Dickens & Rumi

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Murder is bad manners

Robin Stevens · 2015

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Murder is bad manners by Robin Stevens. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character3/5
  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • Violence2/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Good role models4/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

A central plot point is the death of a teacher, and the investigation focuses on solving this murder.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

The discovery of a body is mentioned, but descriptions are not gratuitous or overly visceral.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Very mild language, mostly schoolyard insults typical of British boarding school novels.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Minor mentions of adolescent crushes, typical for the school setting, but not central to the plot.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Suspense, secret investigations and danger create mild tension, especially around the murder and possible threats.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Includes descriptions of a dead body and threats associated with a murder investigation, but no graphic combat.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonists repeatedly face fear and social pressure to pursue the truth and protect others.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The mystery encourages observation, deduction, questioning assumptions and inventive problem-solving.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Hazel Wong's identity as a student from Hong Kong in a 1930s British school is central to the character development.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

It offers incidental insight into 1930s British boarding-school life, social expectations and detective reasoning.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

The central friendship between Daisy and Hazel is depicted with loyalty and care.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The book strongly supports truth-seeking, friendship, fairness, persistence and bringing wrongdoing to light.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

The young protagonists are observant, brave and loyal, though their unsupervised investigation can involve rule-breaking and risk.

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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 did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Murder is bad manners would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Murder is bad manners, and what caused that change?
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