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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Around three stars. This one was a little disappointing, as I expected to like it a lot more than I actually did. Boarding school mystery with clever girl characters? Count me in. And in some ways the book does deliver what the premise promises. The two main characters, while each distinctly flawed, have a certain charm to them. I especially liked the conflict in Daisy and Hazel's friendship, as friends often have different opinions and think that the other person is wrong. The mystery is pretty good, and I was engaged with the plights of our heroes throughout the story (even though Daisy ticked me off for the longest time). However, this book felt really short, even though it's 300 pages (which isn't even that long), and I would've liked to see more development. Also, I thought it was unrealistic how the author made two of the teachers, Ms. Bell and Ms. Parker, live together and it wasn't a big issue. Back around the time this book was set in, same sex couples were NOT commonly present in society, and this bit of historical inaccuracy really bugged me. On the whole though, it was an enjoyable book, and I'll have to read the sequel before I make any final conclusions on this book series.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a rather fun kids' detective story, set in a 1930s boarding school with a very English girl and a steeped-in-British-history-and-customs Chinese girl (the narrator) recently arrived. The adults are all caricatures, but then I guess that's the way girls of that age generally regard adults. The school affairs are amusing. And Wells and Wong are great characters, with the ability to grow throughout the series.
I can understand why kids are eager to follow these two. Good old-fashioned fun with some interesting detective work.
I can understand why kids are eager to follow these two. Good old-fashioned fun with some interesting detective work.
Teachers being killed. No wonder this book is so popular with students.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fun mystery reminiscent of days reading Nancy Drew.
MY BOOK TALK: During the day Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong attend the Deepdean boarding school for girls. In their spare time they solve mysteries, silly things until the day Hazel finds their science teacher dead on the gym floor. By the time she gets Daisy on the scene the body is gone. Between classes they scope out likely suspects uncovering secrets about their teachers. But wait, one murder isn’t enough for Wells and Wong. Now there is another death and this body doesn’t disappear.
MY BOOK TALK: During the day Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong attend the Deepdean boarding school for girls. In their spare time they solve mysteries, silly things until the day Hazel finds their science teacher dead on the gym floor. By the time she gets Daisy on the scene the body is gone. Between classes they scope out likely suspects uncovering secrets about their teachers. But wait, one murder isn’t enough for Wells and Wong. Now there is another death and this body doesn’t disappear.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cute enough for early YA, don’t think I’ll read any more of the series, but would be fun for a 10-12 year old audience.
A fun mystery that Willa was very excited to guess about. Both Hazel and Daisy are good characters and good foils for each other. It's a well-imagined world and the supporting characters are weird and clashing enough to enjoy quite a bit.