OVERVIEW
This is the first book I have read by Courtney Sheinmel and the fifth by Marie Benedict.
Unfortunately, the conception and idea behind this book didn't execute as I had hoped. The idea is brilliant and could be a series, but it didn't work for me as a middle-school book.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars.
Writing: 3.5 stars
Marie and Courtney definitely write well.
Some contemporary slang, such as cool, slipped into the novel's dialogue before it was commonly used. Also, the unusual car accident and dyslexia diagnosis at this time seemed out of place. It may have been to add an interesting tidbit to interest current readers.
Character development: 3.5 stars
The main character was Lainey, who was at an orphanage and offered a scholarship to Lovelace Academy. Lainey has great difficulty transitioning from the orphanage to the Lovelace Academy.
The secondary characters are Lady Blunt (headmistress of Lovelace Academy and daughter of Ada Lovelace) and Mileva Einstein (yes, the first wife of THAT Einstein).
The tertiary characters are the orphanage caretakers, orphans, students at Lovelace Academy, and Lainey's friends in Switzerland and at the Academy.
I wrongly assumed that the Lovelace Academy would be the focus of this novel. Most of the time was not spent at the Lovelace Academy, and we didn't really get to know much about it. What a missed opportunity!
Storyline: 3.0 stars
The storyline really details the horrific time that Lainey spends at the orphanage. It was ugly and very descriptive, which I didn't enjoy, and a middle school student wouldn't either.
Lainey attends the Lovelace Academy and doesn't fit in there due to being a scholarship student.
Then the story veers wildly when Lainey travels alone from London to Bern, Switzerland. She meets Mrs. Einstein, and it just seems unbelievable from there.
The locations were primarily London and Bern.
Memorable/Informative: 3.0 stars
I already knew Ada Lovelace was an incredible mathematician. But, I didn't know much about her life, and most especially that she died so young. I would have enjoyed learning more about her and having the period shift quite a bit earlier to include more of her life.
Book cover: 4.5 stars
Beautiful!
Book title: 3.0 stars
We did not learn much about the secrets of the Lovelace Academy.
Recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: ebook
The Secrets of Lovelace Academy by Marie Benedict/Courtney Sheinmel
304 pages
Aladdin
Release date: 4/22/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNING: Institutionalization of orphans, physical violence, starvation, child labor, theft, classism, death of a parent
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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