Profilers Crime Time discussion

I'm 10 chapters into "The Sweetness," so about 1/3 done. I'm having conflicting feelings about the main character and narrator, Flavia de Luce. I know there are smart kids out there; she is one of the very smart ones that cause some adults to wince in annoyance, and others to marvel and coo.

I started reading this with a little bit of reluctance because know-it-alls make me want to wretch (see my Maisie Dobbs post). That's one reason I hated, yes, hated "The DaVinci Code" - Robert Langdon - I won't say anymore about that. One of my friends even warned me about Flavia. I say with a little bit of hesitation (I hope I don't jinx myself) that she doesn't bother me as much as I would've thought.

Flavia is arrogant and intelligent, but there is something else there that smooths out her abrasive edges. I guess I can take because she isn't perfect, as much as she would like to believe, since she does yell how she's the best while riding her bike. He main flaw is that she lacks social intelligence and is awkward around others. I don't mean to laugh at her in these situations, but it is in these scenes that makes her closer to a human and allows me to read on.

Anyone have any thoughts about this character? What do you think of the author, who is a 70-year-old man, creating an 11-year-old heroine detective?