“Even in the grave, all is not lost.” - Edgar Allan Poe. Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap is a fantasy for preteens by Sean March. Abigail hates relocating to New York where most people seem unfriendly. Her misery worsens when chased by ruthless Longshadow gangsters who torment her. A boy named Little Wade who flies and a metal giant named Watchtower come to her rescue, which infuriates the bullies. Abigail and her new friends devise a plan to remove the Longshadows from her neighborhood. Although scared, she feels confident that Little Wade and Watchtower will make her feel safe again, and is determined to show how brave she can be. But the Longshadows want revenge and losing fights is not what they are accustomed to.

“There’s a legend for children who are sad and who cry,” and it’s written by Sean March. He will make unhappy children smile again when they read Little Wade and Watchtower. It’s a delightful, exceptional story that contains its fair share of sadness, but lots of humor too. The setting is in New York, 1899 with an old-world charm infused with magic, and lots of interesting action. The characters are amazing, even the creepy ones. Abigail is sweet and very smart. Little Wade and Watchtower are friends you will want to have. Sean March's descriptions of the characters, especially the gangsters, made me laugh. The cover artwork complements the story very well. Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap is a must-read for preteens who enjoy fantasy stories like Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap is a work of fiction in the adventure, action, and fantasy sub-genres aimed at children and pre-teens and was penned by author Sean March. The book tells the story of a young girl named Abigail Reid living in New York in the closing months of the 19th century as she tries to adjust to her new city life after a tragic loss in her family. As she and her father face a growing threat from a local gang, Abigail discovers new otherworldly friends in the form of Little Wade and Watchtower, and together they craft a risky plan to stop the gang from threatening her once and for all.

Author Sean March has created a beautiful story with a truly timeless quality to it, thanks to its historical setting, classic themes of friendship, and the emotional heart of the tale. One of the things which I really enjoyed about the work was the commitment put into the formation of character, not just in Abigail and her curious new friends, but into the world around her and the motivations of everyone involved. This gave the work a realistic feel that keeps it grounded despite the fantasy elements, and offers tension and danger that will certainly help younger readers stay engaged and excited. The dialogue was also excellently balanced for the historical period, but also for the young readership to access. Overall, I would recommend Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap for middle-grade readers and upwards as a highly charming adventure.

Abigail and her father have moved to New York City from the country. Still reeling from her mother's death, all she wants is to go to school and read books. But her neighborhood is unsafe. One evening, while walking home from school, the Longshadows, the ruthless gang in her neighborhood, try to kidnap her. Just when she thinks she is all alone, a boy and a very tall man help her. But the boy is not an ordinary boy, neither is the tall man just any tall man. Read Little Wade and the Watchtower by Sean March to discover who they are, and how they help Abigail.

Sean March's Little Wade and the Watchtower is an excellent middle-grade story that has elements of steampunk, magic, ghosts, and historical fiction. It has incredibly detailed world-building and vivid descriptions that bring to life the antics of Abigail, Little Wade, and Watchtower. I was sucked into the New York City of 1899 with its bustling towns, people, and carriages thronging the roads, and squalid neighborhoods rife with gang wars and vicious activities.

March crafts an original and entertaining story replete with three-dimensional characters. He has a rich imagination that translates into an enchanting tale in the form of Little Wade and the Watchtower. Moreover, the book is highly adventurous. Though the book is lengthy, the brisk pace helped me in finishing the book swiftly. Further, little nuggets of wisdom are tucked here and there in the text, instilling a message of hope in its readers. It was an exhilarating ride from start to finish. Little Wade and the Watchtower enraptured me. Highly recommended for a middle-grade as well as young adult audience.

“There’s a legend about heroes only children can see. About a wise little boy whose advice costs no fee. About a fire-faced soldier as tall as a tree. They will never stop fighting to set all children free.” Abigail Reid was almost kidnapped by the Longshadows－a notorious gang in New York City－when Little Wade and Watchtower came to her rescue. She becomes the ghost boy and the metal giant’s latest client to solve her problem with the gang and ensure her safety in the city. Yet, she soon finds out that the gang is not the only threat she and other children have to face. Abigail and the Great Gang Trap is the first installment in the Little Wade and Watchtower series by Sean March.

Set in 1899, the Big Apple has never been more fascinating, especially when 13-year-old red-headed Abigail Reid acquired the services of Little Wade and Watchtower, protectors of the city's children since 1831. The steady-paced plot has many suspenseful and chilling moments in a clear-cut and engaging narrative. It's easy to root for Abigail, a newcomer to the city, who's homesick and misses her late mother. Little Wade－a wise ghost boy who's been dead for 68 years－encourages her to see and discover the good side of the city and its people while teaching her to be street smart at the same time. The mysterious metal giant, Watchtower, is a magnificent protector that anybody would've wanted, especially children.

As Abigail’s unlikely adventure progresses, she discovers more secrets of the city and its extraordinary people, dead and alive, as well as her confrontation with terrifying adversaries. The suspense increases with each development, all converging toward a conclusion that includes a resolution for her and her father, including what lies ahead in the next installment. Gangsters, ghosts, crimes, and mysteries, Abigail and the Great Gang Trap is a dark but uplifting supernatural fantasy for its target readers and a solid debut for Sean March's Little Wade and Watchtower series.