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The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science #1
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science
From beloved Saturday Night Live alum Kate McKinnon comes a madcap new adventure about three sisters, a ravenous worm, and a mysterious mad scientist.
So, you want to be a young mad scientist. Congratulations! Admitting it is the first step. The second step is reading the (definitely true) tale of the Porch sisters…
Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch do not belong. They don’t belong in the snooty town of Antiquarium, where all girls have to go to etiquette school and the only dog allowed is the bichon frise. They don’t belong with their adoptive family, where all their cousins are named Lavinia and their Aunt has more brooches than books. And they certainly don’t belong at Mrs. Wintermacher’s etiquette school—they’re far more interested in science. After getting kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, the girls expect to be sent away for good... until they receive a mysterious invitation to a new school.
Suddenly the girls are under the tutelage of the infamous Millicent Quibb—a mad scientist with worms in her hair and oysters in her bathtub. At 231 Mysterium Way, the pizza is fatal, the bus is powered by Gerbils, and the Dean of Students is a hermit crab. Dangerous? Yes! More fun than they’ve ever had? Absolutely! But when the sisters are asked to save their town from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists, they must learn to embrace what has always made them stand out, and determine what side they’re on—before it’s too late!
So, you want to be a young mad scientist. Congratulations! Admitting it is the first step. The second step is reading the (definitely true) tale of the Porch sisters…
Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch do not belong. They don’t belong in the snooty town of Antiquarium, where all girls have to go to etiquette school and the only dog allowed is the bichon frise. They don’t belong with their adoptive family, where all their cousins are named Lavinia and their Aunt has more brooches than books. And they certainly don’t belong at Mrs. Wintermacher’s etiquette school—they’re far more interested in science. After getting kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, the girls expect to be sent away for good... until they receive a mysterious invitation to a new school.
Suddenly the girls are under the tutelage of the infamous Millicent Quibb—a mad scientist with worms in her hair and oysters in her bathtub. At 231 Mysterium Way, the pizza is fatal, the bus is powered by Gerbils, and the Dean of Students is a hermit crab. Dangerous? Yes! More fun than they’ve ever had? Absolutely! But when the sisters are asked to save their town from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists, they must learn to embrace what has always made them stand out, and determine what side they’re on—before it’s too late!
244 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2024
822 people are currently reading
8747 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 990 reviews
July 14, 2024
As wacky as a book from Weird Barbie should be, that reads like “A Series Of Unfortunate Events” for a new generation. Lots of fun with our main characters breaking stereotypes and finding ways to be true to themselves, and a very eccentric world that’s just bizarre enough to appeal to strange kids everywhere. I had a blast with this.
December 18, 2024
The audio narration on this book is UNMATCHED. I cannot wait to continue on with this series!
January 26, 2025
EXCERPT: Heed my tale, I tell no fib,
Beware the home of Millicent Quibb.
She'll twist your skull until it's loose,
Then pickle your brain in lemon juice.
Her hair is wild, her clothes are smelly,
All coated with fish and rotted jelly.
You needn't fear the witch's curse.
Mad scientists like her are much, much worse.
If you hope to grow up past eleven,
Or have a birthday when you're seven,
Or even make it past the crib,
Beware the home of Millicent Quibb!
ABOUT 'THE MILLICENT QUIBB SCHOOL OF ETIQUETTE FOR YOUNG LADIES OF MAD SCIENCE': A madcap new adventure about three sisters, a ravenous worm, and a mysterious mad scientist.
Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch do not belong. They don’t belong in the snooty town of Antiquarium, where the only dog allowed is the bichon frise. They don’t belong with their adoptive family, where all their cousins are named Lavinia. And after getting kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, the girls expect to be sent away for good… until they receive a mysterious invitation.
Suddenly the girls are under the tutelage of the infamous Millicent Quibb – a mad scientist with worms in her hair and oysters in her bathtub. Dangerous? Yes! More fun than they’ve ever had? Absolutely! But when the sisters are asked to save their town from an evil cabal of mad scientists, they must learn to embrace what has always made them stand out – before it’s too late!
MY THOUGHTS: This book is touted as Perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket but sorry, in my honest opinion, it's nowhere near the same class. I know I am not the intended market, BUT I love Roald Dahl and still read him regularly, and adore Lemony Snicket, whom I need to read more of.
Parts of the book I really enjoyed, particularly the poem above. Other parts left me scratching my head or shaking it. The author veers off into (I honestly don't know where) on numerous occasions, or threads just peter out . . .
There is a plot which was a lot of fun, but all the extraneous nonsense sort of spoils it. It felt like the author was trying too hard, and it showed.
I did laugh at this: Adults don't know that much. It's comforting to think that they do, and they certainly act like they do, but no one really knows what to do when it really comes down to it . . .
⭐⭐.5
#TheMillicentQuibbSchoolofEtiquetteforYoungLadiesofMadScience #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Emmy Award-winning SNL star and Weird Barbie Kate McKinnon can now add novelist to her resume. The novel is part of what she calls her “private mission to give a wink and a nod” to young people who might feel “different,” like she did, growing up.
McKinnon admits she was a “weird” kid. She wore a Peter Pan costume to school every day for a year. Later, she dressed like Pippi Longstocking. “I would go to school in these outfits because I felt more confident … and somehow more myself. Go figure.” (Source:npr.org - abridged)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Children's Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon was published October 10, 2024.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Beware the home of Millicent Quibb.
She'll twist your skull until it's loose,
Then pickle your brain in lemon juice.
Her hair is wild, her clothes are smelly,
All coated with fish and rotted jelly.
You needn't fear the witch's curse.
Mad scientists like her are much, much worse.
If you hope to grow up past eleven,
Or have a birthday when you're seven,
Or even make it past the crib,
Beware the home of Millicent Quibb!
ABOUT 'THE MILLICENT QUIBB SCHOOL OF ETIQUETTE FOR YOUNG LADIES OF MAD SCIENCE': A madcap new adventure about three sisters, a ravenous worm, and a mysterious mad scientist.
Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch do not belong. They don’t belong in the snooty town of Antiquarium, where the only dog allowed is the bichon frise. They don’t belong with their adoptive family, where all their cousins are named Lavinia. And after getting kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, the girls expect to be sent away for good… until they receive a mysterious invitation.
Suddenly the girls are under the tutelage of the infamous Millicent Quibb – a mad scientist with worms in her hair and oysters in her bathtub. Dangerous? Yes! More fun than they’ve ever had? Absolutely! But when the sisters are asked to save their town from an evil cabal of mad scientists, they must learn to embrace what has always made them stand out – before it’s too late!
MY THOUGHTS: This book is touted as Perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket but sorry, in my honest opinion, it's nowhere near the same class. I know I am not the intended market, BUT I love Roald Dahl and still read him regularly, and adore Lemony Snicket, whom I need to read more of.
Parts of the book I really enjoyed, particularly the poem above. Other parts left me scratching my head or shaking it. The author veers off into (I honestly don't know where) on numerous occasions, or threads just peter out . . .
There is a plot which was a lot of fun, but all the extraneous nonsense sort of spoils it. It felt like the author was trying too hard, and it showed.
I did laugh at this: Adults don't know that much. It's comforting to think that they do, and they certainly act like they do, but no one really knows what to do when it really comes down to it . . .
⭐⭐.5
#TheMillicentQuibbSchoolofEtiquetteforYoungLadiesofMadScience #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Emmy Award-winning SNL star and Weird Barbie Kate McKinnon can now add novelist to her resume. The novel is part of what she calls her “private mission to give a wink and a nod” to young people who might feel “different,” like she did, growing up.
McKinnon admits she was a “weird” kid. She wore a Peter Pan costume to school every day for a year. Later, she dressed like Pippi Longstocking. “I would go to school in these outfits because I felt more confident … and somehow more myself. Go figure.” (Source:npr.org - abridged)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Children's Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon was published October 10, 2024.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 24, 2024
3.5 stars. I know the book is meant to be silly but I’m not sure who it’s marketed towards. There is a lot of harming animals that I’m not sure what age kid who would be able to see past and find it funny?
September 29, 2024
Every time I think I can’t love Kate McKinnon any more, she does something like write a weird, misfit-filled middle grade book with her own illustrations included. Truly, good for her. I don’t know that I could have had any better of a time with Millicent Quibb and Gertrude and Eugenia and Dee-Dee. It captured for me the misfortunes and oddities of A Series of Unfortunate Events but less endlessly and punishingly depressing, and written by a cool queer comedian lady rather than a problematic man.
The Porch Sisters get dealt some bad cards, but ultimately this story feels so hopeful and creates such a sense of belonging. Kate McKinnon’s humor has always really worked for me, and of course it’s subjective, but I found it incredibly lovely. More than that, though, I think the found family, along with the messages of speaking truth to power and of finding camaraderie with other people who are different in a space of conformity, made this not only a delight to read but incredibly touching as well.
On the format and writing style: I LOVED the illustrations, they present such a clear picture (haha) of the vibes of this story. The breaking of the fourth wall is one of my favorite things in books right now (maybe always, honestly) so I enjoyed that a lot and I thought the footnotes accompanying that fourth wall breakage were absolute perfection. This would be a really fun one for reading aloud with younger kids and a lot of fun for middle grade readers. Much like one of our greatest cultural masterpieces, Shrek, there’s something to love here for all ages.
Thank goodness it already seems to be finding itself into a series, because I am already so thirsty for more adventures with Millicent and the girls and G. Edwina Candlestank and Kate McKinnon. Highly recommend.
The Porch Sisters get dealt some bad cards, but ultimately this story feels so hopeful and creates such a sense of belonging. Kate McKinnon’s humor has always really worked for me, and of course it’s subjective, but I found it incredibly lovely. More than that, though, I think the found family, along with the messages of speaking truth to power and of finding camaraderie with other people who are different in a space of conformity, made this not only a delight to read but incredibly touching as well.
On the format and writing style: I LOVED the illustrations, they present such a clear picture (haha) of the vibes of this story. The breaking of the fourth wall is one of my favorite things in books right now (maybe always, honestly) so I enjoyed that a lot and I thought the footnotes accompanying that fourth wall breakage were absolute perfection. This would be a really fun one for reading aloud with younger kids and a lot of fun for middle grade readers. Much like one of our greatest cultural masterpieces, Shrek, there’s something to love here for all ages.
Thank goodness it already seems to be finding itself into a series, because I am already so thirsty for more adventures with Millicent and the girls and G. Edwina Candlestank and Kate McKinnon. Highly recommend.
October 9, 2024
Absurdly creative and fun. Sure, the target audience is middle grades but I’ll listen to every book in the series.
Also, I think I need Kate McKinnon to narrate every audiobook moving forward.
Also, I think I need Kate McKinnon to narrate every audiobook moving forward.
November 6, 2024
Probably the most entertaining audiobook I've ever listened to 10/10 wow I love Kate McKinnon 👏
The story was silly, imaginative, and chaotic - aka highly enjoyable.
The story was silly, imaginative, and chaotic - aka highly enjoyable.
October 22, 2024
This is a cute middle grade book. Definitely over the top silly with lots of pictures and footnotes that add to the fun. Probably best for grades 4-6. The characters are not really complex and could use more depth to them, and like most middle grade books, it focuses more on plot than substance. There are lots of silly adventures all culminating in the final showdown with the bad guys. I liked the STEM, female positive message about being yourself and that you don’t have to fit in. Overall, I give it a 3.5.
October 23, 2024
Weird, zany, and kooky in all the best ways! This is just as delightful as you would expect a book from Kate McKinnon to be. Her brain is a strange and wonderful place and I’m here for it. The audio narration, read by the author, is not to be missed. I ended up buying the physical copy for the illustrations as well. I read it with my eyeballs AND listened to it. I can’t remember any other book that I double read! Loved it.
January 16, 2025
Ok, I'm not the young kid this is aimed at, but still.
This is basically a Kate McKinnon version of a Series of Unfortunate Events. I listened to the audiobook, and obviously she had a load of fun recording it and pictured the movie/Netflix series.
I did enjoy her similes and certain goofy descriptions, but it was so over the top and didn't fully get anywhere.
Also, why define "turret" but not "ad hoc" or "aneurism"?
I did love the dedication to her mom at the beginning--that was awesome !
This is basically a Kate McKinnon version of a Series of Unfortunate Events. I listened to the audiobook, and obviously she had a load of fun recording it and pictured the movie/Netflix series.
I did enjoy her similes and certain goofy descriptions, but it was so over the top and didn't fully get anywhere.
Also, why define "turret" but not "ad hoc" or "aneurism"?
I did love the dedication to her mom at the beginning--that was awesome !
July 4, 2024
This was a fun creative middle grade book.
February 5, 2025
An almost passable imitation of all the children's book authors who are on the back cover blurbing this one, i.e., Trenton Lee Stewart, Maryrose Wood, etc.
Kate McKinnon is obviously aiming for a very wacky tone as some misfit foster sisters have to transfer to a new school (again) when their old one labels them as troublemakers. The new school claims to teach etiquette but is instead secretly run by a mad scientist, Millicent Quibb, who needs help stopping an evil plot conceived by even madder scientists.
It feels like every single sentence was given a rewrite to make it even wackier. I felt I was being whacked with wacky over and over until I became so groggy I simply surrendered to the prose.
The only actual joy I found in the book was imagining in my mind's eye how Kate McKinnon would act out the character she obvious intends to play in the inevitable movie adaptation. I settled on a slight variation on her Weird Barbie, just without all the leg splits. I'd probably see that film, but I doubt I'll read the next book in this series.
Kate McKinnon is obviously aiming for a very wacky tone as some misfit foster sisters have to transfer to a new school (again) when their old one labels them as troublemakers. The new school claims to teach etiquette but is instead secretly run by a mad scientist, Millicent Quibb, who needs help stopping an evil plot conceived by even madder scientists.
It feels like every single sentence was given a rewrite to make it even wackier. I felt I was being whacked with wacky over and over until I became so groggy I simply surrendered to the prose.
The only actual joy I found in the book was imagining in my mind's eye how Kate McKinnon would act out the character she obvious intends to play in the inevitable movie adaptation. I settled on a slight variation on her Weird Barbie, just without all the leg splits. I'd probably see that film, but I doubt I'll read the next book in this series.
March 12, 2025
I went right away to buy this book to send to my granddaughter. Loved it can’t wait for book 2.
February 4, 2025
Mila and I read this together. She says it gets 5,000 stars, and we have a date to read the second one in the series when it comes out.
October 9, 2024
I loved this every ounce as much as I expected to. Pure perfection! I was blessed to be able to attend an author event with Kate McKinnon for this book this past Friday, and it made reading it even more magical. I went with the audio book not only because it was highly recommended (as well it should be — it’s FANTASTIC) but because I didn’t want to sully my autographed copy. Y’all this wacky, brilliant, deep, and darn well-written book is a delight, and Kate is an author through and through. Thank you, Kate, for your inspiring words!!
October 4, 2024
This was a lot of fun! I got real Lemony Snicket and Willy Wonka vibes from it. Very goofy and cartoony. My only complaint is that at times, it seemed the joke was a little too forced, but for the most part, the humor was on point. Lots of big (and made up) words, so definitely on the older end of the middle grade reading level. Thanks to Edelweiss and LB Books for the ARC!
January 18, 2025
this was joyous
February 7, 2025
This book made me laugh my ass off!
February 13, 2025
I was gifted the hardcover by my best friend who picked it solely because it’s Kate McKinnon, who we both love, but without knowing anything else about it. It was a fantastic choice.
I ended up borrowing the audiobook from the library and listening as I read along and I have to say that, in my opinion, that is the optimal way to consume the story because the book has a bunch of fun illustrations and creative use of fonts and the narration is hilarious.
The story is quirky, entertaining and madcap. For me, McKinnon’s narration and the story itself evoked the feeling of Roald Dahl’s style of storytelling and the wacky vibes of Tina, Eugene and Louise from Bob’s Burgers. It worked for me. I have mixed feelings about the strength of the story alone but overall it was a winner.
3.5 stars for the story.
5+ stars for the narration.
5 stars for how well I was entertained from start to finish.
I ended up borrowing the audiobook from the library and listening as I read along and I have to say that, in my opinion, that is the optimal way to consume the story because the book has a bunch of fun illustrations and creative use of fonts and the narration is hilarious.
The story is quirky, entertaining and madcap. For me, McKinnon’s narration and the story itself evoked the feeling of Roald Dahl’s style of storytelling and the wacky vibes of Tina, Eugene and Louise from Bob’s Burgers. It worked for me. I have mixed feelings about the strength of the story alone but overall it was a winner.
3.5 stars for the story.
5+ stars for the narration.
5 stars for how well I was entertained from start to finish.
November 8, 2025
Who knew a book for 8-12 year olds could be so fun to read!
I didn’t think I could love Kate McKinnon more… until I read this book — it is the perfect amount of silly and serious and I enjoyed every moment of this cute story.
I loved the footnotes & am definitely on board with books having more footnotes.
The author popping in to chat with the reader a few times throughout the book was a very nice touch & added another layer of humour to an already funny book.
Favourite quote: “The right thing and the hard thing are sometimes the same thing”
I didn’t think I could love Kate McKinnon more… until I read this book — it is the perfect amount of silly and serious and I enjoyed every moment of this cute story.
I loved the footnotes & am definitely on board with books having more footnotes.
The author popping in to chat with the reader a few times throughout the book was a very nice touch & added another layer of humour to an already funny book.
Favourite quote: “The right thing and the hard thing are sometimes the same thing”
September 27, 2024
Take three sisters who have flunked out of MANY etiquette schools and put them under the tutelage of a mad scientist and they might just save the town. Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch are treated as second class in the foster home they live in with seven sisters, all named Lavinia. They're just different and don't fit into the countless schools they've been kicked out of. Enter Millicent Quibb. She has a bad and mythic reputation in town, but a little subterfuge will have her taking on the Porch sisters and schooling them in mad science in order to save the town from a giant worm. What else would you expect from funny woman, Kate McKinnon?
This was cute, but felt like it needed a bit more work. There were definitely a good many funny bits, but there were more that just needed polish. Also, the over-use of the large, bold, scary font phrases l, especially in the beginning, was just a bit much. This has a Series of Unfortunate Events vibe, but with way less child abuse.
Release Date: 10/1/2024
This was cute, but felt like it needed a bit more work. There were definitely a good many funny bits, but there were more that just needed polish. Also, the over-use of the large, bold, scary font phrases l, especially in the beginning, was just a bit much. This has a Series of Unfortunate Events vibe, but with way less child abuse.
Release Date: 10/1/2024
February 19, 2025
4.5 great audio book for children
December 30, 2024
I listened to this on audio and it was excellent! Can’t wait for book two and what the Porch sisters and Millicent do next!
February 10, 2025
“Every creature, no matter how bizarre, or reviled, has a place.”
This book was just adorable. And funny. And heartfelt.
The audio is fantastic! Highly recommend.
Found through the Currently Reading Podcast.
This book was just adorable. And funny. And heartfelt.
The audio is fantastic! Highly recommend.
Found through the Currently Reading Podcast.
January 12, 2025
Loved the audiobook. It was so much fun!
July 21, 2025
Very funny, especially in the recommended audio form, complete with great voices (as to be expected by an SNL star), sound effects, and hilarious asides from the narrator to the listener. I don't know if I would've found it quite as entertaining in print, but I did go look at the illustrations after I finished listening to see what I was missing. I think kids who can be flexible enough to enjoy a bit of ridiculousness will really enjoy this adventure.
January 17, 2025
Imagine a humorous version of a Series of Unfortunate Events book. Absolutely amazing audiobook - I’d love to own the physical copy but owning the audiobook would be even better. Actually laughed out loud so many times at this book! Hilarious and fun plot & characters
March 7, 2025
Specifically 5 stars for the audiobook, read by Kate McKinnon. After 10 minutes of listening I don’t think we could have gone to the print version, her performance is as artistic and energetic and nutso as you would expect. PLEASE NARRATE MORE AUDIOBOOKS, Kate!
September 26, 2025
Hilarious and a must read for all ages. I listened on audio (the required format for this book because KM is absolutely unhinged in her narration and it is epic) mostly in the middle of the night with a sick babe and it was not a bad time.
March 17, 2025
Read this etiquette book with my pinkies properly poised, painted and pointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 990 reviews