1999-06-20 Ethnic stereotypes may be comtemporary, but still repugnant

I read this to my 8 year old. The writing was certainly more interesting than the tired rewritten versions that came later. However along with the charm and perspective of a different era, also come the ethnic sensibilities. I suggest reading the book together or at least discussing it. There are highly disturbing (and repetitive) references to the villain who is clearly meant to be Jewish. His Jewishness is not seen as incidental to his evil. His henchwoman is his servant who had to be black. All sorts of repugnant physical stereotypes are made to her with the implication that her race, her physical attributes and her wickedness are all related. The detective story is well done, but it's impossible to separate out these other elements. That's why I think it is important to discuss these with the younger reader. Something positive can actually evolve in terms of helping her to understand the roots of racism and its context within our own history.