Reading Strategies Book Using The Maid by Nita Prose

 What's Your Problem: Strategy 5.8

Problem:  Molly is accused of the murder of Mr. Black.

The Grand Regency Hotel is where Molly works.  It is where Mr. Black dies, and where she interacts with people on a daily basis.  Molly is on the autistic spectrum.  Because the way her brain works, she has difficulty reading social cues.  In the past, her Gran would help her, but since her passing she does not have anyone to help navigate and interpret the events that are going on around her.  As a result, when she is questioned by the police regarding discovering Mr. Black's body. Though she is truthful, she is not forthcoming about all she has seen and heard.  In addition, because she is lonely and wants to fit in, she misinterprets other's actions, and therefore trusts the wrong people.

Theme:  Prejudice

Most people think of prejudice as a race or a culture thing.  But prejudice also occurs against people who go go against the grain, that function differently the the norm.  Molly is on the autistic spectrum.  She has difficulty interpreting social cues and facial expressions.  For her, it is much easier to exist in an orderly world, and so she loves being a maid and restoring order in the hotel rooms she cleans.  But because she speaks and moves with a rigid formality, and interprets things literally, the staff at the Grand Regency Hotel has made preconceived judgements and opinions about her, calling her Robo Molly, and other disparaging names.  Molly is aware of these names the other members of the staff  are calling her.  She sees them laughing and snickering behind her back.  Instead of trying to get to know her; understanding and appreciating her photographic memory; and of instead of supporting her and helping her navigate socially, they chose to ridicule and isolate her.

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