The Ruby In The Smoke – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Ruby In The Smoke

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book1985

88%

WISE Score

Opium dens, ancient curses, and a 16-year-old who knows her way around a pistol—Victorian London is a mess, and Sally Lockhart is here for it.

The Ruby In The Smoke

book

1985

88%

WISE Score

Opium dens, ancient curses, and a 16-year-old who knows her way around a pistol—Victorian London is a mess, and Sally Lockhart is here for it.

Jump to

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

This isn't your typical dusty historical novel. Philip Pullman (the guy who wrote His Dark Materials) brings a gritty, noir-ish edge to Victorian London that still feels sharp forty years after it was written. Sally Lockhart is the kind of hero you actually want your kid to read about: smart, financially literate, and unwilling to wait for a man to solve her problems.

It’s a great 'bridge' book for kids moving from middle-grade fiction into more complex YA. Just be ready for some real-talk about history—it doesn't shy away from the fact that the British Empire was built on some pretty shady business.

Age Fit

Best for 11 or 12 and up. The vocabulary is sophisticated, and the themes of drug addiction and murder require a bit of maturity.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Sally Lockhart is a refreshingly capable, independent lead who defies Victorian gender norms, though the setting involves gritty realities like the opium trade and murder.

Imaginative

Philip Pullman creates a vivid, atmospheric Victorian London that feels lived-in and dangerous, sparking a real interest in historical sleuthing.

Safe

While it's a book, parents should know it handles heavy themes including drug addiction, gun violence, and the darker side of 19th-century poverty.

Enriching

Excellent for vocabulary, historical context, and ethical reasoning. It challenges readers to think about colonialism and social class without being preachy.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Sally Lockhart is a powerhouse protagonist who knows more about bookkeeping and firearms than embroidery.
Pullman’s world-building is top-tier; Victorian London feels like a character itself, dripping with fog and secrets.
It’s a mystery that respects the reader, offering a complex plot that doesn't rely on magic or easy outs.
The pacing is relentless, making it a great pick for kids who think historical fiction is just people sitting in parlors drinking tea.

⚠

What to Watch For

The plot centers on the opium trade, and several characters are addicts. It’s handled with historical weight, not glamorized, but it’s a heavy topic.
There are moments of genuine peril and cold-blooded murder that might be too intense for younger middle-grade readers.
Some period-typical attitudes toward people from the East are present, though Sally and her friends generally push back against these prejudices.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Sally's father taught her about business and guns instead of 'ladylike' skills?"
"The book shows a lot of extreme poverty in London. How does that compare to what you see in cities today?"
"Why is the 'Seven Blessings' mystery so dangerous for everyone involved?"
"If you lived in 1872, what would be the hardest part of your daily life to get used to?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about The Ruby In The Smoke? Put this WISE score on your site