Book of the Month

Etiquette and Espionage 

You may have noticed that there aren’t many steampunk genre books available for younger teen readers, especially not girls. Sad, but true. There may be the odd, one book series hidden in the back of the library, collecting dust, but who wants to read that? Etiquette and Espionage fixes this corrupt conundrum that the steampunk genre is currently in. Set in an alternate Victorian Age England, readers are plunged into Sophronia Temminnick’s world, a world fraught with vampires, (who only follow the latest fashions, and never ever, drink without permission), werewolves, (who serve the Queen and Parliament in the army), and a floating zeppelin finishing school, where trouble-making Sophronia Temminnick herself absolutely MUST enroll, as her curtsy is extremely sub-par. Little does her mother know, proper curtsies and dancing are not the only kind of finishing that this school teaches…

Suited for ages 12+, Etiquette and Espionage is the first in a series of four, and is a fun romp through a steampunk Victorian age. I highly recommend this book to girls who love Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and are looking for a summer read with a strong female protagonist and cast. Also the author of the Parasol Protectorate and Custard Protocol series, Gail Carriger is published in 18 different languages, and has 13 New York Times Best Sellers. She is also trained as an archaeologist with a love of tea, octopuses, and shoes. –Margaret Worchel