Rating: 
-
All Petronella wants is for her sixteenth birthday luncheon, marking her debut into society, to be a success - but things go awry right from the start when her Uncle Augustus discovers a fondness for entomography (bug-eating).
Circumstances grow steadily worse when two important guests, Dame Carruthers and Generalisimo Reyes-Cardoza (a Panamanian dignitary) are kidnapped and held for ransom. It's just plain bad luck when Petronella's fortune-hunting relatives descend in the hopes of proving Uncle Augustus an unfit guardian.
With the help of best friend Jane and her delectable older brother, James, Petronella is determined to foil the kidnappers' nefarious schemes, thwart the affections of annoying and penniless Georgie Grimsley, and keep her money hungry relatives at bay while sussing out a cure for Uncle Augustus's newly acquired appetite.
PETRONELLA SAVES NEARLY EVERYONE is a delightful, Austen-esque comedy of errors set in Victorian England with a generous helping of mystery, mischief, and insects. Petronella is a clever, engaging heroine suited to her era, yet she retains enough independence and gumption to appeal to modern teens.
Reviewed by: Cat
Rating: 
-
I originally heard of this book via a radio show. Hearing it was a local author, I just had to buy it. Now the radio show suggested this was aimed for ages 10-111; I disagree. While the reading itself isn't terribly difficult, there is a hilarious-but-subtle humor to this onto which the younger ones might not catch.
On the surface, this is your basic Victorian mystery. At young Petronella's birthday, two nobles are kidnapped and Petronella finds herself in the middle of the situation.
Then, one looks at the delightful oddities of the story. First and foremost, her guardian Uncle Augustus has contracted a rare condition that compells him to eat insects. While this is extreme, other members of Petronella's family are hardly typical, either. Then there is Petronella's best friend Jane whose brother is the object of Petronella's affections (it's great romantic attrocity all the way through). Then there is Petronella's small-but-fervant concern with grammar that lends itself almost a "Series of Unfortunate Events" air without the extreme zaniness.
All these oddities and entanglements are in a direct contrast to Petronella's desire for Victorian propriety, of course. It's a hoot.
I truly enjoyed this book. It's very well-written and extremely creative. I just think it should be read by those that can appreciate it.
Rating: 
-
I read the ARC of this, but I actually got it from BookMooch and not from a publisher. I was immediately drawn to the name and the cover, and while the book itself didn't really live up to my expectations, I enjoyed reading it nevertheless.
My favorite parts of the book were actually the secondary characters, especially Petronella's uncle (the Augustus T. Percival in the title). I liked the plot, too, especially once the wackiness started taking over and made things more interesting. I laughed, I sighed, I had some fun. The language seemed spot-on, though I'm no expert on Edwardian speech, and I was surprisingly fascinated with the clothing described within.
Although I enjoyed some parts very much, unfortunately the parts I didn't like outnumbered the parts I did. I didn't really like Petronella, since she seems too obsessed with her love interest and being respectable. That makes for some funny scenes, but it also makes for a slightly boring character, especially compared with the interesting, unusual characters she's surrounded with. Her personality didn't seem to mesh with what other characters said about her: that she was a mischievous troublemaker who knew how to have fun and went out and had it. The new "adult" Petronella seemed entirely too bland to have actually done any of the interesting things she was supposed to have done, though she does become more vibrant near the climax of the plot (i.e. where she actually saves nearly everyone).
Because Petronalla was so bland, the strangeness of the events around her were not so much left of center as completely off the map. I don't know if that makes the weirdness better or worse- but I do know that the strange bits were also the most exciting, and Petronella's drabness dragged the book down. Sometimes it rose above, but mostly I was just confused re:how I was supposed to feel about Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone. On the one hand, it's funny and unusual and really cute. On the other hand, it's kinda boring and the tone is all over the place.
Overall, I liked Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone. It has some problems, but it wasn't bad and I'll for sure read the sequels (two of them in progress, according to Ms. Low's website!). And I'll for sure try out Ms. Low's other books, as well, which look just as quirky and potentially adorkable. I just probably won't, uh, buy them. BUT, do try it out if you think it has potential. You'll probably like it better than I did.
Rating: -
This has got to be one of the strangest, cutest, most wonderful starts to a series I've ever read and I think I'm in love with it. The language, the characters, their behaviors to me everything was spot on.
Right off the bat we are introduced to Victorian manners and ways of doing things and then all of a sudden we find Uncle Augustus T. Percival having a bite to eat, a bite to eat of BUGS! His compulsion is just so hilarious, the way the author writes it, seeing him hopping around in the background grabbing bugs out of the air and such, it just never got old! That was probably my favorite part of the book.
Next we have this wonderful mystery of two very important people vanishing from Petronella's party and she and her friends and relatives take it upon themselves to help out the police to find them. Oh and did I mention that Petronella's Aunt and son and Great Aunt and two daughters show up to try and help sort out this mess but are basically in the way the whole time. They make for some great comedy.
And most surprisingly and most welcome too is a bit of romance in the story. Petronella's best friend happens to have an adorably handsome brother who Petronella swoons for, if only he would notice her as anything other than a sister. Let's just say I can't wait to see where the story picks up in the next installment of this series!
I would highly recommend this book for something a bit out of the ordinary. I was highly impressed.
Rating: -
Full title: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone (Book One)
What if your uncle (and guardian) started eating bugs? What if, on your coming out party, two important guest-and later, your dearest friend-were kidnapped? What if your heart's true love still treated you like a little sister? And finally, what if your pesky, insane relatives got wind of this scandal and came knocking at your door?
Preposterous you say! But it's exactly what happens to Petronella Arbuthnot. Now it is up to her, Uncle Augusts, the handsome Lord James Sinclair, several old biddy aunts, and some bumbling investigators from Scotland Yard to rescue the threesome, and possibly save England. Grab your intelligence, a copy of Insectile Creatures (in case Uncle Augusts gets hungary), and some relatives for boot! This quirky Victorian story is bound to tickle you pink and leave you waiting for the next preposterous adventure!
*****
Entomological= [Entomology] the study of insects
Complete with zaniness and historical events, The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival (whoa, even the name is preposterous) was quite an entertaining book. Not to mention it was nice to read something different for a change! It wasn't an extreme page flipper, but it had just enough of fun and mystery to keep you occupied. It reminded me a lot of a Charles Dickens novel, but minus the sad or dark approach because this book was always light and humorous. The language was easy to understand-despite it staying true to the 20th century grammar or the "large" words throughout the novel. "Large" words? Hey, don't be scared off that easily, it was just part of Petronella's character! I found Petronella to be a very good heroine since she stayed completely one top of the kidnapping case and wasn't afraid to "tally-ho" into danger (or rather relatives with pointy umbrellas). What of Petronella's bug-eating uncle? Now, that was the best addition to the story-never a dull moment with him on the scene!
I truly think Low has a knack for the preposterous: funky wordplay and the outrageous characters. All in all, this book was fun and I would highly recommend. Mind you though, stay away from the Tou-eh-mah-mah beetles or you'll wind up like Uncle Augustus....
Want more adventure? Stay tuned because these beloved characters are coming back in the future installment: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Countdown for the Countess, Book Two. Please note that the title may or may not be changed.
About the Author
Dene Low has a BA in literature, a MA in creative writing, and a Ph.D in composition (wow!). Over the years Low has had several stories published internationally in magazines, but finally decided to give writing a novel a whirl. Glad she did too. The E. Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone is her first ever published book! She lives in Utah.
Genre: Historical/mystery
Age Group: Ages 11 to teen*
Content: None
Recommend? Yes
*Orginally meant for ages 9-12, but I think that a nine year old or even a ten year old might not enjoy this book because of the semi-Victorian language.
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