Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman

Set in 1884 London, the story follows 12-year-old Albert Gladwyck as he grapples with the choice between kindness and self-preservation. While scavenging the River Thames, he discovers a wrecked boat filled with valuable goods, presenting a rare opportunity to escape poverty. However, he must act quickly to salvage the treasures before rival mudlarks, a bully named George Hardly, and the dangers of the toxic river threaten his plans and his mother's well-being.