Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis

What it's about (from Goodreads): Katherine Ann Stephenson has just discovered that she's inherited her mother's magical talents, and despite Stepmama's stern objections, she's determined to learn how to use them. But with her eldest sister Elissa's intended fiancé, the sinister Sir Neville, showing a dangerous interest in Kat's magical potential; her other sister, Angeline, wreaking romantic havoc with her own witchcraft; and a highwayman lurking in the forest, even Kat's reckless heroism will be tested to the upmost. If she can learn to control her new powers, will Kat be able to rescue her family and win her sisters their true love?

What I learned: This was a fun, lighthearted younger teen novel. I thought it took a while to get going and I'm glad there is at least two more in the series (the second is coming out in the U.S. in April 2012 and the third in April 2013) but by the end all kinds of things are happening. I love that Kat stood up for her family and what she thought was right no matter what. She was facing real and possibly evil magic as well as the ruin of her family, not to mention all the scoldings and punishment she would receive from her stepmother and sisters but she chose to keep fighting for what would make her sisters happy. I know that at age 12 I would not have been anywhere as brave as Kat and I definitely wouldn't have put my life on the line for my siblings. Kat understands that family is the most important thing, much more important than how Society perceives you. I learned that no matter how you feel about your family, you can't ever stop being related to them. You may try to hide the truth, but you can't escape it. I know a lot of people don't have good relationships with their family - and mine could be better in some aspects - but there's nothing you can do to completely sever yourself from them.

If you've read Kat, Incorrigible, what did you learn? How important is family to you?