Not bad. More in the line of Sorcery and Cecelia than anything else I've read. LOVE Petornella's never-ending vocabulary. Uncle Augustus isn't as thorough in creation as I'd like, but the other characters make up for it. ( )

3.5 stars - needed richer characters. Picked up from the library on impulse because of the utterly beguiling cover. The heroine is 16, but the book is ok for ages about 9 up. The story is an exciting mystery with a bit of romance and a lot of wonderful vocabulary words. I'd have loved it when I was 12. Don't be put off by the structure of the title - it may eventually become part of a series but for now it stands alone just fine as a charming debut. ( )

Enjoyed this on the train ride to and from NYC. I thought the idea of Augustus' problem extremely creative, but sometimes a little squeamish. [I thought the author took great effort to make it palatable by inserting a lot of comic relief or using 'off screen' actions] The language and tone reminded me of some other books I've really enjoyed - the Incorrigible series, Cecelia & the Chocolate Pot, and Flora Segunda.

Do I wish Petronella was less swoony when it comes to a certain young man she knows? Absolutely, but I think her character's heart flutterings are typical for someone her age in her situation, and she is intrepid and does things on her own when she believes she must. She's not a complete rebel, but she's not a hothouse flower, either. It will be interesting to see if she starts leaning more towards one part or the other of her character in future stories [I'm hoping there are future stories], or if this balance is maintained. ( )

It's the scandal of the season when two high-ranking guests are kidnapped at Petronella's coming out party. The bumbling Scotland Yard detectives are no help at all, so Petronella decides to rescues the hostages herself.

This is a fun mystery/adventure/comedy of manners taking place in Edwardian England. ( )

In Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone , wealthy sixteen-year-old Petronella Arbuthnot cannot wait for her coming out party, but there is one small problem. Uncle Augustus, her caregiver since the death of her parents, has suddenly developed a condition in which he will only eat insects—and he does this with regularity. However, her uncle’s new predicament pales in comparison to what actually happens at her party. A decorated generalissimo and the celebrated Dame Caruthers are kidnapped from right under everyone’s noses! Who is the kidnapper, and why do foreign insects turn up with every clue? When Scotland Yard officers come calling to help solve the crime, it soon becomes obvious to Petronella that they do not have the mental capacity for the situation. So, she enlists the help of her bosom friend Jane, and Jane’s heart-throb brother James, along with that of her uncle to solve the mystery. But when Petronella’s pesky (and wonderfully off-beat) aunts suddenly appear at her house after reading about the kidnappings, Petronella knows that she’s in over her head. To make matters worse, there is yet another kidnapping victim—and this time it’s Jane!
With a spunky main character and a wacky, over-the-top supporting cast, Dene Low has created a humorous mystery shrouded in the fog of Victorian England. The relationships between the characters are delicious, particularly between Petronella and James, whom she has loved for years but fears could never possibly love her back. Uncle Augustus is every bit as spunky as his niece, and despite the fact that he eats any insect he can find, is a thoroughly likeable character. Readers will find themselves cheering Petronella on as she challenges the notions of women in Victorian England and uses her wits in a fashion that would make a Scotland Yard officer jealous. The humor that is interspersed readily throughout the novel is all from Petronella, who narrates the story. This fast-paced adventure is recommended for grades 6 and up. ( )