incorrigible children (the book)

 incorrigible (adj.): (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.

using that definition, the children of maryrose wood's incorrigible children series are in most ways the opposite.  in the first book for middle grade girls (3rd through 6th grade), the three children raised by animals and found by their young governess huddled in a barn, learn to use good manners, spout short latin phrases, and recite poetry.  in the second book (pictured), they learn about the peloponnesian war.  despite miss penelope lumley's best efforts, however, they still howl at times, find squirrels mostly irresistible, and prefer their meat cooked rare with lots of ketchup.  

 i recommend these books as an update to the wonderful classic by joan aiken: the wolves of willoughby chase.  they are charming, full of suspense, and even educational, with omniscient author asides - as you may know, "dudgeon" is a word that describes feeling cross..p. 2).  best of all, miss lumley is independent, optimistic, hardworking, and smart.
  a great example for our girls.

there's no chess game in the stories, just mysterious fun.

reading beauty.