Skulduggery Pleasant

Landry, D. (2007).  Skulduggery pleasant. New York:  Harper Collins.

Stephanie's uncle, a famous author, left her his house and assets.  She quickly learns that his death might be murder and his acquaintance Skulduggery Pleasant comes to her rescue.  Stephanie learns of the Underworld and wants to find the Scepter and take down Serpine.  She goes to battle alongside Skulduggery Pleasant to discover what her uncle died protecting.

The theme of Skulduggery Pleasant is good overcomes evil.  Stephanie is a  twelve year old girl who is introduced into the ghost world when her uncle is killed over the scepter that he has protected.  She is determined to find his killer and to get back the scepter.  She becomes unlikely friends with Skulduggery Pleasant.  This duo represent the “good”.  They fighting the evil Serpine who will destroy anyone and everything in his path.  Stephanie and Skulduggery Pleasant defeat Serpine and  good prevails.

The character of Stephanie begins as a twelve year old girl who is mourning the death of her favorite uncle.  She has just inherited his house and assets.   Stephanie quickly learns to fight for her life when someone tries to kill her the first night she is in the house.  She becomes friends with Skulduggery Pleasant and wants to work with him to solve her uncle’s murder.  Stephanie does not get scared away when ghosts try to kill her.  She is eager to learn magic.  She wants to learn how to make fire with her hand.  She changes her name to Valkyrie Cain.  This brave girl defeats Serpine and retrieves the scepter. 

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