Cameron, Sharon. A Spark Unseen.

Cameron, Sharon.  A Spark Unseen.  Scholastic Press  2013     335p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-545-32813-5      hs  Steampunk  VG

Katherine moves to Paris with two purposes: to protect her inventor uncle and to find her love, Lane.  Both purposes put her in danger from elements she does not suspect.  This is the sequel to The Dark Unwinding, which was not read by this reviewer.  Coming in in the middle of the story left many things not fully understood.  It appears that the emphasis in this second novel is on the historical and political aspects of the time rather than the typical Steampunk inventions; plot and action take second place.  That fact alone makes this a good read, rather than an excellent read.

Katherine awakens to spoil a kidnapping attempt on Uncle Tully.  She realizes that it is no longer safe on the farm.  Faking his death, she quickly escapes to a home owned by her grandmother in Paris.  Her ulterior motive is to search for her love, Lane.  Every person and every event is tied to the history of the time.  There is very little emphasis on the inventions of Uncle Tully.  Spies and intrigue take center front with the governments of both France and Britain eager to exploit Uncle Tully’s inventions.  Being on her own, Katherine is not sure who she can trust.          

Summary: In this sequel to The Dark Unwinding, Katherine moves to Paris with two purposes: to protect her inventor uncle and to find her love, Lane.  Both purposes put her in danger from elements she does not suspect. 

Historical fiction, Invention-Fiction                             --Joan Theal

Maddison, Kate. The Incredible Charlotte Sycamore.

Maddison, Kate.  The 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 this 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 could get what she wanted just fine!
           

Queen Victoria-Fiction                                            --Linda McNeil

The Boneshaker

Milford, Kate. The Boneshaker
Clarion see Houghton Mifflin 2010 372p 17.00
978-0-547-24187-6 ms/hs Supernatural VG-BN
Crossroads mean choices must be made. This is very true of the crossroads outside the town of Arcane, Missouri in 1913. Natalie’s love of machinery lead her to investigate the strange supernatural events that occur when a medicine show makes the choice to come to town. This is a story of family, courage, and facing your problems.
Strange things happen at the crossroads outside of Arcane, Missouri. The old village is now just a ghost town. The new town of Arcane started up just down the road. Ted Mink runs a bicycle shop and repair shop. According to Natalie her father can fix anything. He even built her a mechanical toy and a fabulous bicycle the likes of which has not ever been seen inside the town limits. There is, however, one problem. Natalie doesn’t know how to ride her brand new bike.
After Dr. Jake Limeberleg’s Nostrum Fair and Technological Medicine Show chooses to stop in Arcane, strange events start happening. All sorts of things seem to result from Dr. Jake’s perpetual motion machines. Natalie’s interests in automata and mechanical toys make her the prime person to solve the mysteries created when the medicine show came to town with it’s unusual contingent of characters.

The author has written a fast paced novel that blends fantasy, supernatural elements, magical events, and some realism in this first novel by Kate Milford. This will appeal to readers of steampunk fiction. This is a very well written book that will relate well to many young readers.
It is recommended as a basic book for any upper middle/high school library. It would make an excellent selection for a basic books list for school libraries. McNeil, Linda
Supernatural

Clare, Casssandra. Clockwork Angel

Clare, Casssandra. Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices Bk 1)
McElderry Books see Simon & Schuster 2010 478p 19.99
978-1-4169-7586-1 jr/sr Supernatural E-BN

A prequel to the Internationally best-selling Mortal Instruments series( City of Bones, etc).
Tessa Fell arrives in London in April of 1878 to find her brother (her only relative) missing. Her search takes her to Victorian England’s Downworld, a dangerous supernatural underworld. Shortly she is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters who belong to the infamous Pandemonium Club comprised of demons and vampires. The Sisters confine her and force her to develop an unusual ability of shape shifting. The Magister, who is the ultimate villain, wants to possess her shape shifting ability.
The action and intrigue begin in ernest when James and Will, two demon-killing shape shifters, rescue her and provide a sanctuary. Tessa Fell arrives in London in April of 1878 to find her brother, Nate (her only relative) missing. Nate's employer, Mr. Mortmain does not know his whereabouts. Her search takes her to Victorian England’s Downworld, a dangerous supernatural underworld. Shortly she is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters who belong to the infamous Pandemonium Club, which is comprised of demons and vampires. The Sisters confined her and forced her to develop the latent ability of shape shifting for the Magister, who is the ultimate villain, and wants to possess her shape shifting ability.
The fast paced action and murdering intrigue begin in earnest when James and Will, two demon-killing shape shifters, rescue her and provide a sanctuary at the Institute. The Institute’s job, run by Charlotte and Thomas, is to keep the demon underworld in check.
At the Institute she learns that she is also a Downworlder, but doesn’t have the usual markings. Tessa’s search for her brother provides the readers with lots of magically packed action and deadly intrigue in world of demons and vampires. As the plot develops it seems that Tessa may have to choose between her brother’s well being and those of her Shadow hunter friends. The author has written a razor edged, blood tingling, and heart stopping supernatural thriller that will keep readers up all night.

This is a well written book that is recommended as a Books of Note. It would be an excellent addition to any secondary school library. McNeil, Linda
Demonology-fiction

Harland, Richard. Worldshaker

Harland, Richard. Worldshaker
Simon & Schuster/Little Brown 2010 400p 16.99
978-1-4169-9552-4 ms/hs Science fiction VG
Col Propentine must deal with the unexpected realities that his privileged state, and his naive existence, have masked when he is selected to be the next commander of the Worldshaker, a huge juggernaut.
A microcosm of Victorian civilization is alive and well aboard the juggernaut, Worldshaker. The upper classes live in a super-structured realm, where physical and emotional thoughts and feelings are surpressed, and everyone leads a very proper Victiorian existence. Below decks are the “filthies,” who the upper deck dwellers are led to believe are sub-human. When Rif escapes and meets Col, his entire notion of the world is turned upside down, and the two begin a rebellion that will forever change the life of the entire world.

Slow and almost infuriating at first, this story builds and creates a fascinating world, with believable characters and thought-provoking plot details. Worldshaker seems to be an analogy of the British Empire and expansionist ideals, as well as a diatribe against Victorian society. Fans of Philip Reeve and other steampunk offerings will find this an engaging read, but those who dig deeper will find pro-environmental and anti-imperialist symbolism.

Some sensual allusions, but most of the action is properly Victorian. Appropriate for middle school steampunk fans, and can be enjoyed by older readers as well. Recommended for middle and high school collections where this genre is popular. Naismith, Pat