The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy: Montague Siblings
#2 of 3 in Montague Siblings Series
on Goodreads (38,583)
What’s inside...
A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science. But then a window of opportunity opens—a doctor she idolizes is marrying an old friend of hers in Germany. Felicity believes if she could meet this man he could change her future, but she has no money of her own to make the trip. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid. In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that leads them from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic. In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Felicity Montague must use all her womanly wits and wiles to achieve her dreams of becoming a doctor—even if she has to scheme her way across Europe to do it. A must-have for fans of Mackenzi Lee’s extraordinary and Stonewall Honor-winning novel.
Character compass
Felicity Montague
Sim
Johanna Hoffman
Percy Newton
Henry 'monty' Montague
Dr. Alexander Platt
Simmaa "Sim" Aldajah
Henry "Monty" Montague
Discussion points
How does Felicity Montague challenge the expectations placed on her as a woman in her society? What can you learn from her struggles and achievements?
In what ways do the themes of adventure and self-discovery contribute to the development of the characters? Which character’s journey resonated with you the most and why?
Felicity often has to make tough decisions to pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor. Discuss a time when you had to make a difficult choice to follow your passion. How did it make you feel?
The story highlights the importance of friendship and collaboration. How do Felicity's relationships with other characters influence her journey? Can you think of a personal experience where a friend helped you grow or overcome a challenge?
What are some stereotypes about gender roles that the characters confront in the story? How do they handle these challenges, and what does that teach us about dealing with stereotypes in real life?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, focus on Felicity's resilience and ambition. Highlight how these qualities are important and how they help her navigate the challenges she faces.
Encourage your child to express their opinions about the characters' decisions and actions. This reinforces critical thinking and personal expression.
Connect the story’s themes to real-world scenarios. Ask your child how they would react in similar situations, fostering empathy and ethical thinking.
Discuss the historical context of the story to give your child a deeper understanding of the challenges the characters face, and why their achievements are significant.
Celebrate the moments in the story where characters overcome obstacles or learn something new. This can help your child see the value in perseverance and education.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empowerment and self-determination
Explanation: The protagonist, Felicity Montague, exemplifies empowerment by defying societal expectations of women in the 18th century to pursue her passion for science and medicine.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of following their dreams and standing up for themselves, even when faced with societal obstacles.
Example Lesson: Importance of perseverance
Explanation: Felicity faces numerous challenges on her journey, but her persistence ultimately helps her achieve her goals.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of resilience and not giving up in the face of difficulties, encouraging them to persist in their endeavors no matter the obstacles.
Example Lesson: Value of friendship and teamwork
Explanation: Throughout her adventures, Felicity learns to collaborate with others who have different skills and backgrounds, understanding that teamwork can lead to achieving greater goals.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate diverse perspectives and the significance of working together with others to solve problems or achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Breaking gender stereotypes
Explanation: Felicity challenges the traditional roles expected of women in her time by aspiring to be a doctor, a profession dominated by men during that era.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to explore and participate in activities or interests regardless of gender expectations and to respect others’ choices as well.