The Inquisitor’s Apprentice (Inquisitor's Apprentice, #1) in Mock Newbery 2026

May 27, 2011 Laurel rated it really liked it

More complete review/pondering on the blog: http://laurelsnyder.com/?p=1111

This book is admirably well plotted, really tight and compelling. The pace is brisk, but well detailed too--and characters are nicely developed. Just generally well written.

I am in LOVE with the setting and the premise. The idea of magic-as-replaced-by-machines, of capitalists as the villains behind the end of "old world" magic. It's brilliant. The way all of these historical characters and institutions (Edison, Houdini, ...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Hilary rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, grades-5-6, grades-7-8

When it is discovered that Sacha Kessler has the ability to see witches, he is appointed to be the apprentice of New York Cities most famous detective - Inquisitor Wolf. Along with another apprentice, Lily, they set out to try to solve the mystery of who tried to kill Thomas Edison and why.
Pluses - Sacha and Lily are great characters. Sacha, the good kid from the tenements with the loving family who are trying to make it in the USA. Lily, the little rich girl who is tough and doesn't take no fo ...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Barbara rated it liked it

Shelves: ncbla

The book's endpapers show New York as it was a century ago, and the book itself highlights New York at the turn of the century. Thirteen-year-old Sacha Kessler can see witches or the magic they create, making him invaluable to Maximillian Wolf, who is the New York Police Department's star Inquisitor. The job of the Inquisitors is to stop magical crime, and in this alternative universe, readers will recognize real characters such as Harry Houdini and Thomas Edison, but they'll also meet a cast of ...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Kristy rated it really liked it

Shelves: juv

I thought this was one of the better juvenile chapter books about magic that I have read. The author was not afraid to use colorful language and to dig into class differences and ignorance. The story focuses on a 13 year old Jewish boy who discovers he has the power to see magic happening and is immediately drafted into the NYPD, as a magical inquisitor's apprentice. The setting is an alternate New York, around the turn of the century, where magic is real, but outlawed. Thomas Edison, J.P. "Morg ...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Lisa Nocita rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, ya-2011, tag-2012-13

The Inquisitor's Apprentice would appear to be an alternate history of NYC circa the late 1890's/early 1900's wherein NYC is controlled by all varieties of magic/witchcraft with the robber barons (Morgan, Astor, Vanderbilt, etc. --though the names are slightly changed) vying to eradicate real magic so they can replace it with their own version of industrialized "magic,"; in other words, machines. Thirteen-year-old Sasha Kessler can "see" magic so he is apprenticed to a top level police inquisito The Inquisitor's Apprentice would appear to be an alternate history of NYC circa the late 1890's/early 1900's wherein NYC is controlled by all varieties of magic/witchcraft with the robber barons (Morgan, Astor, Vanderbilt, etc. --though the names are slightly changed) vying to eradicate real magic so they can replace it with their own version of industrialized "magic,"; in other words, machines. Thirteen-year-old Sasha Kessler can "see" magic so he is apprenticed to a top level police inquisitor who investigates magical crimes. Sasha shares his apprenticeship with Lily Astral, a thirteen-year-old debutante who wants to be more than a socialite. When it appears that Thomas Edison is the target of a dbbyuk, a malevolent possessing spirit that was summoned to assasinate him, Inquisitor Wolf and his team are called to investigate. But Wolf's investigation leads Sasha to some very startling conclusions about himself and his family.

The premise sounds way more interesting than the novel is in the end. Unfortunately, I was goodly confused for a majority of the story, due in large part undoubtedly with my own unfamiliarity with Judaism and Jewish practices. Not to mention my decided lack of expertise in turn of the century NYC. So, while I understood to whom in many instances the author was referencing in pointing an accusatory finger at the robber barons, I was puzzled that he used the real names of others like Houdini and Teddy Roosevelt. Why did he do that? Is there a greater significance that I missed? Is there a deeper theme, a greater moral? Is it an allegory about immigration and being "American?" I felt like that was a big theme throughout the novel but only cursorily addressed in the dénouement. Also, I would have to say the characters are a bit flat and not fully realized. I didn't feel any particular affinity for any of them, even when Sasha was in mortal danger. It leaves off as though it will be a series but I won't rush out for the next one. I'll be surprised if this one gets much circulation in my library. LN ...more

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May 30, 2011 Shanshad Whelan rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, childrens, urban-fantasy, mg, fantasy

I think I'd rate this 3.5 if I could. The setting is something I haven't seen before, and it's really delightful to take an alternate history steampunk style trip through NYC. The characters are likable and the story itself is intriguing and kept me reading through until the end. It's really the pacing and the way information is thrown in that sometimes doesn't quite work at times.

I think at the heart of it, the author never really gives us a real look at what "magic" is in this world, what it c ...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Shazzer rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, 2011-middle-grade

As posted on Outside of a Dog:

A good book and a good mystery are like a good magic trick. It's part skill and part misdirection. We, the readers, must think one thing in order for us to be fooled by the eventual ending. Chris Moriarty's newest book, The Inquisitor's Apprentice is a perfect magic trick, a mixture of good storytelling and sleight of hand.

Sacha Kessler has an unusual gift. He can see magic when it is performed. This makes him a valuable commodity, in a society where magic has been As posted on Outside of a Dog:

A good book and a good mystery are like a good magic trick. It's part skill and part misdirection. We, the readers, must think one thing in order for us to be fooled by the eventual ending. Chris Moriarty's newest book, The Inquisitor's Apprentice is a perfect magic trick, a mixture of good storytelling and sleight of hand.

Sacha Kessler has an unusual gift. He can see magic when it is performed. This makes him a valuable commodity, in a society where magic has been outlawed, and a police league of Inquisitors are on the prowl for anyone with magical ties. Sacha soon finds himself apprenticed, along with the wealthy Lily Astral, to one of the greatest Inquisitors of all time, Mr. Wolf, an enigmatic slouch, who simply has to be more than he seems. Before long, they are embroiled in their first big case, in which someone has released a dybbuk, an evil wandering spirit of the dead, on Thomas Edison, in the hopes of killing the great inventor. The problem? Thanks to Edison’s new witch hunter invention, every magically inclined citizen of New York City has a motive for wanting him gone. Along the way, Sacha learns a new trick or two, makes new friends, comes to terms with his background and his future and faces great dangers, including one that could be the end of him forever.

The Inquisitor’s Apprentice is part historical novel (albeit of the alternative kind), part fantasy, part coming of age and all excellently done. Moriarty draws upon real figures from history, Thomas Edison, J.P. Morgan and Houdini, and twists and shapes them to fit his new New York. There is a side of history, that of the poor factory workers living in tenements on Hester Street and the Jewish community that has formed there, that you rarely find told in middle grade literature, and that alone is interesting enough. Add to that a tightly crafted mystery and fantastical elements, and you have a wonderfully plotted book. The Inquisitor’s Apprentice is not an easy book to read; it takes concentration. It’s probably for the more advanced middle grade reader, someone who has the skills to tackle Moriarty’s vocabulary and complicated storytelling. But there’s an audience for this tale, yes there is. It’s just a matter of spotting the magic.
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Dec 11, 2011 Kim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, fiction, historical-fiction, young-adult-fiction

Wow. I picked this up on impulse after seeing Cory Doctorow's glowing blurb on the cover, and I'm so glad I did. Chris Moriarty's alternate history has it all... Great characters, period atmosphere, plot twists and turns... Readers will feel like they've been fully immersed in turn-of-the-century NYC, albeit a slightly more mystical version than what they might have expected. A real treat! ...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Rachel Seigel rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this story and it was a solidly written adventure, but could have benefited from a glossary of the Yiddish terms and phrases that were interspersed throughout the book. It centers around Jewish mythology and Kabbalism, and will reach a very limited audience of readers, but those who pick it up will find a unique adventure.

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