{"product_id":"tom-and-the-bootblack-by-horatio-alger-jr-paperback","title":"Tom and the Bootblack, by Horatio Alger Jr. (Paperback)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTom the Bootblack\u003c\/em\u003e tells the story of a clever, hardworking boy determined to rise from poverty despite overwhelming odds. Facing dishonest rivals and navigating a world of shifting fortunes, Tom's journey reflects the timeless Alger message that moral integrity and effort can overcome hardship. Set against the gritty backdrop of 19th-century urban life, this tale celebrates resilience and ambition in the face of adversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHoratio Alger, Jr. (1832-1899) was a prolific 19th-century American author, best known for his many juvenile novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty, starting with \u003cem\u003eRagged Dick\u003c\/em\u003e in 1868.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wildside Press LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43184539435217,"sku":"9781479414994","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/5981\/5377\/files\/9781479414994_FC.jpg?v=1784075614","url":"https:\/\/startlingstories.us\/products\/tom-and-the-bootblack-by-horatio-alger-jr-paperback","provider":"Startling Stories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}