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QueenBoadicea
Aug 13, 2015QueenBoadicea rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The redoubtable Ms. Lumley returns in another continuation of her thrilling adventures with the Incorrigible children. This novel takes us back to her roots and Ms. Wood’s voluble prose steeps the reader in the origins of the Swanburne girls. A world almost devoid of males, the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females shines like a beacon of hope—until it is threatened by outside influences. This reader was pleasantly jolted by the realization of the feminism inherent in this series. Suddenly, I was made aware of just how powerful these fictional girls can be in their resourcefulness, intelligence, steeliness under fire and loyalty. It seems silly to come to that conclusion so late, in Ms. Wood’s fourth installment in the Incorrigible saga, but that only shows how subtly she made the point. Ms. Lumley’s steadfastness and sensible nature did not arise out of a vacuum but from a solid foundation of education, camaraderie and female companionship. As always, the book abounds with axioms, pith, wit and little erudite lessons tucked in here and there. The Incorrigible children still have a habit of howling but now it’s rather endearing instead of irksome. Here’s hoping Ms. Lumley figures out the curse hanging over their heads and saves these lupine darlings.