A pocket full of murder /
Material type: TextPublisher: New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, [2015]Copyright date: 2015Edition: First editionDescription: 342 pages ; 22 cmContent type:- text
- unmediated
- volume
- 9781481437714 (hardcover)
- 1481437712 (hardcover)
- 9781481437721 (pbk.)
- 1481437720 (pbk.)
- [Fic] 23
- PZ7.A54885 Poc 2015
Item type | Current library | Home library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard Loan | Coeur d'Alene Library Juvenile Fiction | Coeur d'Alene Library | Book | J ANDERSO (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 50610019725865 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
A determined young girl joins forces with an adventure-loving street boy to save her father's life in this "thoroughly entertaining" ( Kirkus Reviews ) magical murder mystery.
In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy have all the magic they desire while the working class can barely afford a simple spell to heat their homes. Twelve-year-old Isaveth is poor, but she's also brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice--which is lucky, because her father has just been wrongfully arrested for murder.
Isaveth is determined to prove his innocence. Quiz, the eccentric, eyepatch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can't resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton's most influential citizens and save Isaveth's beloved Papa from execution. But is Quiz truly helping Isaveth out of friendship, or does he have hidden motives of his own?
In Tarreton, where the rich have all the magic they wish and the poor can barely afford a spell to heat their homes, twelve-year-old Isaveth's father is accused of murdering an influential citizen and Isaveth, aided by eccentric street boy Quiz, tries to solve the magical murder mystery before her father is executed.
Excerpt provided by Syndetics
Reviews provided by Syndetics
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-7-An appealing novel for readers who like fast-paced fantasy with a dash of mystery and a political angle. Thirteen-year-old Isaveth is a lower class girl, or Moshite, in the fictional city of Tarrenton, where the wealthy have all the magic. When her father is wrongfully arrested for the magical murder of an important political figure, it's up to Isaveth to prove his innocence. A young man named Quiz befriends her and decides to help her solve the crime. Isaveth soon learns that Quiz may be lying about his identity and have motives of his own, and she doesn't know whom she can trust. The story wraps up while leaving enough loose threads for a sequel. Throughout the novel is a parallel story about Auradia Champion, Lady Justice of Listerbroke, a former city justice who is the inspiration for many radio dramas. Isaveth seeks to emulate Auradia's justice as she confronts potential citywide corruption. Though the characters are fully fleshed out, readers may need to suspend disbelief in order to accept their astonishing array of special skills and capabilities. Isaveth makes her own spells and engages with magic throughout the story, but she also grapples with everyday issues of bullying, social class, prejudice, charity, and justice. The atmosphere is fully realized, but there are some minor issues with world-building. For example, the book mentions that there are different days of the week such as Duesday, but does not clearly explain the order of the days. VERDICT Fantasy readers who also enjoy a bit of mystery will appreciate the story, cast of characters, and layers.-Liz Anderson, DC Public Library © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Isaveth, 12, lives in the magical city of Tarreton, where her motherless family, members of a religious minority, barely get by. Then her father is arrested for the murder of an important official and things get much worse. Isaveth, sure of her father's innocence, is determined to prove it, but though she can make simple charms, her resources are minimal. Unexpectedly, she is befriended by Quiz, an eye-patch-wearing street boy who volunteers to help her find the real killer and the motives behind the setup. From the dynamic cover (though the kids look a bit younger than they're written) to the twisty ending, this has fullness and depth unusual in middle-grade mysteries. Woven into the narrative are issues of workers' rights, religious discrimination, and the role of government in citizens' lives. Anderson still leaves plenty of room for magic, adventure, and the development of her two strong, young main characters, who match each other in both wits and sensitivity. Most of the characters, in fact, display more depth than readers might expect, ensuring kids will have something to think about when the book is finished. But wait! On the last pages, there's a small hint of a sequel. They'll think about that, too.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2015 BooklistHorn Book Review
Isaveth's poor family struggles to survive in magical, socially stratified Tarreton. When her father is wrongly arrested for the murder of an important political figure, she sets out to prove his innocence with the help of an enigmatic street boy named Quiz. Magic, mystery, and adventure mix well here; the investigation takes surprising twists and offers a reflection on inequality. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Kirkus Book Review
Their mother's death and their father's struggle to find work have taken a toll on the four Breck sisters: Annagail, the eldest, has left school for a factory job; young Lilet and Mimmi endure day care; and would-be writer Isaveth, following a recipe in the Book of Common Magic, has begun baking spell-tablets to sell on the street. In Tarreton, nobles live in luxury while the poor live in grinding, Dickensian poverty. As Moshites, a religious minority, the Brecks are isolated and burdened by discrimination. When Papa is arrested, unjustly accused of murdering the governor of Tarreton College, Isaveth vows to save him. Quiz, a mysterious boy who's befriended her (like her, he's a fan of the broadcast "talkie-play" Auradia Champion, Lady Justice of Listerbroke), offers much-needed help. Their investigations lead them first to the college, with its plethora of witnesses and possible suspects, then to the Workers' Club, an illegal underground organization dedicated to improving the lives of Tarreton's downtrodden. Isaveth and her sisters are an appealing bunch, and the plot's twists and turns keep readers enjoyably perplexed. The setting, with its nostalgia-infused, late-Victorian vibe, is to fantasy what steampunk is to science fictionand great fun. This alternate world's infrastructure relies on magic-based technology. Powerful Sagery enables the nobility's luxurious lifestyle, but for commoners, permission to use common magic is a hard-won right, by no means universal. Thoroughly entertaining. (Fantasy.10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.Author notes provided by Syndetics
R. J. (Rebecca) Anderson is the author of several acclaimed books, including the teen thriller Ultraviolet , which was shortlisted for the Andre Norton Award, and the UK bestselling Knife series for middle grade readers. Her love for the Golden Age detective novels of Dorothy L. Sayers and Margery Allingham, along with a lifelong delight in fantasy and adventure stories, inspired her to write A Pocket Full of Murder and its companion A Little Taste of Poison . She lives with her husband and three children in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Visit her at RJ-Anderson.com.There are no comments on this title.