Theme

The Book "The Clockwork Three" follows the lives of three teens, following their daily lives in late 19th century address. The three children are often facing hard times, frequently relating to financial troubles. But, the story often then tells how the children decide their fate with their choices. In the case of Giuseppe, He struggles with paying his padron, Stephano, on a daily basis, while trying to hide his savings to try and escape and run back to Italy. In Frederick's life, he struggles with finding the right parts to his machine so that he can become a master Clock-maker  and finally raise the money to find his real mother. Hannah struggles from a lot of the same money troubles but, she is the only one with a job and a steady income. But her father was struck with a disease and is no longer able to work, so all money she makes goes to her families tenement housing, her father's treatment, her sisters schooling and food for all of them. They are all pressed to the point of theft, Giuseppe stealing from Stephano, Frederick stealing the head he needs from the guild, and Hannah stealing the diamond necklace from Miss Pomerey.  All of the kids have financial trouble and family trouble, however they thrive with what they have. Which is why I believe that the theme of the book is that hard work will pay off in the end, and that through all of their struggles they will find success.

The Clockwork Three

1) This book has three people that could be defined as a protagonist (hence The Clockwork THREE).

The first is Giuseppe, an Italian boy who was taken from his family and brought to America by Stephano a greedy padron.

The Second is Frederick, a Clock makers apprentice with a past he cannot remember.

The third is Hannah, a maid at a Grand Hotel who works endlessly to support her family.

The book begins wit Giuseppe at a street corner playing his fiddle for money. He sees people rushing by to go to the docks where just off the coast a ship has crashed. When he finally gets there he sees a case that looks to belong to a violin. He fishes it out to find a green violin inside that makes the most beautiful noise he has ever heard.

It then gets into the story of Frederick and describes his work with the clock maker and his secret project, an automaton or a clock work man. His story begins with a struggle of finding the head to his mechanical man  and finally realizing his lifelong dream of becoming a professional clock maker.

Finally it gets to the story of Hannah , a maid and how her schooling had to be neglected in order to help support her family. Her father caught a strange disease that took his legs and voice from him, so he is no longer able to work. While working, she over hears the owner of the hotel talking to someone about the ultimate treasure hidden inside the hotel.