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lifeinthebooklane's review against another edition
4.0
Read alongside students during "DEAR" time.
This is a book I recall reading - or starting to read - more than once as a child. Back then my mind couldn't cope with the strange names and Mister Johnny's strange almost speaking gobbledegook. It's such a kooky story, I'm sure it has deep meaning but since I read it a page here a couple of pages there, over the course of many weeks, whatever that message was definitely sailed right over my head. Instead, I simply enjoyed it as a piece of entertainment.
This is a book I recall reading - or starting to read - more than once as a child. Back then my mind couldn't cope with the strange names and Mister Johnny's strange almost speaking gobbledegook. It's such a kooky story, I'm sure it has deep meaning but since I read it a page here a couple of pages there, over the course of many weeks, whatever that message was definitely sailed right over my head. Instead, I simply enjoyed it as a piece of entertainment.
tophat8855's review against another edition
4.0
RS book group March 2021
I finished it later than the book group and didn't attend because I was Zoom-ed out by 8pm on Tuesday.
It took me a little to get into the book. The framing of the woman going with her children to see a place from her childhood and then the story going to her childhood- just didn't grip my attention. It was a boring way to start the book. I did like the first chapter better, though, after reading the book. I went back to re-read it. It probably should have been put further in the back.
I think the book captures childhood well-how events feel so big but looking back they are small, and how your perspective is so different from the adults around you. I can see why it was a popular book for teaching in schools, but I also see that it's not as relevant to children these days, or more accurately, other books are more relevant than this one. But it's a nice story and could make a good read-aloud, as it's short.
I finished it later than the book group and didn't attend because I was Zoom-ed out by 8pm on Tuesday.
It took me a little to get into the book. The framing of the woman going with her children to see a place from her childhood and then the story going to her childhood- just didn't grip my attention. It was a boring way to start the book. I did like the first chapter better, though, after reading the book. I went back to re-read it. It probably should have been put further in the back.
I think the book captures childhood well-how events feel so big but looking back they are small, and how your perspective is so different from the adults around you. I can see why it was a popular book for teaching in schools, but I also see that it's not as relevant to children these days, or more accurately, other books are more relevant than this one. But it's a nice story and could make a good read-aloud, as it's short.
mandi26's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
agoldie00's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
c_harrison86's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25