Extremely Inconvenient book

Bronte Mettlestone is given instructions in her parent's will (bound with faery thread) to visit ten of her late father's sisters, keeping to a particular schedule and deliver them each a small gift. Along the way, she finds many adventures that are unexpected and build to a satisfying pinnacle in the final pages when the gifts she has been toting develop new significance. Lemony Snicket fans will enjoy meeting Bronte and the varied cast of characters in her story.

When 10 year old Bronte Mettlestone’s parents are “taken out” by pirates, she reminds the reader that she hardly knew them; that she was raised by her Aunt Isabelle and the Butler. What seems to truly unsettle Bronte is that with the announcement of her parent’s murder comes their Faery cross-stitched Will. Bronte must follow its instructions or her hometown Gainsleigh will be torn asunder—and this is where it is confirmed that there is magic in Bronte’s world—and a lot of aunts.

It’s a pleasure watching all the pieces fit into place. Despite the size of Bronte’s family and each addition of friendship, and despite the breadth of her travels and the tasks involved, no detail is superfluous as Moriarty weaves an astonishingly snug narrative.

Bronte is inquisitive, resourceful, thoughtful, and strong-willed—and inconvenienced (read exasperated and angry). She also grows into an appreciation for what such an inconvenient situation has to offer: new friends, family, new skills—and important revelations.

If you take your adventures with a heavy dose of the whimsical and enjoy heroines who wear their sass and vulnerability beneath a veneer of polite society, The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone is a your cup of tea.

Recommended for readers who enjoy the conversational narrator, variety in their adventures, whimsy, magic and mysteries. A good read aloud. This adventure is also fantastically fem-friendly, besides female ship captains, a woman who saves the kingdom with her powerful spellbinding, and a few I can’t talk about, Aunt Alys’ story behind how she became queen and the story of her son is especially appealing.

Recommended schedule for dividing up the reading: Chapters vary in length (e.g. one chapter is a half-page). You could probably combine nights 1 & 2 and enjoy a one week read aloud.

Aunt Isabelle (Ch 1-12)
Aunt Sue (Ch 6-13)
Aunt Emma (Ch 14-29)
Aunt Claire (Ch 30) Aunt Sophy (Ch 31) and Aunt Nancy (Ch 32-44)
Aunt Maya and Aunt Lisbeth (Ch 45-58)
Aunt Alys (Ch 59-63) and Aunt Carrie (64-73)
Aunt Franny (74-81)
Chapters 82-109