READING RESPONSE: THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE BY PHILIP PULLMAN

Having recently finished The Westing Game, I have started a new mystery book called The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman. This book is about a young girl living in Victorian London named Sally Lockhart whose father drowned at sea. She receives a dangerous clue and eventually Sally finds herself involved in a mystery about her father's death, and she is determined to uncover the truth.

I think that later in the story, Sally will discover an important clue to the mystery and will find a partner to help her solve it. Sally is a spunky and strong female lead, which I can relate to. She has a goal, and she will do anything to reach it, which shows her determined personality, a trait I would love to have in common with her.

The author of this book, Philip Pullman, strongly focuses on descriptive flashbacks,and by doing so he allows the reader to enter thoughts of the past. 


" And she could not escape from the dream. It unwound ceaselessly, and she had to live through it. She knew what was coming next: a guttering candle, a man's voice-
Look! Look at him! My god - It was the voice of Major Marchbanks!"

Philip Pullman wants us to use our minds and solve a complicated mystery, but I think he also wants us to really be involved in the book; involved in the mind of a young Victorian girl whose trying to solve a big and dangerous mystery.