Etiquette Espionage
By Gail Carriger, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 336 pages, $9
A paperback in the 12+ or young adult category, “Etiquette Espionage”, is a quirky read for young girls and some boys. It falls back into another century but with mechanical adaptations of a more modern time — in essence it is steampunk. You have institutions that float attached to balloons, a werewolf teaching you defence and a finishing school focused on spying for women of society.
The main protagonist is 14-year-old Sophronia, who is more of a covert recruit because of her exceptional skills at getting into trouble. The underlying theme of the book being that in life nobody is a square peg in a round hole, just the question of finding that oxymoron — a square hole.
There is a whole bit about gender neutralisation and also racism but done in an intelligent manner, so as not to come off as being overtly preachy, if not a tad satirical.
As young people’s books go, it might perhaps be a bit tame, especially when you look at some of the rather bloodthirsty productions gracing bookshelves — vampire slayers, necromancers, and so on. But what it lacks in gore, it makes up for in creative visualisation, along with humour.
It is a world of Picklemen and gentlemen robbers, where a parasol is much more than just a sunshield. Although the book definitely doesn’t come in my reading bracket, I found it to be delightfully well written.
Gail Carriger is the pen name of American author Tofa Borregaard, who is also an archaeologist. She has several books in this series and “Etiquette Espionage” was first released in 2013. Quite a popular writer, it is a must-read for those who dreamt of a Bond-like existence growing up — not as global in criminal reach, nevertheless quite adventurous as intrigue at garden parties go.
