all alone after her dad dies and her mom ends up in jail for stealing food. She's desperate to avoid being sent to a workhouse and is battling hunger and sadness. On the flip side, Lettie, who also lives in the same house, gets worried when Ailie disappears. The story really hits home with its descriptions of life in the slums, looking at family ties, neglect, and the constant fight to survive against the odds.