Kat, Incorrigible, written by Stephanie Burgis, was originally published as A Most Improper Magick. I read the book to review it, and as is often the case lately, I didn’t even read the synopsis before diving into the story. As a result, I had no expectations at all, and was pleasantly surprised by how charming the book is. I was drawn in immediately by the opening lines:

“I was twelve years of age when I chopped off my hair, dressed as a boy and set off to save my family from impending ruin…”

and from there I was utterly entranced with Kat and her shenanigans.

Set in Yorkshire, in Regency England, Kat, Incorrigible contains all the elements of a Gothic Melodrama: an unpleasant step-mother concerned with gossip and the trappings of Society, crumbling gothic estates, highwaymen, family debt and a sinister older fiancé. These elements, however, are mere scenery in the grand scheme of the story.

Katherine Ann Stephenson (Kat) is the youngest of 4 children: Charles, who we barely see, is facing debtor’s prison; Elissa, the eldest sister, fancies herself to be like one of the heroines in the Gothic Romances that she stays up late to read, and Angeline, no less romantic than Elissa, is determined to save her family by dabbling in magic. Kat’s father is a poor country Vicar, and her mother died when Kat was only ten days old. Kat’s father remarried some time later, and all of the mother’s remaining belongings are locked away. The Stepmama has her hands full with the children, especially with Kat, and finds being a poor Vicar’s wife somewhat tedious.

As indicated by the opening words of the book, Kat’s plan is to run off to save her family from their impending doom. The Stephenson family already has somewhat of a reputation as Kat’s biological mother was a known witch, and carelessly practised magic in the company of others. Kat’s father is not in a position to cover Charles’s debts, nor could the family recover from further social stigma if Charles was to be incarcerated. The Stepmother’s solution is to marry off her eldest step-daughter, to a rich older suitor, Sir Neville.

Sir Neville’s intentions are somewhat dubious, especially considering the large social gap between himself and the Stevenson’s (regardless of Stepmama’s “connections”), and also considering the mysterious death of his first wife. Elissa, being the romantic that she is, willingly martyrs herself to save her family. Angeline, while made of much sterner stuff than Elissa, is no less a romantic. She casts a love spell with comical results, in the hope of attracting a love match that would enable her to save the family from dire straits. A burgeoning witch she may be, but her magic is not yet up to the task.

Kat continues to look for solutions to aid her family, and she too tries the magical route. It is here that things take an interesting turn (the first of many).  Kat never knew her mother, and she has only gleaned little glimpses into the woman that she was. While looking for her own magical solution Kat learns a great deal about her mother.  She was more than a Witch; she belonged to an ancient secret Order, with their own magical abilities.

Kat attracts the attention of the Order and the sinister Sir Neville. Can she use her wits, her new found magical talents and the magic portal that she inherits from her mother, to save herself and her family from disaster before time runs out?

Kat, Incorrigible is a middle grade book that will appeal to an older audience. It is well written, and is an easy read. I did find myself caught up in the story but, at the same time, the book lacked a little depth, especially with some of the secondary characters.  I have found that a first book in a series often lacks depth, as the author tries to introduce the characters and create the world in which they live. That aside, I would highly recommend Kat, Incorrigible and I have plans to read this to my younger children. Kat is a feisty character and, at times, it’s easy to forget that she is 12 years old. She can be somewhat of a brat, but she is strong, determined and, like Jo March of Little Women, she challenges the social constraints for girls of her time. I look forward to reading her other adventures.

Kat, Incorrigible – Stephanie Burgis

Atheneum (2012)
ISBN: 1416994475

My Not-So-Still Life revolves around an average teenager who is ready to grow up, move out, and do important things. Vanessa always wants to be different and stick out from the crowd. She wants to explore the person she really is, and she does this by dying her hair crazy colors, wearing bold makeup and dressing up like no one else.

Vanessa is at the point of her life where she feels that high school is completely useless. She doesn’t like going and doesn’t see the point of it. She knows she wants to work with art, so she doesn’t understand why she needs all these other things if she never plans on using them in the future.  When she applies to her favorite art store, and gets the job, Vanessa feels like it’s her dream come true, and just one step further into her future.

What could be better than working at your favorite store with cool people? And getting out of the house more often? Nothing!

As Vanessa is working one day, she spots a really cute older guy roaming the aisles and chatting with one of her co-workers. She can’t help but notice just how handsome he really is, even though he is much too old for her. But things quickly turn sour when Vanessa gets herself in a tough situation him, when she realizes she can’t handle a “relationship” with such an older partner. Vanessa finds herself taking half naked photos for his calendar, and completely regretting it by the next day.

As things start to get too hot and heavy for Vanessa, she tries to escape the entire situation. Her mom forces her to quit the job, and instead focus on school. Vanessa quickly learns that being yourself and sticking out, doesn’t mean dying your hair crazy colors, and wearing extremely bold makeup. But being unique can be done in subtle ways too.

My Not-So-Still Life is a short and light read that could be perfect for a sunny day off in the back yard or on the beach. Overall I thought the story was alright. I couldn’t really connect with the character besides her drive to want to do something important; but other than that she and I are completely different. I enjoy going to school and learning things, even if they might have nothing to do with what I’m “planning” for the future.

I probably won’t be re-reading this book, simply because I don’t feel the drive to. But I’m glad I got the opportunity to read it the first time. Have you read My Not-So-Still Life? Let me know what you think!

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl’s journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex’s secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Hardcover, 342 pages Published January 28th 2014 by Balzer + Bray  0062224735 (ISBN13: 9780062224736)

I was surprised by how dark this story turned out to be. I knew to expect some similarities to the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, but found this book to be so different that it really stood out on its own. Rosamund Hodge brings out the darker side of an already dark story; Nyx is trapped in a never-ending mansion with a demon for a husband. Either one could lose their life at any time, yet they bide their time together, sizing each other up, as well as the situation they are in.

The story focuses on Nyx and Ignifex and their relationship. There are few side characters as the majority of the story takes place in the mansion. Nyx is mostly left alone, especially at night, and wanders through the locked-up house. The doors are locked for good reason, as she finds throughout the story, but with nothing else to spend her time on, that is what becomes her focus when she is alone—discovering the demon’s secrets.

There is, surprisingly, plenty of world building and back story to this book, even though the actual setting is inside one house. There are many twists, and storylines unravel to reveal more depth than what is originally presented. I did not come to love any of the characters as they all had their faults, and this particular story does focus on the darker aspects of their lives. Nyx spends a lot of her time feeling put upon, jealous, and angry, and has a hard time focusing on where to put that anger. So instead of lashing out, she bides her time, finding out more about her peculiar situation, trying to stay alive, and making plans to free her father from his bargain.

As this is the first book in a series, we do not get to see all the characters and plot fully fleshed out yet. What we do get to see is this weird kind of understanding and connection between the two personalities of Ignifex and Nyx. Many secrets are revealed and there is some adventure as we find out what is behind the locked doors.

As the story developed, I started to really enjoy where it was going—the idea of learning about yourself and finding connections to others even in the darkest of circumstances, and a feeling of constantly being on guard, yet developing a sense of comfort and expectations from your surroundings. I am excited to see where the story continues to go and it’s a book I recommend. Those who enjoy reading darker fairy tales that don’t end up with happily ever after should pick this one up!

It’s 20 years since I was in high school and back then the term ‘bullying’ wasn’t even part of the vernacular. Didn’t mean girls and bad behaviour exist in my day? Of course. They have been around forever.

Rebecca Starford’s memoir Bad Behaviour is an insightful, often confronting read about the year she spent as a 14-year-old at the unique bush campus of a Melbourne boarding school.The book’s blurb quickly introduces us to the school’s rugged approach to education:

‘It was supposed to be a place where teenagers would learn resilience, confidence and    independence, where long hikes and runs in the bush would make their bodies strong and foster a connection with the natural world. Living in bare wooden huts, cut off from the outside world, the students would experience a very different kind of schooling, one  intended to have a strong influence over the adults they would eventually become.’

From here we are thrust into the daily fight for survival of a boarding house where 15 girls are largely left unsupervised. There are the ringleaders; these are mean girls who dictate the state of play. Then there are their targets, selected because of perceived weakness or worse still a will that needs breaking. And finally, we have the inbetweeners who struggle to find a firm place among either. The behaviour of the girls is unfettered, manipulative, and at times very cruel.

Rebecca’s struggle to carve out her own identity in this largely adult-less environment and her attraction to the power players despite herself is something I think many will identify with. I was certainly transported back to moments in my teenage years where conformity overpowered sense.

This book is beautifully written. It cleverly interweaves the story of 14-year-old ‘Bec’ with passages from Rebecca as an adult as she searches for love and self-acceptance.

For me, the structure and workings of the bush campus, known in the book as Silver Creek, felt extraordinary and at times hard to believe (10 kilometre runs most days and a marathon at the end of term; activities every student must complete without exception). The students clearly were not thriving in this tough-love, back-to-basics environment, and it seemed as though the conditions were taking a heavy toll on the teachers too. A quick Google search, however, tells me this innovative year of education is still in practice at the school today.

Rebecca’s relationship with her parents, and in particular, her relationship with her mother, left me with more questions than answers. I desperately wanted insight into why this couple seemed so distant from their daughter and why exactly they saw more merit in her being at the school than at home with them.

Bad Behaviour is an engrossing read. It shines an unfiltered light on just how life-shaping a person’s teenage years have the potential to be.

Sarah Todman is a Brisbane-based fiction writer. You can find her online at sayanythingsare

Twelve-year-old Georgia Tate wishes she could stay home in Mississippi forever with her preacher granddaddy and her best friend Ginger. After losing her nana to a heart attack, she desperately wishes she could tell her granddaddy why she can’t possibly move in with Daddy — about the things he does that make her feel so ashamed. With a vivid narrative voice, Gigi Amateau tells an unflinching tale of a sensitive girl caught in the trauma of incestuous abuse. But it is also a story of survival — an ode to the solace of family, the mercy of strangers, and the possibility of hope and healing. 

Paperback, 208 pages Published April 10th 2007 by Candlewick Press (first published May 24th 2005)

This story confronts several heavy topics in one go. Georgia Tate has been raised by her grandparents (her father is unfit to parent and her mother is dead). Her grandfather is a preacher and nana is the one who makes sure she is well-behaved and raised with good manners. She’s raised in a close community and the family is well-known as her grandfather preaches for several churches in the area. When nana dies, her grandfather decides it’s best to send her to live with her father in Florida.

The life she has with her father requires Georgia to grow up very fast. At the age of 12, he makes her go to bars with him while he drinks and has her drive him home. He has her dress inappropriately and, when his girlfriend leaves him, he becomes dangerous for Georgia to be alone with. Georgia is open-minded and friendly. She makes friends with some of her neighbours and, as things get worse for her, she leans on them for support.

For a very powerful story aimed at younger readers, the writing is not too descriptive, but the message comes across clearly. Georgia’s character is strong and you can see the cycles of her thoughts as she goes through these experiences and how to approach others. The book is about overcoming challenges and staying strong. I admired Georgia Tate and her love for people in general. Even though she goes through a lot at a young age, she always has hope and an open heart for others.

This is a story I would recommend, especially for fans of Judy Blume or Cynthia Voigt.