Dickens & Rumi

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Tricky Business

Leslie McFarlane · 1988

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Tricky Business by Leslie McFarlane. This book is content notes include Alcohol or drugs, Frightening scenes, Romance; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Good role models.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Alcohol or drugs1/5
  • Frightening scenes1/5
  • Romance1/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Good role models3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity2/5

What’s in it?

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Mild exclamations or name-calling may appear, but strong profanity is not indicated.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Romantic interest appears minor and lightly presented rather than central to the story.

Frightening scenes1/5
Why this rating?

The mystery may include mild suspense, such as being followed or exploring dark places, without intense horror.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Adult social drinking may be mentioned incidentally; there is no indication of child use or glamorized substance use.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Mild scuffles or fisticuffs may occur during the mystery; violence is limited and not graphic.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonists face uncertainty and possible trouble with persistence and bravery, sometimes without adult supervision.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Clues and mystery-solving invite imaginative theories, observation, and inventive problem-solving.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The available information suggests limited representation typical of its period; character backgrounds are not well documented here.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Detective work may encourage observation and reasoning, but teaching factual content is not the main purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Characters help and support one another, though kindness is part of the action rather than the central theme.

Positive messages2/5
Why this rating?

The mystery supports honesty, persistence, cooperation, and solving problems responsibly.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Young protagonists show initiative and persistence, though unsupervised risk-taking may limit their example.

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How were alcohol or drugs portrayed, and what consequences did the story show?
  3. Which choice in Tricky Business would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Tricky Business, and what caused that change?
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