Newt's Emerald

Gr 7 Up—It's an absolute bore to be a young lady in 1800s England. You can't go anywhere without a chaperone, can be easily compromised by the slightest glance of a man, and most certainly cannot go about trying to solve the mystery of your family's stolen heirloom. Such is the plight that Lady Truthful "Newt" Newington finds herself in when a very powerful magical emerald necklace, the Newington Emerald, seemingly vanishes into thin air. Truthful wants to reclaim her family's jewels and, with the help of a crafty great-aunt, disguises herself with a glamour to walk about as a young man. Now the real detective work can begin. High jinks, kidnappings, masquerade balls, comedic dialogue, and a dash of romance distinguish this first in a new series that is sure to excite Nix's fans. The action abounds in this fantasy worthy of any middle school or teen collection. Faith Adele narrates beautifully with every character having a memorable and unique voice.