There is a large focus on “green magic” or “plant magic”. At one point Daisy asks, “Isn’t that nature”, to which the reply comes, “everything in nature is magic”. While this may not seem like the biggest deal in the world the theme is pervasive and it does lean towards one of the worst things we can do… honor the creation and leave out the Creator. An example of this are multiple exclamations of “Thank greenness”.
One of the more likable characters soon reveals he has “two dads”. For example, the young reader reads, “Neither of my two dads are great cooks” and near the end “Daisy, these are my two dads”. They are referred to as “husbands”. To show how wrong and confusing this is we are told one is called dad and the other papa.
Mom drinks sparkling champagne at night. A teacher tells a class a plant is “wonderful in cocktails” and winks. A celebration has plum wine and people start singing “drinking songs”. We hear other instances of wine and of pints of ale. The acknowledgements also mention “champaign”.
In a bit of a heavy moment, we find out Daisy’s father died in a car crash when she was young. Later a past evil is recalled and we are told an evil man committed murder. In a backstory we hear of a family “attacked and murdered”. An evil man kills a parakeet by crushing its head and a bit of detail is shown. A wicked lady takes Daisy captive with a knife to her throat.
Mom brings up “climate” and there are quick mentions of floods, fires, endangered species in the conversation, implying a connection. We are also told Ma is an international journalist, but she tries to avoid flying because it is bad for the environment. The young reader is later told, “There’s big money in destroying the earth, Daisy: pumping for oil, planting crops for livestock on pristine rainforest land, mining for minerals, selling rare specimens for profit… always pushing for more destruction”.
Other items for Christian parents to know about:
Mom attributes a rescue to their being lucky. There are instances of wishes, wishing and magic. We read of wishing on a tree for someone’s safety. In fact the culminating ending revolves around making a wish.
A plan it called a “suicide palm” and another is a “vampire orchid”.
When listing her “skills” Daisy includes pickpocketing and adds that her mom is not aware of that one.
A fragrant garden’s scent is said to be “like witchcraft”. A mean dog is called a “demon hound”.
Journalists are said to be “gossiping”. Bad guys are said to “swear”, but words are not shown. A guard is said to be “swearing filthily”.
In fondly remembering a past friend we are told she was an “extravagant liar… involved Daisy… stealing small coins from the pockets of hapless tourists… picked pockets… and to say at least thirty-six extremely rude things in Hungarian.” (all delivered as if it was a positive). Similarly a boy is said to have a “wicked sense of humor” as if that is a good attribute.
We should mention there is a somewhat confusing part of the storyline for readers. All of a sudden Daisy is in a secret garden that turns out to be from some time way in the past with little to no explanation. Then the person she meets turns out to be a family member. It comes across as confusing for young readers.
Daisy says she wants to visit “Shah Mosque in Isfahan” one day
Daisy remarks that “It’s not eavesdropping if you just happen to be passing by”.
Daisy says she wants to hit a girl she is frustrated with. Later when upset she says she was “going to kill her”.
Someone says, “I thought he was dead. And I was glad’.
The following terms are used: idiot, shut up. Someone disrespectfully says, “Your father’s a fool”