It is a peculiarity of Raskin "puzzlemysteries" that the heroine must solve an intellectual puzzle to gain an emotional reward., For readers who grasp this, Raskin's books attain a special place in their literary imagination. Raskin has often remarked on the autobiographical element in the novel. She portrayed many of her relatives and embodied herself as Mona, honestly depicting her own perceptions and emotions.

For this reason, Figgs & Phantoms integrates brain and heart more fully than the other novels, and is arguably her best novel.

Among writers for children, Raskin is one of the most uncompromising realists. She is nearly alone in offering hilarity, imagination, and beauty as ways of dealing with the unavoidable tragedies of life. Few writers for young adults imply, as Raskin does over and over, that the only way to deal with a family situation which ignores your dreams and feelings is...