The Magnificent Lizzie Brown and the Mysterious Phantom

Launching a series set in 19th-century London, Lockwood introduces slight but scrappy Lizzie Brown, who, at age 12, flees Rat’s Castle (“London’s filthiest slum”) and her heavy-drinking thief of a father to join Fitzy’s Travelling Circus. There, Lizzie befriends, among others, Hari and his elephant, Akula; high-wire performer Dru; Anita, “the world’s smallest woman”; and Nora and Erin, horseback ballerinas. Meanwhile, Lizzie discovers that her own recurring visions and nightmares are revealing various people’s pasts and futures, as well as the actions of a violent burglar called the Phantom. This both lands her a gig as the circus’s fortune-teller and saddles her with the responsibility of stopping bad things before they happen. But persuading others to believe her before it’s too late is the real trick. Lockwood’s spirited tale is filled with colorful characters, beginning with determined Lizzie herself, and a steady sense of suspense and mystery pushes the story forward. While some readers may discern the Phantom’s identity early on, there’s still plenty of fun to be had. Simultaneously available: The Magnificent Lizzie Brown and the Devil’s Hound. Ages 10–13. (Sept.)