Oliver Twist

by Charles Dickens | Grades 8-12 | Lexile 940

Starved and mistreated, empty bowl in hand, the young hero musters the courage to approach his master saying, "Please, sir, I want some more." Oliver Twist's famous cry of the heart has resounded with readers since the novel's initial appearance in 1837, and the book remains a popular favorite with fans of all ages. Oliver escapes his miserable servitude by running away to London, where he unwittingly but inevitably joins a scabrous gang of thieves. Masterminded by the loathsome Fagin, the underworld crew features some of Dickens' most memorable characters, including the juvenile pickpocket known as the Artful Dodger, the vicious Bill Sikes, and gentle Nancy, and angel of self-sacrifice.