Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

10 reviews

clarney12's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Slavery, Terminal illness, and Racism

alexbooksandmore's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

How amazing this book is!

The secret garden it's a children classic that I am happy i've read as an adult. 
The book starts with Mary, a very spoiled girl who's parents didn't even get involved in her life but gave her the mony and people to care for her, who found herself alone in the world after her family passed away from cholera. As spoled as she is, she is a very mean and rebel girl until she arrived at her forgotten uncles Manor. 
After a while she starts having conversations with people from the manor, and undestands a bit of the world. She meets a robin, Dickon and finds the secret garden. Slowly becomin  more alive, happy and nice girl.

I think this book is more psychological than I thought to be... it shows how our minds and thoughts can change the way we feel and act: having negative thoughts, excluding ourselves from  the life can get to severe sickness  while positive mind, few good people around you, passion and hobbies can make you feel better. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Miscarriage, and Slavery

Minor: Death of parent

jadew2000's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Racism, Slavery, and Colonisation

a_bloom's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a reread from my Childhood and it made me realize why I loved this book so much. While the beginning has some questionable language about class and race (as to be expected of an older book) it's message is beautiful. Reading at different ages and phases in life reveals extra messages and the beautiful complexity of these characters stuck in a partially unknown time of our modern day... Yet the events and lessons and feelings and conversations doesn't feel that outdated besides the language shift.
I adore the characters and the magic they bring to the story. I adore the descriptions of nature and growing friendship. I adore the hope in the impossible and the magical. I adore a feel good story in the midst of everyday tragedy. No wonder I would read this year after year growing up... It was beautiful and gave me hope. Very few books actually make me emotional to the point of crying, but if I'd taken the time to read it straight in one sitting I probably would have. 
If you don't know if you'd like classics or think they're too hard or boring then I BEG YOU TO READ THE SECRET GARDEN. Because at first it is a cruel indifference that quickly turns to kindness. God I love this book and hope that everyone gets the chance to read it. Devour it. And let it sit within your soul as you grow. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Ableism, Body shaming, Grief, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Mental illness

Minor: Slavery, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

bubblyfemme's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was such a lovely little book! I had to read it for a uni class but I never felt forced to read. This book has actually helped me with a reading slump I’ve been desperate to get out of. 

The writing has aged so well and is so whimsical that it is impossible to not get lost in it.
 
However There are of course some problematic things within the story that reflect the time period, especially to do with race. So keep that in mind if it upsets you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Slavery

Moderate: Death of parent

yrlaevelyn's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Ableism, Colonisation, and Racism

Moderate: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Body shaming, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

Minor: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Slavery, Body shaming, and Confinement

audrey_12's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Slavery, Racism, Racial slurs, Medical content, and Gaslighting

lex_r's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have always wanted to read this book as a young adult but never got the chance. I loved the movie and I can say I equally loved most of this book. I refrain from giving it five stars because of the racism and colonialism that are somewhat central the the origins of Mary, the main character. Mary is the daughter of British colonizers who live in India, unforeseen circumstances lead Mary to England which is where she learns and develops her character. I love the child playfulness and the wonder that all the children blossom into, but it is hard to ignore the blatant racism by the main characters. Compared to the the other novels that I have read this year the happy ending of this was refreshing and it was really nice to read a book geared toward children. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, Colonisation, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse

hannahelizza556's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was a lovely book. The author describes the secret garden in great detail. Th characters also become more likeable as the story progressed. The size of the writing in this book is quite hard to read and I struggled with some of the Yorkshire accent in this but otherwise it was a lovely book. I really liked the characters by the end, even Mary who is a self centred girl in the opening. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

juli100101's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death of parent and Death

Minor: Racism and Slavery