Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

This series takes place in the early 1950s in England. Can you resist an 11 year old who lives in constant conflict with her two older sisters, Ophelia and Daphne? Flavia's greatest interest is in chemistry -- well, poisons to be more accurate. Her father is a philatelist, whose nose is rarely out of his stamp collection, which means he is not paying attention to the fact he may soon lose the family home, Buckshaw. And of course there is the police inspector who doesn't understand how Flavia can figure out the mystery of local murders better than the constabulary!

I cannot recommend this series highly enough for a bit of wonderful YA mystery fun. The first book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is the first in the series.

The second, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag involves a puppet master, a pregnant woman, a grieving mother, and a man who grows marijuana for people suffering from polio. Could you have more fun?

Will be looking to read the third in the series soon: A Red Herring Without .Mustard

I listened to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and am waiting for the paperback of The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. I liked the first book of the series. Some parts disturbed me and the interactions of the faimly could be quite sad. It was a great book, though. I imagine that the family will grow emotionally in later books.

I did not find the family interactions to be sad. To me there was a sort of normal family conflict given the mother's death the particular way it occurred. I found Flavia's way of dealing with her sisters quite funny.

Why did you view the interactions as said?

Actually it's Flavia's hunger for her father's attention and love. I thought the fighting between the girls to be over the top. Since Flavia was a baby when her mother died, she probably didn't know of any other way to interact. It's not a huge sadness on my part and there is room for emotional growth on the father's part. Now what Flavia did to her sister's lipstick alarmed me greatly!

Oh, I thought the lipstick was cool. I wish I had had non-toxic ways to get back at my sisters.

Don't all of the sisters in some way crave their father's attention and "expressions" of love [I do think he seriously loves them]? I don't see the fighting over the top (I grew up with 3 older sisters who were always not the best AND were also older and best buddies).

The book, nor the series, are really not about the father's growth. Like all YA books, it must focus on the personal growth of the protagonist. This might, in some way, cause the father to change.

I'm sorry but I guess we must agree to disagree. As I read this, I found humor and playfulness in the actions you saw as sad. You might want to try the 2nd book. I hope you don't find sadness in it.

Argh, I had a nice paragraph written and just lost it.

So I'll just say that I liked Sweetness and expect to enjoy the 2nd book.

Heather, thanks for the recommendation. I'll take a look at 'Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos'. Sounds interesting.

I won a copy of The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag here on Goodreads. I entered the giveaway because I loved the title...and then I fell in love with Flavia!! Need to get my hands on the first book now.