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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
A very fun, clever, surprising mystery led by two great student detectives with flaws and heart. Thanks to my 10 year old daughter for the recommendation!
Cute read for middle grade girls! Just enough mystery! Hard to keep track of all the characters though.
Jolly amusing! I like the way it mixes the classic boarding school genre with the detective story and Hazel's outsider observations. This series was recommended by a colleague's daughter and I'll definitely be recommending it myself.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
'Murder is always foolish,' said the Inspector. 'If people only murdered each other rationally, I would be out of a job.'This was a delightful little read, and the start of what can become a very good middle-grade series.
There is a lot of potential here, and I hope that in future instalments Robin Stevens will only continue to improve on her characters and themes.
For while it was definitely enjoyable, there are some things here that, if tapped into, could be really helpful for younger readers.
Specifically, I would love if future books acknowledge more how the setting impacts the characters and their mindsets. Being set in an all-white, English boarding school during the 1930s’, it would obviously be quite a stark contrast for modern readers to encounter.
Most notably, I want to see more how it’s actually like for Hazel, our main character. She is from Hong Kong and therefore stands out among her white classmates, but it’s not really touched too much upon in this first book. I want to know, unfiltered, what it’s like for her to attend this school and living in an unchallenged, racist society.
And what it’s like to fight against it.
Her internal self-hatred is very prominent throughout this first book – with her constantly referring to herself as fat, and hating her straight her and dark eyes – and I hope to see that challenged both by herself and by other characters. I think many young readers could get some valuable lessons from Hazel Wong, if Robin Stevens dares to take her there.
As for Daisy, the Sherlock to Hazel’s Watson, I couldn’t stand her. Like most reviewers I found her to be arrogant, self-absorbed and an overall terrible friend. However, I think there’s a foundation here for some great redemption and character growth. Only time will tell.
I for one am looking forward to what Wells and Wong are going to get up to next.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Cute, but felt too young for me.