Friday, August 9, 2013

Maddison, Kate. The Incredible Charlotte Sycamore.


Maddison, KateThe Incredible Charlotte Sycamore.   Holiday House    2013  282p  $17.95  ISBN 978-0-8234-2737-6      ms/jr       Steampunk   VG-BN

Charlotte, 16-year-old daughter of the royal surgeon, prefers sword fighting and playing Robin Hood to the poor instead of her pre-arranged marriage. Some friends help her solve the mysterious rabies outbreak and mechanical dog attacks in order to save Queen Victoria.

This is a fast-paced steampunk novel set in Victorian England. Charlotte is beloved by the staff and Queen Victoria herself.  She loves to tinker and create things in the Engineering Hall. This adventurous attitude gets her and her friends (Benjamin from the stable, and Jillian and Peter from carriage cleaning) mauled by mechanical rabid dogs one evening during their explorations, and Jillian and Peter are infected with rabies. The rest of the story relates how Charlotte and Benjamin help their friends; finds them wanted by the authorities for treason, and other unexpected events.

Readers will enjoy th
is humorous novel as they get an insight into the world of Victorian England, when girls were not educated and marriages were arranged.
Apparently any girl with a little creativity c
ould get what she wanted just fine!
           
Queen Victoria-Fiction                                            --Linda McNeil

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