A Pocket Full of Murder

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.