The Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman

Bibliography
Pullman, P. (1985). The ruby in the smoke. New York: Dell Laurel Leaf.

230 pages

Plot
Sally Lockhart is a sixteen year old girl who’s father has just passed away in a shipwreck. She recently received a note from her father’s servant in a childish hand referring to Chatham and the Seven Blessings. Confused, Sally goes to her father’s shipping partner. There she discusses the contents of her father’s last letter to her with a clerk. However, when she asks him about the Seven Blessings, the man dies. To the police, the man’s death was ruled natural causes, however Sally cannot help but believe he died in fear. What begins as a search for the reasons behind her father’s death, becomes a larger problem when Sally notices a woman following her. Just who is she and what does she have to do with Sally?

Review
Phillip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke is the first book in his Sally Lockhart Quartet. A mystery with a twist of historical fiction, Pullman does an excellent job creating a story with suspense, memorable characters, and an ending leaving the reader interested in the rest of the series. Pullman’s writing style is so fluid and effortless, but it is the story that is most interesting. Sally is not a perfect character, often putting herself at risk. However, it is her relationship with the other characters that is most interesting. Pullman does not do the readers a disservice by making Sally above all the other characters, but rather creates a character that needs the help of others. Part of this is due to Sally’s own personality but the other half is determined by the Victorian Society in which the book takes place.

Genre
Mystery

Reading Level/Interest Level
This book would appeal to older tweens in 6th-9th grade.

Similar Content
Other Phillip Pullman novels

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy by L.A. Meyer

Personal thoughts
I remember really liking this book when I was in Junior High School. It is a fast paced mystery and I love Pullman’s writing style. Parents and readers should be warned however, that the novel does look at drug addictions and its aftermath, namely in the use of Opium.

Subjects/themes
Murder
Corruption
Mystery
Family
Adoption
Drugs
Victorian Age

Awards
IRA Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Award for 1988

Series Information
This is the first book in a 4 book series. Pullman has also written offshoot books about some of the other characters.

Character names/descriptions
Sally Lockhart: The main character, is trying to uncover the mysterious circumstances surrounding her father’s death.

Frederick Garland: A photographer who initially helps Sally in evading Mrs. Holland, and later offers her a job to keep the books for his photography business.

Mrs. Holland: A woman who is after Sally and the ruby.

Annotation
When Sally Lockhart visits her father’s shipping company to uncover the truth behind her father’s death, she realizes she’s gotten herself in for more than she’s bargained for.