Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis

Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
Series: The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson, #1
Publication: April 5, 2011 by Atheneum
(Hardcover, 304 pages)
Summary: Twelve-year-old Kat Stephenson may be the despair of her social-climbing Step-Mama, but she was born to be a magical Guardian and protector of Society--if she can ever find true acceptance in the secret Order that expelled her own mother. She’s ready to turn the hidebound Order of the Guardians inside-out, whether the older members like it or not. And in a society where magic is the greatest scandal of all, Kat is determined to use all her powers to help her three older siblings--saintly Elissa, practicing-witch Angeline, and hopelessly foolish Charles--find their own true loves, even if she has to turn highwayman, battle wild magic, and confront real ghosts along the way!
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My thoughts: I'm not big on reading middle grade books; I'm usually more prone to older teen books (probably since I'm an older teen), but Kat, Incorrigible was a really fantastic book. Kat, whose mother died giving birth to her and whose father is married to a social-ladder-climbing woman, is intelligent, funny, and overall a great character. I thoroughly enjoyed her antics and her whole attitude brought a spark to the novel. It's definitely one to recommend to younger teens, or pre-teens, and can definitely be enjoyed by anyone older who is looking for a lighter read.
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The story starts out pretty quickly, and there were hardly any lulls. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, and the magical twist made it all the more fun to read. Even though the story is pretty light and not dark or deep, it's still got a flair to it that made reading it enjoyable and fast. There were lots of twists and turns and I was never really sure where the story was going. I don't think I could've asked for more from a middle-grade novel, or even a regular YA.
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The characters were great. Wacky and lovable, in just the right way. I was pulling my hair out over Kat's stepmother's superficial acting and laughing about Kat's sister's strange behavior. I especially liked Angeline, who was just as headstrong and stubborn as Kat; Elissa, her other sister, was cute and quirky in her own way too. I liked that the romances that go on with them weren't overdone and how Kat manages to get into them despite her sister's protests.
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The writing style was simple and definitely fitting. I liked how quick-paced everything was; sometimes things felt a little too rushed, which is my only real complaint. But other than that, Kat, Incorrigible was a quick, fun read that I'd recommend to any middle-grader who likes historical fiction with a magical twist.
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Covering the Cover: The cover is really cute and fitting for the story.
Characters: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 3/5

Overall Rating: 4 stars