Manners & Mutiny

Gr 6–10—The final book in "The Finishing School" steampunk/paranormal series (Little, Brown) comes to a satisfying conclusion. After an eventful spring, with Sophronia thwarting the Picklemen, and indenturing to the Dewan to save Soap, the rest of the year at Madame Geraldine's Finishing School is quiet. Sophronia, Agatha, and Dimity prepare to leave for the holidays and attend a ball at Bunson's School for Evil Genuises. At Bunson's, Sophronia turns Bumbersnoot over to Vieve for upkeep, as well as the installation of a crystal valve that they hope will alert them when the Picklemen attack again. Older sister Petunia surprises Sophronia with a pleasant Christmas in London with plenty of shopping and a possible lead about the Picklemen's plans. Madame Geraldine's annual New Year's Eve tea is interrupted by Flywaymen and Picklemen taking over the school. Sophronia hides when the students are evacuated and, for three perilous days, removes adversaries and learns their plot. To save the empire, she must go down with the dirigible. The last-minute arrival of her friends and nemesis Monique offers Sophronia a slim chance for survival. Carriger deftly ends the series with most of the young ladies "finishing" their schooling and going off into the world. Sophronia's future is left open, and the lead of Carriger's "Parasol Protectorate" (Orbit) adult series is hinted at. The addition of a cutaway map of the dirigible makes it easy to follow the exhilarating adventures of these young ladies with special talents and proper manners.