The writer says that a feature of the book that was new at the time was 

Correct Answer: C. its portrayal of a child growing up in difficult circumstances.

Think Aloud Process:

• Step 1: Focus on the question about unique features of the book. I will look for specific innovations or characteristics mentioned in the text.
• Step 2: Review the relevant paragraph. The passage highlights that the book provides a full picture of a child in a single-parent family with limited means, indicating a novel approach to depicting childhood experiences.
• Step 3: Match the answer choices.

A suggests a focus on children’s opposition to adults, but the emphasis is on Emil’s circumstances. 

B mentions the city setting but doesn’t capture the main innovative aspect discussed. 

C accurately reflects the ground-breaking portrayal of a child in a challenging environment. 

D implies multiple child detectives, which isn’t a key feature of the book. 

Strategy Used:

• Identifying Specific Innovations: By pinpointing what was emphasized as ground-breaking regarding childhood experiences, I could derive the correct answer.
• Matching Ideas with Options: Ensuring the chosen option reflected the most significant innovation discussed in the passage led me to confidently select C.