Teen detective "unsolves" murder in riveting thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Two characters die violently (only one death is described in detail), characters discuss suicide as a potential cause of death, a character drugs someone and attempts murder (described in detail), and the main character learns that a girl was drugged and raped at a party. A teen is catfished into sending a topless photo, and it gets posted on social media. References to verbal and emotional child abuse (e.g., criticizing a daughter's appearance). A teen forcefully grabs a girl's hair and wrist; sexual assault implied. A teen is hospitalized for self-harming (referred to, but not described in detail). A teen self-induces vomiting. Spoiler alert: An adult abducts and keeps a teen in captivity, and commits rape (not described in detail). A family pet drowns.
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A few kisses are exchanged, teens grope at parties, and underage sex is mentioned frequently. A teen sends a topless nude photo—see Violence & Scariness for details.
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Language includes "f--k," "a--hole," "smartass," "s--t," "crap," "slut," "d--k," and "bitch." Several instances of "oh my God" (as an exclamation) and name-calling such as "racist," "degenerate," "rapist," and "perverted ape."
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Characters make brief references to Lego bricks and a Ouija board (which they decide not to play). Social media apps are heavily featured, such as Google, Find my Friends, Instagram, and Facebook. Movie and TV references include Reservoir Dogs, Blair Witch, Harry Potter, and The Crown.
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Teens attend parties where they regularly get drunk, throw up, and pass out. Some smoke marijuana and cigarettes. Teens take vodka along on a camping trip. A teen uses a parent's sleeping pills (phenobarbitals); another takes the "morning after" pill. Several teens and adults deal drugs, described as "weed," "Ecstasy," "mephedrone," "ketamine," and "Rohypnol."
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It's never too late to seek justice for someone who's been wrongly accused.
Positive Role Models
a lot
When Pip sees a wrong that needs to be righted, she doesn't hesitate to become involved. While she's fearless and determined, she's also sometimes impetuous and breaks the rules when she thinks it necessary.
Educational Value
some
Pip's interview with a detective from the missing person's bureau takes readers through the steps police use (determining if the person is at risk, deploying officers, documenting evidence, interviewing friends and family) when searching for someone who's been reported missing. She also learns that 80% of missing people are found in the first 24 hours, only 1% of people who disappear are never found, and only 0.25% of all missing persons cases have a fatal outcome.
Diverse Representations
a little
Authored by White English female writer Holly Jackson, the book follows Pip, a White girl in a blended family (Black stepdad and stepbrother) who lives in a small town. Supporting characters include a queer older sister and an Indian American teen, Ravi, as well as his family who experience racism in their community and racial profiling by the local police. Two teens with disabilities (a wheelchair user and someone with an intellectual disability) are included, but they're minor characters who fall into stereotypes. Most underrepresented characters are victims, while Pip is heroic, righting wrongs on their behalf.
Parents need to know that in Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder,17-year-old Pippa (Pip) Fitz-Amobi has decided on an unexpected senior capstone project: investigating a murder. Teens attend parties where they get drunk and smoke weed, and several characters deal drugs. Several teens are drugged, raped, and sexually or physically assaulted (fistful of hair grabbed, punched, kicked). Language includes occasional "f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," "bitch," etc. Social media apps are frequently shown, such as Instagram and Facebook. Supporting characters are diverse, but people of color and disabled characters are often victimized and saved by a White female hero.
This book is fine for mature 12 year olds cause let's be honest. By the time kids these days are in middle school, they know way more inappropriate content then what is in this book.
This was a great debut novel from Holly Jackson! This mystery had lots of layers to it. It was suspenseful and twisty until the last page. However, there is a lot of talk about alcohol, rape, drugs, partying, sexual activity, and relationships. There's also plenty of language throughout. I personally think it would be too much for a young teen to handle. This book is about a senior in high school, and it's probably best for that age range, too.
What's the Story?
In A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Holly Jackson, Pip Fitz-Amobi has decided that murder will be the subject of her senior capstone project. She doesn't believe that Sal Singh murdered his high school girlfriend, Andie Bell, and she intends to prove it. After signing a school contract that says she will have no contact with any of the families involved, the first thing she does is ring the doorbell at the Singh house and talk with Sal's younger brother, Ravi. But after telling Pip in no uncertain terms that he wants nothing to do with her investigation, Ravi soon joins her in trying to clear Sal's name. It's a tough job: Andie's body has never been found, and all the evidence seems to point to Sal. But as Pip begins to dig deeper, lie after lie is revealed, and a growing list of suspects emerges. When Pip begins receiving notes threatening her if she doesn't stop digging into Andie's murder, she's certain she's on the track of the real killer.
This smart page-turner of a thriller brims with unexpected suspects and head-spinning twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Rather than depending solely on the text to tell the story, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder includes revealing journal entries and transcripts of Pip's interviews with police who worked on Andie's case, a reporter who covered it, and Andie and Sal's friends and family—interviews that sometimes lead to that person being put on the suspect list. Criminal elements enhance the thrills and highlight Pip's bravery. But her questionable choices—some of them illegal—are casually made and ultimately rewarded. And while Pip admits her "pasty" white skin and "good girl" reputation afford her advantages, her character borders on White saviorism and sometimes puts others at risk. Still, this is an addictive story that tackles complex subjects and characters, and it can inspire thoughtful dialogue around social justice.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how race and ethnicity might have played a part in the case in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Do you think the police, the press, and the town would have been so quick to make Sal the prime suspect if Andie hadn't been White and Sal Indian American?
Has anyone you know had something shared on social media that hurt or humiliated them? What precautions have you taken so that your personal photos and posts can't be shared without your permission?
The book uses interesting facts, such as stating that only 1% of missing persons are never found. Do you think this is true? If you aren't sure about something you read that's being presented as the truth, how would you go about fact-checking it?
In the book, Pip engages in illegal activities during her own private investigation. Is her law-breaking justified because of good intentions? Why, or why not?
Available on:
Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
Last updated:
August 20, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
