Etiquette & Espionage

Carriger, G. (2013). Etiquette & espionage [Kindle version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com

Everyone should have the upmost manners while committing espionage. Set in the 1800s in a world where vampires and werewolves are known, the word finishing takes on new meaning. The mischievous 14-year-old Sophronia Angelina Temminnick is sent to Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality to become a proper lady and wife, or so she thought. She soon found herself in an academy that floats by steam-powered machinery, in lessons that include poisons, knives, creating diversions, acts of espionage and of course etiquette and has professors that are otherworldly. During Sophronia’s finishing school journey, she befriends and enlightens Dimity, Pillover, Soap, Vieve and a mechanimal named Bumbersnoot pulling them into her antics and covert operations in a mission to protect the school. The school is under attack and Sophronia is certain a communication device prototype is the reason, and she thinks her nemesis Monique knows where it is. While stalking Monique, Sophronia uses her finishing school lessons to cause distraction at her sister’s coming-out ball to snatch the prototype out from under Monique, the Westminster man and the Pickleman’s noses. With the help of Bumbersnoot, the protype is safely delivered to Mademoiselle Geraldine. Carriger creates a steampunk world of action and mystery topped with witty humor. Girls in grades 7 and up will be drawn to the characters’ old-fashioned politeness mixed with modern day girl power. To find out what adventures Sophoronia takes charge of next, continue reading the Finishing School Series.