Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch

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The book colourfully describes the life of a poverty-stricken young boy, Jaffy Brown, growing up in 19th Century London.  Jaffy's life takes a dramatic turn at age 8 when he is saved from being eaten by an escaped tiger, by Jamrach, the tiger's owner.  Jaffy then gets a job working with many animals and is sent out to sea to capture a 'dragon'.  He finds a huge crocodile and is shiprecked.  Cannibalism follows.

Described as ' a novel full of strange sights, pervasive smells and sounds, and curious characters'.