I actually have to disagree with this. I didn’t think Key was “improbably astute”. Key is pretty clearly an unusual child (at least, that’s how I read em). Also, the librarian was pretty clearly being elliptical and a little patronizing, and in my experience kids are pretty sensitive to being patronized. So it didn’t strike me as unbelievable that Key would call the librarian out like that.
I actually have to disagree with this. I didn’t think Key was “improbably astute”. Key is pretty clearly an unusual child (at least, that’s how I read em). Also, the librarian was pretty clearly being elliptical and a little patronizing, and in my experience kids are pretty sensitive to being patronized. So it didn’t strike me as unbelievable that Key would call the librarian out like that.