Stephanie Burgis

In nineteenth-century England, twelve-year-old Kat Stephenson knows she was born to be a magical Guardian and protector of Society—if she can find true acceptance in the secret order that expelled her mother. She’s ready to upend the rigid Order of the Guardians, whether the older members like it or not. And in a Society where magic is the greatest scandal of all, Kat is determined to use her powers to help her two older sisters find their own true loves, even if she has to turn highwayman, battle wild magic, and confront real ghosts along the way! History seamlessly merges with fantasy in this humorous and lively novel.

Kat, Incorrigible

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

Add 12 year-old Kat Stephenson, youngest of three sisters and heir to her mother's magical abilities, to my list of fiesty, favorite fantasy heroines. Unrepentant curiosity leads Kat into dangerous, English country house encounters after unearthing her mother's magical possessions from their locked cupboard, resulting in her invitation to join the secret order of powerful Guardians that had banished her mother years before. Kat sets off on a madcap tour of drawing rooms and balls testing her abilities, breaking spells, hanging out with highwaymen, and trying to escape the incredibly unwelcome attention of wealthy Sir Neville who is relentlessly intent on marrying her oldest sister for nefarious reasons of his own. Regency England gets a kick in the pants with this first book in the Kat, Incorrigible series, including a bit of Jane Austen (eldest sister Elissa is porcelain lovely and proper), the Brontës (three sisters living in a vicarage with a gambling brother sent down from Oxford), Cinderella (Stepmama shrewdly plotting her fortunes through marrying off her stepdaughters), all sewn into an often hilarious adventure tale about the power of family in all its love and jealousy and bickering and making up.

Jessica Nottingham

Oh my goodness did I love this book! I'll admit that what caught my eye was the word Incorrigible in the first place. It's a word I really don't think gets used enough, but when it's used to describe a twelve year old girl named Kat...well of course I'm going to have to pick the book up and read it! Needless to say I wasn't at all disappointed and in fact I think I've found a new favorite series!

Kat, Incorrigible is the story of twelve year old Kat Stephenson and her wild adventures. Set in the 1800s, we see a much different view of women in general. Kat is constantly being lectured about manners and propriety by her stepmother. Their one goal in life is meant to be staying in good social standing in order to marry well. Her sisters seem to understand this and do their best to follow the rules. Kat however? Well to say she is willful is even an understatement. Her intelligence and stubborn nature mesh together to make a perfectly lovable and strong female character. After all, Kat refuses to conform to social standards and that is what makes her so much fun to follow!

My favorite part about this book by far were the characters. The love between Elissa, Angeline and Kat was realistic and evident, even down to the banter they had as sisters. As for the other characters, they each had their own unique and wonderful personalities. As they drifted in and out of the story I was struck by how well they were written! Down to Lady Graves, who we only meet for a short while, they all had their purpose. Whether it was to empower Kat or to focus her, each character in this story was fascinating. I've honestly never had more fun tying it all together!

I wish I could say more, but I don't want to ruin even a bit of this for you. This story is a mixture of magic, historical fiction, romance and even a bit of hidden commentary on family bonds. It is a little over the top to be sure, but aren't the best books always like that? I wish this book had been around for me to read before bed when I was younger. Action, battles of wit, and enough humor to make you giggle out loud more than a few times; that is what you will find in this story. I truly think this is the perfect book to keep the interest of tween or teen! I mean honestly, I'm in my mid-twenties and I was totally engrossed in this book myself. Stephanie Burgis has written a truly delightful character in Kat and I can't wait for more of her antics!

Kat, Incorrigible

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