
"Street Magic" is the second book in Tamora Pierce's "The Circle Opens" quartet, following the adventures of 14-year-old plant mage Briar Moss. While traveling with his teacher, Dedicate Rosethorn, Briar encounters 10-year-old Evvy, a street girl with immense, untrained stone magic. Briar feels responsible for her magical education, drawing him into the dangerous world of Chammur's street gangs and the manipulative Lady Zenadia, who secretly orchestrates violence and assassinations. The book explores themes of mentorship, responsibility, overcoming a difficult past, and the fight for justice in a corrupt city. Parents should be aware of themes involving street violence, kidnapping, implied assassinations, and a character's suicide, handled with sensitivity appropriate for the age range.
Former "street rat" Briar Moss must face his past when he discovers a young mage in need of a mentor.