Rivet
a short metal pin or bolt for holding together two plates of metal, its headless end being beaten out or pressed down when in place.
“a rectangular plate containing an iron rivet”

join or fasten (plates of metal) with a rivet or rivets.
“the linings are bonded, not riveted, to the brake shoes for longer wear”

hold (someone or something) fast so as to make them incapable of movement.
“the grip on her arm was firm enough to rivet her to the spot”

attract and completely engross (someone).
“he was riveted by the newsreels shown on television”

direct (one’s eyes or attention) intently.
“all eyes were riveted on him”

I devoured Rivet Boy
I loved every word of this story
I loved the characters
I loved the historical facts
I loved the setting

I loved that every chapter
Started with a proverb
A saying
This immediately drew me into the book
And got me thinking what a brilliant
Read aloud this story would be
With clues to what each chapter
Might be about
In their headings
A great tool for discussion

Rivet Boy is the story of John Nicol
Who at 12 years old
Very reluctantly left school
To get work as a Brigger
Helping to build the Forth Bridge
As a family Breadwinner
He was allowed to leave school
And forced to work to feed his family
Working on the bridge was hard
And it was dangerous
Many souls lost their lives
While working on the bridge
Many of them children
Just like John
John has no choice
He must provide an income
For his family
His mum, Grandad
And baby sister
He must climb up on to the bridge
Even if he is terrified of heights

Rivet Boy is set in late Victorian Scotland
A time of steam trains and
Great British engineering
The writing takes you right there
Right to the heart of the industrial action
Right to the soul of the social history
I love all the historical details
This is a wonderful fusion
Of fact and fiction
To create a powerful and poignant story
Of one boy’s role in the building of
The iconic Forth Bridge

A bridge that I would now
Very much like to see for myself

I loved John and his family
I loved the growing bond
Between John and
His new friend Cora
I loved the bond between
John and Rusty the squirrel
There is something for everyone
In this book
Something of all of us
In this story

I think perhaps my favourite parts of
Rivet Boy
Were the parts that focused on
John’s love of books and stories
I loved that John found
Comfort and companionship
In the new Carnegie Library
With the wonderful librarian
Mr Peebles
I love how Mr Peebles
Supports John and
Helps him to help his family

This is a story filled with twists
Fraught with danger as John
Faces his fear of heights and
Finds the courage to stand up to his evil boss
Who more than once wants to see him dead

There is so much for young readers
And their grown ups to learn
From this brilliant and beautiful book
My growing list of
Bookish learning ideas
Includes

Research Andrew Carnegie and the first libraries in UK
Introduce children to famous Victorian authors and books

Look at proverbs and their meanings
Write short stories to illustrate what they mean

Learn about the building of the Forth Bridge
Find out how Forth Bridge links to Tower Bridge in London
Investigate bridge design and building
Make a bridge and test its strength

Read more about child labour in Victorian times

Explore Scottish words used in the story

Find out about autograph books and collecting autographs
Design and make an autograph book
Make a list of the autographs you would like to collect

Learn more about Margaret Moir and female engineers

This is such a good book
A wonderful story and a rich resource
For teachers and home educators
I really really enjoyed reading it
And cannot wait to read it again with my children

I cried happy tears for John Nicol
For his courage
For his very special letter from London
For his love of books and reading and stories
And for the magical way this story ends
For John and his family
And Mr Peebles

I will take many things away from this story
Including making sure that my children
ALWAYS have a book with them
“One never knows when one might have a moment to read”

A favourite moment from Rivet Boy
Was the delightful auction house scene
Such brilliant writing that really made me chuckle
And it leads into what I think is
A perfect story book ending
You will have to read John Nicol’s story
To find out what that was

I love the facts and photos at the back of the book
The brilliant back matter
Is not only a fascinating read
But also wonderfully inspiring for children
Who want to find fictional tales to tell
From facts found in the past

A brilliant and beautiful historical story
For middle grade readers
And one for their grown ups too

“What’s for you, won’t go by you”
I am glad that Rivet Boy
Did not go by me

To find out more about this brilliant and beautiful book
Do check out the rest of the tour

You can also join the digital book launch on 4th March
If you do, I will see you there x