Son of a Pitch Entry: Jinxx Relinkerys is a Liar and a Thief

Title: Jinxx Relinkerys is a Liar and a Thief
Category and Genre: YA Fantasy
Word Count: 79,000

Query:
A girl on crutches doesn’t look like a hero, especially when everybody is convinced she’s a liar and a thief. Fourteen-year-old math genius Jinxx must prove them wrong.
Jinxx works as an apprentice mage to keep her family from starving, but can’t tell anyone without being accused of witchcraft. The demands of her powerful mentor make it hard for her to spend time at choir, her connection to a community full song, dance, and duende—the sometimes dark soul of flamenco.
When she’s kicked out of choir after she’s framed for stealing an expensive hymnal, she can’t risk losing her job by telling her mentor. The only clue she has is a cypher that even when decoded makes little sense. As she’s framed for even worse crimes, she and her scandal-loving best friend must discover whose behind the cypher and stop them. Even as they find more evidence, nobody will believe a thief. If she can’t convince them, the next crime she “commits” will send her whole family to the gallows…and that might not be the worst of it.

First 250 Words:
If one of the choir girls was around, I’d beg her to go fetch my brothers for me, but the only thing about is the heat and a flock of misguided pelicans who don’t realize it’s siesta. The temple bells struck at least twenty minutes ago. I need to get home and can’t without my brothers. When I told my them I needed to talk to Lady Sesedo, I meant just a few minutes. It’s my first solo, so I wanted to make sure I knew what part to practice. They knew there wasn’t time for the beach.
I put my math text in my satchel, pick up my crutches, and walk down the street towards the beach path. It feels like all the white walls make the siesta-time sun even more unbearable. I wish those pelicans would fly over me for a few moments of shade. At the least the trail to the beach has that, even if I can’t walk it without tripping. The stupid path cuts through a thicket of scrub bushes, wild olive trees, and thistles.
The temple bells aren’t a clock. They haven’t changed since I last looked at them. That doesn’t make me any less late. Mom needs me to help with the dress we’re making for Doñita Promysed. Mom told Doña Daskeryna we’d finish it by next prayer day. She’s paying us a big bonus to deliver it before Day Su Maligu. To get it done, we’re working through the heat of siesta and burning candles at night.