Arsenic For Tea (Murder Most Unladylike Mystery, #2)

by Robin Stevens

I will read everything and anything. Especially a mystery with a good cover. I'm a very forgiving reader and will overlook many issues. Plus once I get started on a series I have this compulsive need to finish even if I don't particularly like it.

I actually like this series - for some weird reason. I think it's because there is a lot of potential for this series to be something very special - but it's diminished by the rampant racism, the self hate and the negative character relationships. An Asian protagonist is brilliant. But the lack of condemnation of the racism she faces is not. It's particularly wrong when we're discussing a middle grade novel. As I said in my review of the first book I'm not overly fond of positive messages being rammed down my throat but I do believe that moral lessons have an important role within middle grade fiction. Children are impressionable and they are unable to fully discern right and wrong without a proper foundation. If we want the world to change, we need to change the ingrained perceptions of everyone and the easiest way to begin is to change the perceptions of children. A middle grade book can explore controversial issues - but it also should provide a clear explanation of the issue, the positives and negatives consequences and reasoning for why things are the way they are. The racism in this series is just shown. It is not discussed in depth, it is not shown to hurt Hazel's feelings or influence her actions and it is most importantly, not condemned. I will say that this book toned it down slightly but not enough.

I said the book is middle grade but I don't actually know who it's aimed at. Much like [b:The Escape|4223020|The Escape (Henderson's Boys, #1)|Robert Muchamore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1419178920s/4223020.jpg|4270419] the book is a weird mix of mature and immature and content that is way above a middle grade book and too young for young adult or adult readers. The implied sexual relations between Lady Hastings and Mr Curtis surprised me. The fact they're then caught kissing shocked me. I hadn't expected the book to go there. But it did. I'm not sure if it's just me getting old or not but it seemed very out of place for a middle grade novel.

Daisy was a lot nicer to Hazel in this book. She even complimented her a few times and praised her intelligence. But there was still ugly words between them. There were more ugly words from Daisy to her parents. Which is where historical accuracy goes out the window because I'm pretty sure no kid in that day and age would have called their parents (and she does call both of them) idiots and gotten away with it. If you're going to go for historical accuracy with the racism, they really should be beaten for such language and impropriety. There's only a fifty fifty chance of getting away with it now. And I'm pretty sure Daisy is a sociopath. Some of the stuff she comes out with is horrible.

It's a strange series but I'm probably going to read the rest. Something has me hooked. I'm just not sure what.