Vividly set against the frigid backdrop of one of the coldest winters England ever experienced, in 1683-84, Sturtevant’s tale presents a fully realized character in Kit, an impoverished 15-year-old determined to find a better life, even though it means leaving behind Christopher, his dependent, mentally disabled identical twin. After stealing a valuable scarf, he flees to London and is taken in by a talented but angst-ridden artist. Obsessed with Priscilla, an attractive young servant, Kit spends ample time worrying about whether or not he’ll ever satisfy his sexual (and emotional) craving for her—and what will happen to his soul if he does. Thorough research has helped in the creation of a well-drawn, believable world: bawdy, filthy and freezing, with styles of speech based on regional dialects, clearly different from modern yet not challenging to read. Inclusion of a few ribald period verses and Kit’s mildly racy sexual encounters mark this solid, engrossing effort for a teen audience. (Historical fiction. 12 & up)
