You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the first in a series of four mysteries about sixteen-year-old Sally Lockheart -- an orphan in Victorian England, whose childhood in India and innate intelligence make her a wonderful and unusual protagonist. She is smart, resourceful, and unlike other girls of her time. I especially liked how she solved problems for herself, and relied on the goodness of people around her when she needed help. We can all learn from this -- that strength is not simply from within, but from trusting in others and repaying kindness for kindness. I have a fondness for the imagery of neighborhoods in London -- especially Wapping, which I used to look out on from our balcony window every day. One of my favorite passages comes about half-way into the story. Sally has turned to unlikely friends, and one night, as she's falling asleep trying to figure out why this group of people is so unusual, she thinks: "'Of course!' she thought. They don't think of Trembler as a servant. And they don't think of me as a girl. We're all equal. That's what's so odd...'" (p. 85)
I wish The Golden Compass could have been more like this, and less full of barely-hidden angst against organized religion.
Though I do wonder how it is that Sally runs around without a chaperone in a time when she would be mistaken for a whore without one.
Though I do wonder how it is that Sally runs around without a chaperone in a time when she would be mistaken for a whore without one.
I loved the Masterpiece adaptation of this book, so I wanted to check out the original. It moved so slow and Sally isn't involved much in the book itself. It's a short book, but it takes a while for anything to happen.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's just a fun mystery with interesting characters. I like Pullman's writing a lot and he writes female characters well. I thought the ending/resolution of the mystery fell a bit flat though.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
I don't know what took me so long to read this. I remember seeing it on the shelves after I read the Golden Compass series by Pullman and thinking "nah, too ~~" for me. Too grownup? Too dull looking? Too scary? Who knows. My reasoning is lost to the mists of time.
But I'm kind of glad I waited, because I got to read it for the first time now. It was a really fun throwback to the books of my youth.
It was good - I liked the mystery and the suspense and the Victorian setting. It wasn't excellent; I feel no drive to read the next one in the series right away. But it was quite enjoyable and probably some of the best historical YA you're going to get.
But I'm kind of glad I waited, because I got to read it for the first time now. It was a really fun throwback to the books of my youth.
It was good - I liked the mystery and the suspense and the Victorian setting. It wasn't excellent; I feel no drive to read the next one in the series right away. But it was quite enjoyable and probably some of the best historical YA you're going to get.
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes