Rating: 
Summary: This book ROCKS!
Review: This is such a great book; I'd recomend it to ANYONE (non-readers: read it anyways!). The plot, starting with dozens of seemingly random threads, weaves its way in and out of Sally's life. I normally don't like pure mystery books, and I despise books set in historical times (ex: Victorian England), but this book is at the top of my list of favorites. When the story first starts out, Sally leads a normal life; as normal as life can be for a 16-year-old girl living alone! But her life changes abrubtly: imagine never knowing your mother, imagine your father mysteriously dying in a shipwreck, and imagine uttering a few simple words with so much power, a man who hears dies of shock and fear! I cannot emphasize enough how appealing this book is. Please, please READ THIS BOOK! You'll be glad you did.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as His Dark Materials, but still gripping
Review: This trilogy is the story of Sally Lockhart, a young woman who overcomes obstacles and enemies to build a life in Victorian England, where young ladies should be seen and not heard. In this book, she discovers the true story of who her father is, and how her mother died. She will also hunt for a fabulous ruby, and travel through the lower depths of the East End of London.I think that this is the best of this trilogy, although the last book is very good. The mystery is very compelling, and Pullman is brilliant at drawing you into the world of Victorian England. This will have you on the edge of your seat! Sally Lockhart is an attractive character, and takes everything that is thrown at her by Pullman in good heart. I definitely wanted to read the whole series after this one. I came to this story after The Golden Compass and the Subtle Knife. I think that His Dark Materials is much richer and deeper than this series, but maybe the Sally Lockhart books are easier for a younger audience to read. They are set in a more familiar world, and the stories do not interwind. At the same time, Philip Pullman is a cut above most children's storytellers, as his characters and stories are more original and modern - Sally is definitely a feminist heroine. Will definitely keep this one for my daughter to read.
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