Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Nasty Brits rule 1816 New York in clever steampunk twist.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
It's 1816. Sixteen-year-old Charlotte, her older brother Ashley, his best friend Jack, and dozens of other kids live hidden in catacombs not far from New York City. When they're 18 they'll join their parents fighting in secret -- their cause moving underground after the American colonists lost the Revolutionary War. Charlotte's the kind of girl who likes the adventure and can handle herself in a fight, even against flesh-eating giant rats. But can she handle herself in a dress, out in New York high society? She's determined to find out when Jack reveals his secret connections to rebels in the city and Ashley wants to meet them. With some coaxing, they agree to take Charlotte to New York, too, hidden in plain sight as an upper-class girl looking for suitors. They also bring along the newest arrival to the catacombs, a strange boy Charlotte found in the woods with no memory of where he came from and the strength of an ox.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of steampunk know already: It's a big sci-fi party of wild inventions and giant dirigibles. Yes, there's a dirigible. With fancy rooms and strange suction-style elevators. Cool. THE INVENTOR'S SECRET also makes New York City one big crazy invention with floating platforms, one for each caste. Readers will long for a map of the city, but alas. Maybe the sequel will have one. While they're at it, how about some drawings of the inventions and the Pisces submersible?
Oh yeah, there's the story, too. It's easy to get sidetracked, and The Inventor's Secret does, when Charlotte reaches the city and figures out she has strong feelings for Jack. The long romantic aside is worth it, but what happened to the rebellion? Readers don't get to see anything beyond Ashley and Jack rushing off in secret. A hint of what they're planning would be nice, but the cliffhanger at the end will do the trick of drawing readers to the next in the series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about steampunk. Have you read any before? What do you like about it? Can you imagine all the inventions the author describes? What were your favorites?
What do you think about this re-imagining of history? Had the colonists lost, do you think the Founding Fathers would have met their end that way? What do you think about the other changes the author supposes? Would the British have abolished slavery?
Are you drawn to this series now? Will you read the next book? What do you think will happen to Grave? Charlotte? Jack?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Robots
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Penguin Group
- Publication date : April 22, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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