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nutmeginnz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racism and Violence
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The woodland characters are so charming and funny, the story progresses at a steady, easy pace that keeps the reader’s attention, and there’s something so satisfying about the writing style. It’s not overdone, but the imagery is still vivid. The dialogue is to-the-point while remaining dynamic. There are some books that are just easy to read, and this is one of them.
The ONLY thing that gave me a bit of pause (and this is likely a product of the time in which the book was written and not done intentionally or maliciously), was that most of the woodland creatures are given standard European-sounding names like Constance, Matthias, John, Jess, etc. But you’ll notice the rats, weasels, ferrets and other central antagonists of the story, are given names like Cheesethief, Killconey, Ragear, Redtooth, Mangefur, etc. This, along with the fact that the rats refer to their leader as “Chief” (a character who occasionally dons a war helmet topped with bird feathers), makes it seem like the villains were modeled after indigenous people.
Again!!! I don’t think this was done purposefully or with cruel intent, but it’s something I definitely noticed. You could even expand that to the sparrows, as well, who also have indigenous-sounding names like Bull, Warbeak and Dunwing; who are depicted as uncivilized, and speak in a blunt language like “Bull Sparra be wicked; bad temper. Best he thinks you no-harm mouse.”
There seems to be a clear distinction between the “civilized” races in this book and the “uncivilized,” brutish ones. And the latter are given traits most western readers would unconsciously associate with Indigenous people.
I think it’s important to criticize even (or maybe especially) our most beloved stories. It doesn’t need to mean we can’t still love them! But we have to be mindful, and acknowledge when we notice harmful elements, that’s all.
Minor: Death, Violence, and War
olma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and War
knunderb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death and Gore
noeandnovels's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and War
shieldbearer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
However, it must be said that this book does have racist parallels I completely missed as a child. The use of the slur for Romani peoples, namely, and the explicit comparison of/conflation of said slur with the foxes Sela and Chickenhound is a harmful anti-Romani stereotype. They are explicitly described as Romani and their behaviour and characterizations are harmful anti-Romani stereotypes.
There's also the matter of the Sparra, which are more ambiguous, though the author explicitly refers to Sparra warriors as "braves" and continually refers to the race as a whole as "savages" and their portrayal does very much bring to mind typical indigenous stereotypes.
While I would still recommend this book, I firmly believe we should not ignore these harmful portrayals and if you share the novel with your children, these issues should be discussed.
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Slavery
percyu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Minor: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and War
theworstofit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, and War
lauramcc7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Animal death