A mind of her own The story of mystery writer Agatha Christie

McGrath's picture-book biography of mystery writer Agatha Christie focuses on events from her childhood and early adulthood that led to the publication of her first book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. As a youngest child she spent much time alone, where she let her imagination roam and honed her observational skills. From an early age she enjoyed reading detective stories and solving mathematical puzzles. After her early writing attempts were criticized by teachers, she became a nurse during WWI, where the hospital dispensary provided her with valuable insight into poisons as well as useful background knowledge. Wong's digitally enhanced watercolor illustrations feature idyllic outdoor scenes, depictions of early-twentieth-century British country life, and numerous details from Christie's many novels. Much of the art has a sunny feel, although several spreads depicting mystery tropes (overheard conversations, funereal scenes, and dark, stormy nights) are rendered in darker tones. With additional details of Christie's life, creator notes, mystery vocabulary, and bibliography appended, this makes a good introduction to the Queen of Crime.

This imagination-oriented biography of mystery writer Agatha Christie (1890--1976) by McGrath (There's Always Room for One More) foregrounds the role Christie's internal world played in both her child-hood and her later success. "Agatha, always in her head," the adults repeat. But imagination and observation give the child a way to amuse herself as she listens to and reads stories, wonders what the things she notices could mean, and struggles to write, preferring arithmetic when "the letters and words come out jumbled." First-aid classes and nursing work during WWI teach her about medicine, and her imagined questions grow more serious: "Who does that soldier call to in his sleep?" She begins crafting a detective story, working on solving its puzzle, then on details and plot. After multiple rejections, an acceptance arrives. Period and scenic details in digitally finished, occasionally stiff watercolor spreads by Wong (I Am Not a Penguin: A Pangolin's Lament) give the pages a feeling of romance in this work about an inspirational figure whose mind--through "puzzling and plotting"--brings her success. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Biographical information and creators' notes conclude. Ages up to 8. Author's agent: Amy Thrall Flynn, Rubin Pfeffer Content. Illustrator's agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow. (May)

A picture-book biography introduces mystery writer Agatha Christie to young readers. Sheaves of papers and pictures of characters and plot elements swirl around the protagonist as she struggles to translate the stories in her head into a publishable manuscript. These scenes of artistic creation follow depictions of the young girl, then woman, in late-Victorian interiors rendered in sunny pastel hues. Visual easter eggs from Christie's mystery novels appear here and there, but they will likely be lost on young readers who have not yet encountered the legendary author. Likewise, the plot--curious, observant child grows into determined writer--may also prove less than engaging to youngsters. McGrath's spare, present-tense text emphasizes her subject's love of stories and curiosity as a child, then her struggles to bring her observations and ideas into a coherent plot. The techniques she uses--taking notes, exploring characters' voices, tightening and pacing plots--make for solid advice for budding writers but thin gruel for children hoping for a story. A plot requires conflict, and though young Christie suffered the early loss of her father and discouragement from teachers, McGrath is unable or unwilling to lean into these experiences to deepen her characterization. A two-page biographical note written for an older audience than the primary text provides a fuller picture, underscoring the inadequacy of the effort as a whole. A fundamental mismatch between book and audience. (author's and illustrator's notes, glossary) (Picture-book biography. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.