Starred Review Six months ago, Sophronia was a covert recruit in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy (Etiquette & Espionage, 2013). Now she's earning top marks in such areas as "tea and delusions" and "portion allotment, puddings, and preemptive poisonings." While her etiquette em ill needs work, her naturally curious and calculating mind is so adept at espionage that even the teachers are wary of her. So when the floating school journeys to London to witness a technological breakthrough avel through the aetherosphere made possible by a new guidance valve phronia suspects that this is more than just a field trip. While the other girls plan shopping trips and parties, Sophronia uncovers a conspiracy to control the patent and production of the valve, which every faction has a stake in. Carriger's second steampunk adventure exceeds the first with its (slightly) more plot-driven story, but the fun, again, is in watching ever-practical Sophronia sneak and scheme her way into sometimes dangerous, sometimes riotously funny, situations d even learn a few sobering lessons about consequences along the way. New characters, including a pesky lord enamored of Sophronia, round out an already quirky but lovable group of friends/collaborators. We repeat: This witty, lighthearted series is not to be missed. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The short nine-month span between first and second volumes says much about the publisher's eagerness to capitalize on the heat. Fans won't have a second to breathe.

With the school's dirigible heading toward London for a liaison with an inventor studying aetherospheric travel, Sophronia (Etiquette & Espionage) is convinced that her professors are Up To Something. Is the academy affiliated with vampire hives, werewolf packs, the anti-supernatural Picklemen, or the Crown--all of whom would benefit from controlling aether technology? A witty and suspenseful steampunk romp.

Sophronia Temminnick learns that being top of her spy-school class isn't a great way to make friends. Social dramas and interspecies politics beset the inhabitants of the massive airship known as Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy. Sophronia's teachers seem to be intentionally turning her friends against her; is everything at this dratted school a test? Even Dimity Plumleigh-Teignmott isn't on speaking terms with Sophronia. Without her friends, how will Sophronia ever unknot the massive tangle she's caught up in, which involves vampires, a crystalline valve frequensor and flight through the aetherosphere? This sequel to Etiquette & Espionage (2013) is less charming than the series opener, with the whimsy replaced by an uninspiring love triangle that does not show Miss Temminnick in a flattering light. Perhaps an ability to see dark-skinned, working-class Soap as "a real boy" would be historically inaccurate, but then so are dirigible schools, werewolves in the British peerage and mechanimal sausage dogs, so allowances could be made. In any case, the language is every bit as delightful as in Sophronia's first adventure ("Thrushbotham pip-monger swizzle sprocket"), even in this weightier tale. Fans of Book 1 will want to read this one, though they will hope that the fizz returns in Book 3. (Steampunk. 11-14)

Sophronia Temminnick is back for more daring yet ladylike exploits in this effervescent second installment in Carriger-s Finishing School series, which follows Etiquette & Espionage. This time, the dirigible that is Mademoiselle Geraldine-s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality is embarking on an exciting and mysterious trip to London-with boys on board, students from Bunson & Lacroix-s Polytechnique. Sophronia is excelling at the school (-Your mind seems designed for espionage,- a professor tells her), garnering the jealousy of her fellow spies-in-training, including best friend Dimity. Sophronia tries to get to the bottom of why they-re heading to London, while remaining on the lookout for the well-being of all as danger lurks, Dimity is threatened, and two young men vie for Sophronia-s romantic attention. Teenage and adult fans alike will rejoice that Carriger retains her flair for musical prose, over-the-top names (e.g. Algonquin Shrimpdittle), clever wit, and strange yet helpful mechanical devices of all kinds. Carriger-s blend of comically exaggerated characters and madcap action will easily win over readers once again. Ages 12-up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency. (Nov.)

Gr 7-10 Fans of Etiquette &; Espionage (Little, Brown, 2013) know that Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality is not your typical boarding school. Sophronia is now in her second year of training as a spy and has established herself as one of the top recruits, at least in terms of espionage, and her suspicious nature continues to drive her as she uses her skills and training to uncover the true reason behind the school trip to London. Carriger does not reintroduce characters or give any backstory; instead she jumps right into the thick of the action, developing a fast-paced plot that is sure to keep readers' attention as Sophronia discovers a conspiracy involving a technology that will affect vampires, werewolves, and humans alike. New characters and the introduction of boys onto a floating airship full of teenage girls gives this adventure/mystery an interesting steampunk twist. As in the first novel, the true-to-the-period language may slow down some readers, but this is a must-have purchase for libraries in which the first book is popular. Betsy Davidson, Cortland Free Library, NY

Fans of Carriger's first book in this series will not be disappointed by this second. Once again, the setting is a dirigible that is a finishing school by day with a hidden agenda. Sophronia has been in training for six months now and is trying to pass a variety of tests proving her worth as a spy. Instead of becoming closer to the other girls at school as she expected, she becomes ostracized for performing well on test after test despite not following standard rules. Her insatiable curiosity gets her into situations that are truly amusing, and she inadvertently stumbles onto a mystery trying to protect a friend. If that is not enough, add surprise visitors who turn out to be a male teacher, his ten male students; an unexpected trip to London which will requiregaspdancing; and a kidnapping attempt.Carriger's choice of vocabulary is just as rich and diverse as before and it is easy to return to the world of manners, steampunk, and the supernatural. She again manages to blend the rules of etiquette with inventions and creatures effortlessly, creating a diverse world of wonder. Many of the secondary characters are quite entertaining as well, adding much to the story. A reader favorite, Bumbersnoot, returns to Sophronia's side for more surprising antics as her canine mechanimal sidekick. This book will appeal to readers of the first Finishing School novel in this series, as well as to readers who like science fiction within a historical setting.Valerie Burleigh.