The Incredible Charlotte Sycamore by Kate Maddison has a mash-up of elements such as romance and steampunk, but it is primarily a mystery/adventure in a historical setting.   Because it has so many diverse elements, this young adult book has wide-appeal.  Charlotte is spunky, loyal, determined, and adventurous, and with three of her friends, she finds adventure on the night streets of London.  This novel is a fun and quick young adult read.

Kate Maddison is the pen name for romance author Katherine Haupt and this is her first young adult novel.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  13 religious exclamations; 12 mild obscenities; 1 derogatory name.

Violence/Gore:  Characters battle animals resulting in severe injuries with the mention of blood; reports of death by mauling, non-detailed; verbal threat; characters knocked unconscious; brief fight involving punching and hitting; brief fight involving fists, gunshots, and objects; verbal account of a fight; report of an attempt to attack, no details; extended fight scene involving characters, mechanical devices, rocks, swords, guns resulting in injuries, implied deaths, and deaths.

Sex/Nudity:  Some innuendo; reference to “rolling in sack”, streetwalkers and prostitutes; characters embrace, hold hands, and kiss; characters are attracted/like to each other.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death, Treason, Theft, Socio-Economic Disparity, Ethics

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Adult characters drink; come characters are drunk; drinking in taverns.