The Swifts is a mystery for young readers that is a cross between an Agatha Christie novel (think lots of suspects trapped in a creepy old house with a murderer on the loose) and The Mysterious Benedict Society (think quirky characters galore). The characters really are delightful–and at times a bit overwhelming because there are so many of them. Shenanigan, the protagonist, is spunky and appears on the surface to be defined by her name; however, it is a major question of the book as to whether a person’s name really defines them. The dialogue is likewise delicious. The plot rips along with plenty of action until the denouement (which yes, is even announced in a chapter heading) and then there is a recap of all events; stylistically it is a mystery “thing” but some of it did seem a little repetitive and a bit drawn-out.
All in all, this was a charming mystery full of loveable (and despicable) characters.
Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy provided by Dutton Children’s Books
Content Analysis
Profanity/Language: 2 religious profanities.
Violence/Gore: Report of brothers that quarreled and one was found dead with an axe in his back; report that someone died and body wasn’t found for a while–character starts to wonder what the body would have looked like; character has scars on arms from past injuries; character calls for a duel with weapons; character is pushed down stairs and severely injured/unconscious; two sisters often play a game where one stages her own death and the other has to figure out how she “died”; report that in the past someone chopped off her little finger by accident; reference to casual assassination; person is found dead with head smashed, mention of blood on the carpet and description of the crime scene; child shot (malicious intent) in the leg with an arrow; character killed with an arrow in front of onlookers, brief description of blood and scene; blood found (clue); fire and destruction of property; character is found shot and there is a lot of blood; verbal threats of death by a variety of terrible means; scuffle and female character knocked unconscious by a man; cat scratches a person; description of how a large number of people were going to die painfully; character kicks someone in the ankle and large object breaks an individual’s foot, hair grabbed/pulled, person buried by heavy objects; report of someone’s death; individual is tied up; breaking of windows; person hit with a stick.
Sex/Nudity: Character asks another if they are a boy or girl and the character replies that they are neither and is referred to throughout the book with gender neutral pronouns; male character makes passing reference to his husband; character says that if someone is a gender other than male or female, they would get to pick their own title; characters kiss; extended conversation between an adult and a character who is identified as gender neutral about the experience of changing their name and the adult sharing that everyone thought she was a boy when she was born but she had to learn to talk about it so she could correct them.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death, murder, Ouija board (reference), paranormal (ghosts), gender identity.
Alcohol/Drug Use:
Adults drink champagne and a nine-year-old takes a sip; adult drinks at a makeshift bar; gas used to poison people.
