Review: Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M. M. Blume, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2006.  Copy checked out from the San Diego County Library, Rancho San Diego Branch.

Mark Twain Reader Award Nominee

This book reminds me of an Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade for tweens.  Cornelia is very alone and very contrary.  Her mother is a famous pianist who is always traveling.  Cornelia is left with in the care of the servants.  Luckily, Cornelia happens to be very alone and very contrary in Greenwich Village, where she meets Virginia Somerset, Cornelia’s well traveled, well dressed, well read, well everything neighbor.  Virginia has an adorable pug and stories.  Stories of the travels she and her four sisters embarked on after World War II. 

            This book is a great for cuddling up when you’re having a sick day.  It’s easy to be sympathetic of Cornelia’s attitude at the beginning of the story, haven’t we all felt rather alone and a little unwanted at some time or another?  My favorite part is how the novel is made up of stories within a story.  After reading for awhile, I felt like putting the book down was like being awakened from a dream because I had become so buried in the story.  The ending is sad, but there is a triumphant resolution for Cornelia, which rings true in its realism- bad things do happen in life, but there are ways to move on with a strong, self assured elegance.

I could see this being a good read for 5^th to 7^th graders, especially girls who happen to use big words and love puppies.