Wednesday, August 5, 2015

BOOK REVIEW: ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE

ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE
Gail Cooper
Scholastic
2013

Available: Hard copy, paperback, Kindle

    Set in Victorian times, fourteen-year-old Sophronia does not behave like the other young ladies of her era. It's like she's been placed out of time. Instead of serving tea, embroidering, and having polite conversation, she'd rather climb a trees or dismantling a piece of machinery to see how it works. Her hoyden behavior is most embarrassing to her very proper mother. So it doesn't come as too much of a surprise when she is sent off to Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality to learn proper deportment.  What is a surprise is the school. Instead
of learning how to curtsy or how to attract a suitable husband, the school's focus is on espionage. And instead of being located in a fine old mansion or estate, it's a floating airship. And there is some very strange a foot at the school.
     Sophronia is strong, independent and able to think outside the box. Her natural abilities flourish at her new school, but at a price. Not all her new classmates or teachers seem to want her to succeed. And some of them are pretty unique: werewolves, and vampires, plus robots and spies. It's a steampunk mystery full of adventure, mystery and danger.


Target audience: Grades 6 -9
Mystery/ suspense: good

Kid appeal: fun

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