Nicholas Nickleby

Nicholas Nickleby and his sister, Kate, lose the life of their father and Nicholas is forced to be the man of the house. Actually, I don't know that forced is the correct word as Nicholas is one who does it out of personal duty and love for his sister and mother. He is sent to work as a teacher for Mr. Squeers, a one-eyed crotchety old man, who leads the boys to be fearful of him and treats them harshly. While there, Nicholas finds an older boy who is also there to work, Smike, who is essentially a slave for Squeers and his wife, who is just as unpleasant. Nicholas and Smike become true friends and Nicholas rescues Smike and they escape together. The rest of the story is romance, where Nicholas finds his hearts partner, Madeline. Don't worry Kate also finds her true love!

It is a story of true friendship and working through the trial of losing a loved family member. At the end the narrator asks what happens to one who loses a parent too early and describes that family isn't always blood related but those who we would give our blood for.