A review by worldlibraries
Brave Irene by William Steig

1.0

It's astonishing to me that so few reviewers comment on the inequality of power between Irene and her mother with the duchess. Irene risked her life to deliver a ballgown for an upper class woman. Why was the chosen task she was risking her life for so frivolous? Why was it worth leaving her sick mother all alone for? Why on Earth would anyone want to teach young people risking your life to deliver a ball gown is a good idea? The power differential robbed the story of any joy to be had reading it. Maybe if Irene was delivering her sister's dress for her wedding, it might have worked, but this book seems designed to keep the plebes in their place. Moral of the story: plebes, your job is to keep the upper class happy at all costs to yourself.