Of especially naughty children it is sometimes said, "They must have been raised by wolves."
The Incorrigible children actually were.
Thanks to the efforts of Miss Penelope Lumley, their plucky governess, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia are much more like children than wolf pups now. They are accustomed to wearing clothes. They hardly ever howl at the moon. And for the most part, they resist the urge to chase squirrels up trees.
Despite Penelope's civilizing influence, the Incorrigibles still managed to ruin Lady Constance's Christmas ball, nearly destroying the grand house. So while Ashton Place is being restored, Penelope, the Ashtons, and the children take up residence in London. Penelope is thrilled, as London offers so many opportunities to further the education of her unique students. But the city presents challenges, too, in the form of the palace guards' bearskin hats, which drive the children wild--not to mention the abundance of pigeons the Incorrigibles love to hunt. As they explore London, however, they discover more about themselves as clues about the children's--and Penelope's--mysterious past crop up in the most unexpected ways. . . .
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leah_p
Sep 15, 2013
Things were not looking up at all. In fact, they were looking decidedly glum - at least for Penelope, they were. But when the seesaw of good fortune sinks downward for one person, it is very often on its way up for someone else. This little-known law of physics is called the Fulcrum of Fortune, and although most people prefer to think of fortune as a wheel that spins, the fulcrum (that is, seesaw) is a more accurate depiction for most of us, since the worse our luck becomes, the more likely we are to notice the good fortune of those around us and brood about the injustice of it all.
Penelope had never been to London. However, she had read a great deal about it: a noisy, odorous, fogbound city where gaslight made the nighttime bright as day, yet the air was so thick with coal soot that the daytime was dim as dusk, and where poor orphans were likely to have terrifying encounters with escaped convicts, but were just as likely to inherit large fortunes willed to them by long-lost relatives they never knew they had. Surely such a paradoxical place would be well worth a visit.
“Within reason” is not the sort of place one can easily find on a map; in fact, its location may vary considerably from one day to the next.
Lady Constance sounded merry in the sort of brightly exaggerated way that made it clear she was trying not to cry, and perhaps not entirely succeeding.
perhaps Mr. Burns was using his poetic license. This is the license that allows poets to say things that are not precisely true without being accused of telling lies. Anyone may obtain such a license, but still, the powers it grants must be wielded responsibly.
This is the trouble with optimism, you see: In excess, it makes even ridiculous ideas seem worth a try.
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Add a CommentA solid continuation of the saga of the Incorrigibles. Governess Penelope Lumley finds herself exploring London with her charges coming up with more questions than answers. She meets a new friend in the young budding playwright Simon Harley-Dickinson. We also are beginning to suspect that Lord Ashton's absences seem to be related to the full moon. Hmmm. And why does the painting Penelope sees in the museum gallery seventeen, Overuse of Symbolism in Minor Historical Portraits look so familiar? Very much as described: Jane Eyre meets Lemony Snicket. Lady Contance's diatribe on the shortcomings of the poor was one of my favorite passages.
Much like the Lemony Snicket novels involving the Baudelaire children, the Incorrigible series gives us moments of hilarity and bumbling humor mixed with hints of sinister doings. The second book in the series only deepens the mystery without providing clear answers. Gypsies, pirates, parrots, actors, false judges, runaway bicycles, mysterious paintings, a one-of-a-kind guide book, and a curse (!) lend their spirited energy, creating page after page of japery, witticism and adventure.
With pithy (if sometimes oddball) homilies by the fictional Agatha Swanburne sprinkled throughout the books, the Incorrigibles are an amusing read. The erudite passages are light hearted in manner yet undeniably educational; it’s almost as if the author were determined not only to entertain but enlighten as well. Children reading this may get taught almost without realizing it. Don’t get too caught up in the mystery, however. Featuring as it does lost, stolen or abandoned children and a possible lycanthropic bane, it’s just too convoluted to be figured out easily.
I have to say I liked this book better than the first one. I've loved both books in this series, but I think the new characters were a great addition to the story. I though Simon was a great character to add and hope we will see more of him in the next book!
Very good but wouldn't say it was better than the first.
Funny, I'd disagree with LibraryDragon and agree with andreareads. I like the second book, this one, better than the first.
I accidentally read this one first and loved it. I've just finished "Mysterious Howling", but I'm eager to read the third, there were lots of mysteries to unravel at the end of book two. The writing style is fun with asides and explanations, rich vocabulary and funny situations.
I can't wait to read book three.
A Burlington Library staffer.
I am loving this series so far--from the Victorian setting to the writing style...and I like Miss Lumley's new young gentleman friend quite a bit.
I just started reading this ( I am on page 17 ) and I love it sooo much I am so exited to keep reading it I have a feeling I am going to love the rest of this book!!!!
With the first book (The Mysterious Howling) the formal tone and old-fashioned language gave the effect of a book written close to the time the story is set, so I found the more modern references odd. With this second book it's clear from the first chapter that we are in the present day looking at the past, and the deliberate "compare and contrast" asides about the two time periods are used to humourous effect, so I enjoyed this book more than the first one. I also thought the plot in this second book was an improvement. We have some series wide mysteries (Have we all figured out Lord Fredrick's secret by now?) but this particular story of the children's adventures in London is resolved. Looking forward to the next.
Takes in the senses of an average ten year old girl.
A fine addition to this series, though not quite as compelling as the first book. Still a lot of fun, though! :)