This book reminded me of a kids' book series. Flavia de Luce is cocky, vindictive, and self-important. She schemes against her two older sisters who, to be fair, scheme back at her. But seriously, who puts poison ivy in their sister's lipstick? Flavia has elements of Beezus and Ramona, Matilda, etc. But I just didn't buy Flavia's smarts when she's only 11 years old. She's too wise - not about chemistry, which I can understand as I was a nerd too - but about adult matters, such as love, grief, and revenge.