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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
mysterious
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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:
N/A
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A favorite of mine as a kid, and I could see this being so much fun for middle grade kids now. But, does the writing hold up? I’m not completely convinced. I would still recommend this to any kid, or any adult looking for a lighthearted quick “Clue”-esque mystery read.
Another pandemic 'it was already on my shelf' re-read.
I read plenty of Nancy Drew as a kid, but this made a distinct impression as being a tight, clever mystery before I had been exposed to Agatha Christie, Clue, and other pop culture staples.
It was way FUNNIER than I remembered (I'm wondering what percentage of those jokes I grasped as a...5th grader, I'm estimating?).
Perhaps I'm selling prior decades short, but I was impressed by how progressive this felt for a book published in 1978. Diverse characters, ambitious women who don't want to be exclusively be defined by their relationships with men, etc.
INTO IT, ELLEN RASKIN!
I read plenty of Nancy Drew as a kid, but this made a distinct impression as being a tight, clever mystery before I had been exposed to Agatha Christie, Clue, and other pop culture staples.
It was way FUNNIER than I remembered (I'm wondering what percentage of those jokes I grasped as a...5th grader, I'm estimating?).
Perhaps I'm selling prior decades short, but I was impressed by how progressive this felt for a book published in 1978. Diverse characters, ambitious women who don't want to be exclusively be defined by their relationships with men, etc.
INTO IT, ELLEN RASKIN!
this feels in some ways like one of these children's books that i love: over the top, excentric characters, the weirdest things are never questioned, children have to be grown ups, odly creepy for children's books, british humour. a touch of jk rowling's sarcasm (i despise that woman but i love her pointy narration), preferably an omniscient narrator, a mystery... i feel like i'm forgetting all of the titles tho haha. coraline maybe?* some addams family vibes, but more sinister. a little "the weird sisters" but more magical. but then also a touch of ronald dahl? a series of unfortunate events? oh god i'm making a mess of this.
anyways, this book is not that. there are too many characters and i feel like it doesn't get the balance between real world and unquestioned, vague ficitional world right. it isn't whimsical enough in some ways. it isn't quite believable (turtles relationship to her mother), but then its commentary is somewhat too on the nose. it isn't real enough when it comes to the details on law etc. but it tries to be, and then again there is a man with several aliases and idk. it just seems inconsistent.
i liked it tho, much more than this review sounds like. i liked turtle, i liked some of the commentary on feminism and ableism (though much of it is quite outdated and at times frankly problematic).
the riddles were fun and it is my fault that i didn't get to guess quite as well as one could becuase i listened to the audiobook.
the ending seemed somewhat dragged out and there were too many turns. the patriotism i didn't like, as well as the fact that the millionaire was a nice guy in the end and all the bad stories were made up (i guess? it was implied hoo actually stole from westing? idk)
i'm confused and i don't quite know what to think. i'd like a three hour video essay setting it in perspective and comparing it to world politics, youtube drama and late stage capitalism while spoonfeeding me the symbolism and deeper emotional meaning.
* as i thinking of the graveyard book? i knew this was by neil gaiman! but no, i think it was just a book with similar illustrations and a similarly eerie theme and a girl named ava or so but i cant find it and it drives me mad!!!
edit: ahhhh i found it!!! it was the same illustrator indeed! but the girl's called ada!
another edit: ooooh and the scandalous sisterhood of prickwillow place!
anyways, this book is not that. there are too many characters and i feel like it doesn't get the balance between real world and unquestioned, vague ficitional world right. it isn't whimsical enough in some ways. it isn't quite believable (turtles relationship to her mother), but then its commentary is somewhat too on the nose. it isn't real enough when it comes to the details on law etc. but it tries to be, and then again there is a man with several aliases and idk. it just seems inconsistent.
i liked it tho, much more than this review sounds like. i liked turtle, i liked some of the commentary on feminism and ableism (though much of it is quite outdated and at times frankly problematic).
the riddles were fun and it is my fault that i didn't get to guess quite as well as one could becuase i listened to the audiobook.
the ending seemed somewhat dragged out and there were too many turns. the patriotism i didn't like, as well as the fact that the millionaire was a nice guy in the end and all the bad stories were made up (i guess? it was implied hoo actually stole from westing? idk)
i'm confused and i don't quite know what to think. i'd like a three hour video essay setting it in perspective and comparing it to world politics, youtube drama and late stage capitalism while spoonfeeding me the symbolism and deeper emotional meaning.
* as i thinking of the graveyard book? i knew this was by neil gaiman! but no, i think it was just a book with similar illustrations and a similarly eerie theme and a girl named ava or so but i cant find it and it drives me mad!!!
edit: ahhhh i found it!!! it was the same illustrator indeed! but the girl's called ada!
another edit: ooooh and the scandalous sisterhood of prickwillow place!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
What a wonderful book. I remembered loving it in childhood and it's just as good as when I was a kid, probably better.
I remember some of my friends having to read this in middle school, but it was not required for the English class I was in. I love puzzles and mysteries so finally got around to take the time to read this and it did not disappoint! The cast of characters is diverse and interesting and every chapter kept me on my toes figuring out where it was going next up until the very end. There is so much heart and care put into the development of the characters and I thought it wrapped up perfectly. Although geared towards YA readers, I still enjoyed it as an adult. Written in 1978, there were a few instances that made me cringe as problematic in terms of racist or ableist language. For the most part, I ended up seeing this as an indictment of the characters themselves, instead of commentary from Raskin, and the journeys they go on throughout the story, but nonetheless still leaving me uncomfortable in those moments. Other than that, I really enjoyed it -- just when you think you have everything figured out there are a few more surprises, twists, and turns.