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A Perilous Journey of Danger and Mayhem #1
A Dastardly Plot
It's 1883—the Age of Invention! A time when great men like Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Nicola Tesla, and George Eastman work to turn the country into a land of limitless opportunity.
And it all happens at the world famous Inventor’s Guild headquarters in New York City—a place where a great idea, a lot of hard work, and a little bit of luck can find you rubbing elbows with these gods of industry who will usher humanity into the future.
Unless, of course, you’re a woman.
Molly Pepper, daughter of brilliant but unknown inventor Cassandra Pepper, lives with her mother in New York. By day, they make ends meet running a pickle shop; but by night, they toil and dream of Cassandra taking her place among the most famous inventors in America.
In an attempt to find a way to exhibit Cass’s work at the World’s Fair, they break into the Inventor's Guild, where they discover a mysterious plot to destroy New York.
The evidence points to the involvement of one of the world’s most famous inventors, and now it’s up to Molly, Cassandra, and a shop hand named Emmett Lee to uncover the truth—even if no one will ever know it was they who did it.
And it all happens at the world famous Inventor’s Guild headquarters in New York City—a place where a great idea, a lot of hard work, and a little bit of luck can find you rubbing elbows with these gods of industry who will usher humanity into the future.
Unless, of course, you’re a woman.
Molly Pepper, daughter of brilliant but unknown inventor Cassandra Pepper, lives with her mother in New York. By day, they make ends meet running a pickle shop; but by night, they toil and dream of Cassandra taking her place among the most famous inventors in America.
In an attempt to find a way to exhibit Cass’s work at the World’s Fair, they break into the Inventor's Guild, where they discover a mysterious plot to destroy New York.
The evidence points to the involvement of one of the world’s most famous inventors, and now it’s up to Molly, Cassandra, and a shop hand named Emmett Lee to uncover the truth—even if no one will ever know it was they who did it.
320 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 25, 2018
31 people are currently reading
3685 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Healy
18 books477 followersChristopher Healy is the author of the Hero's Guide trilogy (The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle, and The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw), the Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem trilogy (A Dastardly Plot, The Treacherous Seas, and The Final Gambit), and This Is Not That Kind of Book. His newest book, No One Leaves the Castle—a fantasy mystery standalone spinoff of the Hero's Guide novels—comes out in August 2023.
Chris lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Winston Bean. Visit him at ChristopherHealy.com. And visit the Hero's Guide/No One Leaves the Castle universe at TheThirteenKingdoms.com.
Chris lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Winston Bean. Visit him at ChristopherHealy.com. And visit the Hero's Guide/No One Leaves the Castle universe at TheThirteenKingdoms.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
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March 26, 2015I'll read anything this guy writes.
July 11, 2021
Dastardly indeed! (Dastardly is such a great word, isn't it?!)
In this . . . not steampunk . . . electro-punk? . . . adventure, young Molly Pepper and her mother Cassandra are trying to get one of Cassandra's inventions into the upcoming World's Fair. But they will be foiled time and again by various villains! Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Chester A. Arthur all make appearances, as do many other luminaries of the age. This was very, very fun, it reminded me of Philip Reeve's Larklight series.
In this . . . not steampunk . . . electro-punk? . . . adventure, young Molly Pepper and her mother Cassandra are trying to get one of Cassandra's inventions into the upcoming World's Fair. But they will be foiled time and again by various villains! Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Chester A. Arthur all make appearances, as do many other luminaries of the age. This was very, very fun, it reminded me of Philip Reeve's Larklight series.
set-aside
February 1, 2020My stance on AU histories probably doesn't make sense to many people. There are some things I'm willing to let slide. Others not so much. If you're going to have real history mixed with fake history, at least have it make sense. When it's aimed at children, think carefully and remember they haven't had the same opportunity as adults to learn actual, real history yet. I just couldn't swallow a lot of the tampering here.
October 14, 2018
New York City is gearing up for the 1883 World's Fair, and Molly Pepper is hoping her mother, Cassandra, will be able to snag a spot in the inventor's hall to show case some of her amazing inventions. However, when the spot is given to a man - again - Molly and Cassandra devise a plan to break into the Inventory's Guild. That's where Molly stumbles upon the plans to sabotage the opening ceremonies. Who is the villain? Can Molly stop them?
The book starts out a little slowly, some of which is introducing us to the new characters and new series. Once the plot got going, the pacing certainly improved, and we got some fun twists that kept the pages turning. The climax introduced some new threads, and I can't wait to find out what happens next as the series continues. The characters are strong, and the real and fictional rubbed shoulders with ease. I did feel the book stopped at times to lecture us on equality - an important topic to be sure - but it felt like it slowed things down briefly when it came up. This new series has a slight Steampunk element to it, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I also enjoyed the pages at the end that told us about some of the same real people and events that underpinned this fictional world.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book starts out a little slowly, some of which is introducing us to the new characters and new series. Once the plot got going, the pacing certainly improved, and we got some fun twists that kept the pages turning. The climax introduced some new threads, and I can't wait to find out what happens next as the series continues. The characters are strong, and the real and fictional rubbed shoulders with ease. I did feel the book stopped at times to lecture us on equality - an important topic to be sure - but it felt like it slowed things down briefly when it came up. This new series has a slight Steampunk element to it, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I also enjoyed the pages at the end that told us about some of the same real people and events that underpinned this fictional world.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
June 6, 2019
Fun, quirky and full of charm.
World: The world building is wonderful. Just like his Prince Charming series this series' world is full of archetypes and cliches that get turned on it's ear. The ideas of the turn of the century and the worlds fair and the industrial revolution is a beautiful backdrop for this story. The pieces of history both real and fictional coming together is a beautiful steampunk dream.
Story: The story is great, it's fun, it's charming and features a strong female character. I love the banter and the sense of humor that this book has and also the sense of discovery and adventure. The ideas of dueling scientist is not a new one, it happened in real life, and with this book the real become the fantastic. The inventions and the ideas here are fun and quirky and makes the plot really move. I like that this book did have an end and opens itself up for more books which I am looking forward to.
Characters: The characters are charming and fun. They are quirky and full of personal voice and even the historical figures that come into the book are spun in a fun and unique way. This is the best part of Healy's writing, much like his Prince Charming series, the characters and their interaction is what makes it so special.
A wonderfully fun read.
Onward to the next book!
World: The world building is wonderful. Just like his Prince Charming series this series' world is full of archetypes and cliches that get turned on it's ear. The ideas of the turn of the century and the worlds fair and the industrial revolution is a beautiful backdrop for this story. The pieces of history both real and fictional coming together is a beautiful steampunk dream.
Story: The story is great, it's fun, it's charming and features a strong female character. I love the banter and the sense of humor that this book has and also the sense of discovery and adventure. The ideas of dueling scientist is not a new one, it happened in real life, and with this book the real become the fantastic. The inventions and the ideas here are fun and quirky and makes the plot really move. I like that this book did have an end and opens itself up for more books which I am looking forward to.
Characters: The characters are charming and fun. They are quirky and full of personal voice and even the historical figures that come into the book are spun in a fun and unique way. This is the best part of Healy's writing, much like his Prince Charming series, the characters and their interaction is what makes it so special.
A wonderfully fun read.
Onward to the next book!
December 2, 2018
I seem to be in the minority but I thought this book, which had so much potential, was soooooo bad. It kept me entertained, which is why I didn't rate it a 1, but I didn't love it, or even like some of it, which is why I don't rate it a 3.
Here's my issue with it: it's fiction, yes, but with fiction I still want characters to be believable, which this book has NONE.
The MC is a 12 year old girl who acts, behaves and talks more like a 17 or 18 year old. She's smart but also real dumb. The bigger issue was with her mother, who acts, behaves and talks more like a 12 year old. The mother was not a believable character for me, she was just all over the place, criminal at one time, spastic inventor at another and doting mother at another. Only thing in the whole book I believed was Molly telling her mother that she couldn't start acting like a mother at the end of the book.
The only believable character for me was Emmett. He was the only one that stayed consistently true and a good character. The MOI were almost all annoying, especially the one who kept saying "language" for saying things like "drat" and "cracking". Really?! Ugh! And OMG was the "bad guy" ever obvious. Even kids will see that coming, because as SOON as the person is mentioned, which is in a thrown in way relating in no way to the story, you're like yup, that's the bad guy. Too bad it takes the rest of the characters to 70% of the book before they figure it out.
UGH. This book was just bad. I'd recommend it only for young kids or kids who are easily impressed/surprised. It was so bad!
Here's my issue with it: it's fiction, yes, but with fiction I still want characters to be believable, which this book has NONE.
The MC is a 12 year old girl who acts, behaves and talks more like a 17 or 18 year old. She's smart but also real dumb. The bigger issue was with her mother, who acts, behaves and talks more like a 12 year old. The mother was not a believable character for me, she was just all over the place, criminal at one time, spastic inventor at another and doting mother at another. Only thing in the whole book I believed was Molly telling her mother that she couldn't start acting like a mother at the end of the book.
The only believable character for me was Emmett. He was the only one that stayed consistently true and a good character. The MOI were almost all annoying, especially the one who kept saying "language" for saying things like "drat" and "cracking". Really?! Ugh! And OMG was the "bad guy" ever obvious. Even kids will see that coming, because as SOON as the person is mentioned, which is in a thrown in way relating in no way to the story, you're like yup, that's the bad guy. Too bad it takes the rest of the characters to 70% of the book before they figure it out.
UGH. This book was just bad. I'd recommend it only for young kids or kids who are easily impressed/surprised. It was so bad!
November 10, 2018
This is the exact book the world needed! Our traditionally told history is lacking in all things diversity because it was told by bias individuals who left out people who made huge differences despite their gender or race. I love that Christopher Healy was able to take this fact, show the ridiculousness of lack of great female minds being included in history and create this book filled with humor, adventure, heart, and a bit of history. He also includes prejudice against immigrants in the story in a way that will make any reader realize how undeserving these humans just looking for a life are of this prejudice.
Now starting my review that way may make you think that the book is preachy or boring, but it is anything but. Right from the beginning, you want to see if Cassandra and her brilliant inventions will ever be acknowledged and if they are going to be able to stop New York from being destroyed. Now throw in deceit from men the Peppers and Emmett trust, inventions of all sorts, a gang of men trying to kill whomever get in their way, and a group of brilliant women who won’t let anything stop them, and you will get this crazy adventure of Molly’s and Emmett’s.
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
Now starting my review that way may make you think that the book is preachy or boring, but it is anything but. Right from the beginning, you want to see if Cassandra and her brilliant inventions will ever be acknowledged and if they are going to be able to stop New York from being destroyed. Now throw in deceit from men the Peppers and Emmett trust, inventions of all sorts, a gang of men trying to kill whomever get in their way, and a group of brilliant women who won’t let anything stop them, and you will get this crazy adventure of Molly’s and Emmett’s.
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
November 2, 2018
This was a fun, girl-power, science is not just for boys/men, twisted history surrounding a World's Fair in NYC that didn't actually come off. It's an over-the-top adventure that has a lot in common with Back to the Future as well as Healy's first series, The Hero's Guide to.... Instead of fairy tale heroes and heroines, we have historical inventors mixed up in a plot to take over the US government. Molly Pepper, her inventor mother, and Chinese immigrant Emmett Lee (maybe the first name is an homage to Dr. Emmett Brown?) find themselves fending off gangsters on the one hand and police on the other, plus a mysterious group of women who want to recruit Molly's mother. It's wild, crazy, and lots of fun. Looking forward to the sequel.
September 5, 2022
3.5 I love Christopher Healy’s funky and fun take on his subjects. This series does not even begin to touch how good his Guide to Kingdoms series was but still fun.
January 6, 2019
I LOVED this funny, smart, fast-paced adventure!
April 9, 2019
Molly Pepper is determined to see her mother's inventions in the World's Fair. But certain powers that be won't let a woman showcase. Upset, Molly decides to do a little sabotage work and inadvertently stumbles across plans in Alexander Graham Bell's office for something dastardly to be unleashed at the World's Fair. With the help of Emmett Lee, an orphan who works for Bell, her mother Cassandra, and others they pick up along the way, Molly is out to save the world.
This isn't as funny as Healy's League of Princes books, but it is a romping steampunk adventure in 1800s NYC with gangs, immigrant rights, women's rights, and misunderstood inventors. I really like that the women's inventor's group Molly eventually runs into features actual historic women inventors. Molly's mother Cassandra is an entertaining, heads in the clouds inventor that Molly spends a lot of energy trying to keep safe, though Cassandra does eventually realize that she needs to beef up her parenting game. Emmett was a great companion for Molly. He's not as impulsive as she is, and he offers a unique perspective of NYC as a Chinese immigrant who doesn't speak any Chinese as he grew up in the US. He gets misunderstood a lot, as do the women inventors. I eventually figured out who was behind the attack plans before it was revealed, but it did take me a while. There are lots of red herrings. Overall, a fun steampunk adventure with some memorable characters. Recommended to steampunk fans, women's rights proponents, history rewrite fans, and madcap adventure/mystery fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Violence is threatened a few times, and there are some battles. The worst injury appears to be a bad concussion.
This isn't as funny as Healy's League of Princes books, but it is a romping steampunk adventure in 1800s NYC with gangs, immigrant rights, women's rights, and misunderstood inventors. I really like that the women's inventor's group Molly eventually runs into features actual historic women inventors. Molly's mother Cassandra is an entertaining, heads in the clouds inventor that Molly spends a lot of energy trying to keep safe, though Cassandra does eventually realize that she needs to beef up her parenting game. Emmett was a great companion for Molly. He's not as impulsive as she is, and he offers a unique perspective of NYC as a Chinese immigrant who doesn't speak any Chinese as he grew up in the US. He gets misunderstood a lot, as do the women inventors. I eventually figured out who was behind the attack plans before it was revealed, but it did take me a while. There are lots of red herrings. Overall, a fun steampunk adventure with some memorable characters. Recommended to steampunk fans, women's rights proponents, history rewrite fans, and madcap adventure/mystery fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Violence is threatened a few times, and there are some battles. The worst injury appears to be a bad concussion.
December 14, 2018
A fan of Healy's first (and also latest) works, I was excited to give this one a try. It didn't meet my hopes, sadly. While it might appeal more to the younger crowd (or my younger self), I grew a bit tired of the somewhat harebrained scattered plot. Additionally, I grew frustrated thinking there was a sequel when it easily could have been written as a stand-alone and benefited from that. Too little substance being dragged out does not a happy reader make.
I did like our main cast of characters, especially Elliott and Molly's friendship, and Molly and Cass' relationship, but ultimately not enough to entice me back for the next one, alas.
I did like our main cast of characters, especially Elliott and Molly's friendship, and Molly and Cass' relationship, but ultimately not enough to entice me back for the next one, alas.
May 28, 2023
This was so fun to read, I laughed out loud on several occasions and will definitely be using some of the one-liners. To be honest the whole thing had me smiling. This had excellent plot line and character development. This did mention issue of woman's rights as well as prejudice against the Chinese, but in a young-audience-friendly manner. There is mixing of fact and fiction but Mr. Healy provided a fact check in the back to clear up any confusion. I can't wait to get started on the second one so off I go, I would recommend to anybody anywhere. Ta ta!
March 11, 2023
Healy’s Hero’s Guide series was hilarious so I sought out his other books. Unfortunately, this one does not compare. The events don’t unfold in a believable way. The main character and her mother have an unusual relationship and her mom’s character is questionable encouraging them to sabotage someone else’s work as revenge. I did enjoy the historical context of the Chinese character, but even that information felt like it was presented as facts rather than woven into the plot. I just couldn’t get into it.
July 2, 2018
2.5. It started off fun, but became so madcap and zany that it wasn't cohesive or understandable. It's also so chock-full of historical references cheek-and-jowl with made-up people/places/things that I could see myself as a kid being utterly baffled as to what is historically accurate or not. There's a disclaimer at the end clarifying some of those things, but too little too late.
July 16, 2018
** I received an advance reader copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. **
This is a fun, adventurous story with lots of real history worked into a fantastical world filled with characters who draw you in and make you care about what happens to them. Perfect for middle readers and it has enough action to keep even reluctant readers going.
This is a fun, adventurous story with lots of real history worked into a fantastical world filled with characters who draw you in and make you care about what happens to them. Perfect for middle readers and it has enough action to keep even reluctant readers going.
December 13, 2020
3.5 stars. Hard not to compare this to his Hero’s Guide series. It just wasn’t as good. However, the kids and I enjoyed this after we got into it. (I did think that there was a little too much action haha. I kept thinking that now THIS was the final showdown with every altercation starting at only halfway through the book!)
March 16, 2019
Hilarious historical sci-fi from the author of the Hero's Guide series!
June 5, 2019
I didn't think I would like it. I was surprised. I loved it and can't wait for the next one.
September 4, 2019
Delightful historical story with wonderful male and female characters. Zany and silly but full of heart, creativity, and history.
January 27, 2020
3.5 stars. A cute, mindless read.
June 21, 2020
Fast-paced with lots of twists and turns. This made for a fun start to my summer reading!
October 5, 2020
I lost interest towards the end, but it was still a fun ride, and I am Very Here for grease-spattered lady inventors munching on pickle sandwiches.
October 22, 2020
I was a little leery when I started the book thinking it wasn't my thing but then after a few chapters it grew on me and I ended up liking it. Im now reading the sequel.
October 6, 2018
It's hard not to like the Pepper's, both Molly and Cassandra, though maybe a bit more of Molly. They've had to survive some hard knocks in life from the passing of her father to the ruination of their business to the scraping through mud of the family name, but as their family saying goes...Peppers never give up! Something to remember when things are looking severely down and all seems lost....just sayin'. I really loved Molly's spunky nature, relative quick thinking on her feet, and her ability to charm an audience when need arises. Her devotion to her mother is heartbreaking in its strength, but it's certainly not one-sided, which brings us to Pepper number two.
Cassandra Pepper is Molly's mom, and while limited in street smarts, she's a whip at anything with gears, steam power, or otherwise inventor-ish. Seriously, some of the gadgets and gizmos she created are astounding and I agree with her...the public deserves to know her name...as well as the rest of the female inventors out there lurking in the shadows just waiting for their moment to shine...and shine they will! The devotion she shows to Molly is heartwarming, and the love they have for their new family of two is present in all they do. Even when they are exasperated with each other, you can still see how much they care, and when things turn from bad to worse, the first thing on the other's mind is seeing them safely home again. We should all be so lucky to have family so dear...or even a friend, which brings us to our new chosen family member of sorts.
Emmett Lee never intended to leave behind the new life he was forging. His path was set after so much upheavel and my heart hurt for him, but sometimes fate has a different life for us in mind, and thus begins his adventure of a lifetime. He'll rise from the shadows to leave his own footprints in the sand, telling the world that LEE WAS HERE and don't you forget it! He's whip smart at all the mechanics of inventing and while suffering from his own losses in life, he'll find a new family to call his own because it's not all about blood relations, but about who we're willing to let into our hearts, and throw ourselves out a window with. Am I right? 😉
In the end, we have a good bit of history with a large helping of dastardly deeds and twisty turns to spin it all together into one fabulous adventure!
Cassandra Pepper is Molly's mom, and while limited in street smarts, she's a whip at anything with gears, steam power, or otherwise inventor-ish. Seriously, some of the gadgets and gizmos she created are astounding and I agree with her...the public deserves to know her name...as well as the rest of the female inventors out there lurking in the shadows just waiting for their moment to shine...and shine they will! The devotion she shows to Molly is heartwarming, and the love they have for their new family of two is present in all they do. Even when they are exasperated with each other, you can still see how much they care, and when things turn from bad to worse, the first thing on the other's mind is seeing them safely home again. We should all be so lucky to have family so dear...or even a friend, which brings us to our new chosen family member of sorts.
Emmett Lee never intended to leave behind the new life he was forging. His path was set after so much upheavel and my heart hurt for him, but sometimes fate has a different life for us in mind, and thus begins his adventure of a lifetime. He'll rise from the shadows to leave his own footprints in the sand, telling the world that LEE WAS HERE and don't you forget it! He's whip smart at all the mechanics of inventing and while suffering from his own losses in life, he'll find a new family to call his own because it's not all about blood relations, but about who we're willing to let into our hearts, and throw ourselves out a window with. Am I right? 😉
In the end, we have a good bit of history with a large helping of dastardly deeds and twisty turns to spin it all together into one fabulous adventure!
November 21, 2018
After loving his first series, A Hero's Guide, I was eager to pick up this new book. And I was not disappointed. While having more of an alternative history feel rather that the fairy tale vibe of the first series, the book still manages to have the trademark humor. Molly makes for a great main character. She's an empathetic character but she's also a fighter. She's also rather impulsive which gets her into a lot of trouble, but luckily for her, she's also a quick study. And she has others around her to help her. In this story, Molly's mother is an inventor who wants to exhibit some of her inventions at the upcoming World's Fair, but because she's a woman and not a member of the Inventor's Guild, she has no place to do so. In an effort to earn a place, Molly and her mother, Cassandra, break into the Inventor's Guild. In the process they come across plans for an attack to take place at the Fair. Their efforts to foil the plot result in some rather amusing disasters leading to Cassandra's incarceration in an insane asylum. Only with the help of some other female inventors does Molly and her friend Emmett have a chance of rescuing her mother and stopping the evil plot. Full of rather entertaining escapades and fascinating inventions, A Dastardly Plot, takes the reader on quite a ride, which ends up being as amusing as it is action packed.
January 3, 2021
Although this book says it is targeted to the 8-12 age group, as an adult it never felt childish or shallow. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As a kid, I loved historical fiction. A lot of my base knowledge of history came from those books, where I absorbed information without ever feeling like I was being taught anything. This book is a great example of that.
Edison, Bell, Strauss (levi jeans) and Tesla are a few of the historical figures that come to life in the pages of this story. But you also meet just as many female inventors of that era, all of whom were unknown to me before I read this story. Kids also hear about the Chinese Exclusion Act, which I feel is one of the most racist policies ever put into place in the US.
The way to avoid it being boring like kids imagine history to be is through a crazy, fast-moving plot peppered with equally as crazy inventions. Having the main characters be eleven years old brings a kid that age into the story. Although the author is male, female empowerment is the driving force in this story. Hats off!
As a kid, I loved historical fiction. A lot of my base knowledge of history came from those books, where I absorbed information without ever feeling like I was being taught anything. This book is a great example of that.
Edison, Bell, Strauss (levi jeans) and Tesla are a few of the historical figures that come to life in the pages of this story. But you also meet just as many female inventors of that era, all of whom were unknown to me before I read this story. Kids also hear about the Chinese Exclusion Act, which I feel is one of the most racist policies ever put into place in the US.
The way to avoid it being boring like kids imagine history to be is through a crazy, fast-moving plot peppered with equally as crazy inventions. Having the main characters be eleven years old brings a kid that age into the story. Although the author is male, female empowerment is the driving force in this story. Hats off!
August 8, 2022
12-year-old Molly Pepper is great at assisting her inventor mother Cassandra. Unfortunately for the brilliant Cassandra and equally enterprising Molly, the year is 1883 and women aren't accepted as inventors or any other career that requires science. The World's Fair is coming to New York and Cassandra is desperate to get her invention a spot in the inventor's hall, but the powerful Inventors' Guild is blackballing her, just because she's a woman. Molly comes up with a plan to get her mother a spot, but it involves a bit of breaking and entering. While inside the Inventor's Guild, she runs into Emmett who is also not supposed to be in the building in the middle of the night. They uncover plans that appear to be a plot to take over New York City at the opening ceremony of the World's Fair.
This alternative history is fun, exciting, and full of creative inventions and inventors. Molly's determination and fearlessness makes her an endearing character even if she is her own worst enemy at times. Lots of real history included with the fiction.
This alternative history is fun, exciting, and full of creative inventions and inventors. Molly's determination and fearlessness makes her an endearing character even if she is her own worst enemy at times. Lots of real history included with the fiction.
June 1, 2021
I liked this book. People who say this is historical fiction in an alternate world.... I guess? I didn't take it that seriously that I would use this as historical reference book. Also the book I have has a section in the back which explains what was real and what wasn't. I purchased it thinking it was for adults, I soon realized this was a kids book and I didn't take it too literally. I read it for the fun of it and I wasn't disappointed. This book did have me chuckling more often then not. If you know who the big inventors are in the novel before reading it, it helps. I loved the fact that the author reiterates the point of letting women be acknowledged and included for their greatness and resilience. This (IMOP, who has a daughter) is a great book if there are any girls who might need a push to have more confidence. I hope that when my daughter is a little older she will read this and I can tell her, "See if Molly and Cassandra can do it, so can you!".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews