The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science

Written by Kate McKinnon and illustrated by Alfredo Cáceres

Reviewed by Sandy Driessens

“I must write a book about Mad Science for the young, because it is the young who will save us, and indeed must save themselves. – Dr G. Edwina Candlestank.”  To encourage young mad scientists, Dr G Edwina Candelstank narrates the tale of three orphaned sisters, Gertrude, Eugenia and Dee-Dee Porch, living in the snooty town of Antiquarium, who are decidedly different. Rather than learning how to sit and walk properly to earn their silver spoons, they’d rather be constructing inventions, cracking geodes and caring for bats and slugs.  When they are expelled from the ninth and last school of etiquette in town and are facing dispatch to Austria, an invitation to The Marjory Questions’ School of Etiquette arrives, offering an alternative. Of course they accept, only to find that the proprietress of school is none other than the disparaged mad scientist, Millicent Quibb. So begins the Porch sisters’ training and adventures to save the town from a cabal of evil mad scientists.

Kate McKinnon’s debut middle-grade novel has a plot and characters that may appeal to a young audience. It is filled with fantastic creatures and quirky inventions. There is a very clear distinction between good and evil characters, with the sisters – engaging, Millicent Quibb – eccentric and the evil characters – quite detestable.  However, the writing in the early chapters is  weighed down with so much mutated scientific language, extraordinary species and weird descriptions, that it could be overwhelming for some 8 to 12 year old readers.  McKinnon establishes the fantasy world and characters quickly, through footnotes, diagrams, illustrations, poems and appendices, and the overall use of manic humour. In fantasy though, I feel the author needs to slowly create and lead you into a world where your imagination constructs the characters and setting in line with the plot.  In The Millicient Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, the author, through the eccentric narrator, digresses, comments and explains, disturbing the flow of the story. Paired with Cáceres’ pencil illustrations, that are suitably whimsical with a touch of steam-punk, the detailed images complete the descriptions and make visualization easier.

Though this book is suggested for 8 to 12 years old, which is in line with the age of the sisters, reading could be difficult for under 12s. It would be engaging if shared by an animated adult reader and would probably make an entertaining movie. It applauds being different and encourages exploration into STEM.

The book finishes with an epilogue and afterword from Dr G Edwina Candlestank that will entice readers to find out what fate awaits the Porch sisters and what evil will be unleashed on the world, in the next book in the series.

HarperCollinsChildrensBooks 2024