A Sally Lockhart Mystery: The Ruby in the Smoke

Pullman, Philip. A Sally Lockhart Mystery: The Ruby in the Smoke. Alfred A. Knopf: 1985. ISBN: 9780375845161.

Plot Summary:
Sally Lockhart, a pretty sixteen year old is grieved. Her father has been killed while on a sea voyage and she now completely alone in the world. A cryptic letter arrives telling Sally to beware of the Seven Blessings and to find Marchbanks in Chattum. Seeking answers Sally visits her father's shipping business to try and find out more about his death. While talking with one of her father's partners, Mr. Higgs, Sally mentions the Seven Blessings. Mr. Higgs immediately falls over dead from a heart attack. Not one to shy away from adventure, Sally embarks on an journey that changes her forever. This journey includes opium use, death and greed.

Critical Evaluation:
Sally is a modern girl in a Victorian world. Armed with self confidence and little else, Sally's determination to find the truth about her father's death makes her a great protagonist. Written in third person, we get to see the big picture and try to piece together the mystery. This book is part historical fiction and part Agatha Christie. The setting is bleak and unfamiliar and conjures up a wet, cold, uninviting picture of London in 1872. A Victorian girl should not be without a guardian, thankfully Sally finds refuge with a photographer, Frederick and his sister, Rosa. Frederick is basically a stranger who once offered Sally help escaping from harm. This plot turn is only believable because Sally is so independent and Frederick is so flaky, yet gallant. A compelling story with a satisfying ending; luckily this is only the first book in the series.

Reader's Annotation:
Somethings require hard work, but are they worth dying for? Only you can make that decision.

Information About the Author:
British author Philip Pullman is most well known for the prize winning trilogy, His Dark Materials. The Golden Compass, has been made into a major motion picture and a play. Born in 1946, his first published work was a children's book, Count Karlstein, in 1982.


Genre:
Mystery and Suspense/Historical Mysteries

Curriculum Ties:
19th Century History-London
Social status of women in the 19th century

Booktalking Ideas:
As a single, sixteen-year-old girl, would you be brave enough to investigate your father's death.
Can opium really help solve a crime?

Reading Level/Interest Age:
9th +

Challenge Issues:
A sixteen-year-old girl willing smokes opium.

To be prepared for a book challenge you must read the book! And encourage all involved in the process to read the book, not just the questionable passages.
Make sure the institution's procedure is followed, this is a protection for all.
ALA provides written guidelines it would be handy to have a hard copy available.

Why Book Included:
I saw the television version on Masterpiece and thought teens would like the story.