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evaseyler's review against another edition
4.0
This was a delightful, refreshing little book. Easy to follow, with characters both realistic and interesting. I enjoy stories of children who are learning to face life by doing rather than living vicariously through, say, television or video games. I especially liked the enterprising nature of the main character's older brother and how all the children (okay, maybe not Edward) had long-term plans they were working out to help get the family's finances straightened out. Teamwork. Very pleasant.
words_and_dreams's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rereading this as I needed something nostalgic and comforting.
Harriet is prescribed Ice skating to help build her strength up after a long illness. There she meets child protege Lalla and the two form a friendship. I found the character studies interesting, with Harriet having a real passion and love for skating and Lalla doing it because she is expected too and because her father was a champion skater. It studies friendship, family and identity.
Harriet is prescribed Ice skating to help build her strength up after a long illness. There she meets child protege Lalla and the two form a friendship. I found the character studies interesting, with Harriet having a real passion and love for skating and Lalla doing it because she is expected too and because her father was a champion skater. It studies friendship, family and identity.
flick_reads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.0
jayfr's review against another edition
4.0
This was a childhood favorite, I wanted to be Harriet so badly when I was 10. Then I read Lord of the Rings and wanted to be a Rider of Rohan when I grew up. Sadly neither happened, and don't tell anyone but I've never been ice skating that I can remember.
My mom bought me this when I was about 9, in response to my father gifting me Dracula, Lord of the Rings and Jane Eyre. She thought she could get me to read proper children's books instead of the adult orientated choices my father made. I never told her that I preferred his reading material, it's one of the many regrets I had when she died when I was 21.
Anyway... I'll stop waffling now.
I enjoyed this just as much as when I was a child. The thing that strikes me as odd though, why are Lalla's Aunt Claudia and step-uncle David still married? I laughed at the idea of giving a child whiskey after a faint, it seems so far out of time now.
Noel Streatfeild writes cleverly of the difference in class, the lingering aftermath of WWII and the children are so well developed that they feel like they could be our friends, or the children of friends.
I guess it's pretty clear that I loved this, it was perfect for a wet Sunday afternoon by the fire. I'm going to find my battered copy of Ballet Shoes now and read that.
My mom bought me this when I was about 9, in response to my father gifting me Dracula, Lord of the Rings and Jane Eyre. She thought she could get me to read proper children's books instead of the adult orientated choices my father made. I never told her that I preferred his reading material, it's one of the many regrets I had when she died when I was 21.
Anyway... I'll stop waffling now.
I enjoyed this just as much as when I was a child. The thing that strikes me as odd though, why are Lalla's Aunt Claudia and step-uncle David still married? I laughed at the idea of giving a child whiskey after a faint, it seems so far out of time now.
Noel Streatfeild writes cleverly of the difference in class, the lingering aftermath of WWII and the children are so well developed that they feel like they could be our friends, or the children of friends.
I guess it's pretty clear that I loved this, it was perfect for a wet Sunday afternoon by the fire. I'm going to find my battered copy of Ballet Shoes now and read that.
blakehalsey's review against another edition
3.0
I love the Shoe books. This is my least favorite, but it's still a worthwhile read.
poachedeggs's review against another edition
4.0
So precious! I wish I had read this as a child. I like how Streatfeild understands the female pre-teen's psyche so well. Looking at the cover, you'd think that everything's a bed of roses for her characters, but her children feel ugly emotions too, and for rather sustained periods - resentment, envy, overweening pride.
I am starting to see a pattern here though, after having read [b:Ballet Shoes|10444|Ballet Shoes|Noel Streatfeild|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320527732s/10444.jpg|1505465] recently. There's always a character who lets fame and public attention get to her pretty little head, and who subsequently has to be taught a lesson. What distinguishes Streatfeild from lesser writers is that there is no miraculous solution, and no sudden turnaround. Characters behave consistently, and the realisation that one has been wrong doesn't come easily.
What I found myself quite unexpectedly liking (unexpected, because I didn't expect to encounter this in the book) was Streatfeild's thoughts on exam stress. This is one of the things that plague developed Asian societies, yet we also see Lalla, the 'star skater' in the book, worrying herself literally sick over her upcoming inter-gold exam. The adults have different views - the kind teacher/governess, 'Goldie', is completely sanguine about exams, and feels that those who pass them may not know all that much anyway, and so she wouldn't worry about her students actually failing or passing (hurrah); the overbearing aunt thinks the exams are a necessary evil - a means to achieve glory for her niece and herself; the good friend Harriet can't help but be anxious for her friend, going to the extent of engaging in talismanic gestures to bring good luck for her friend... hey, this could have been Singaporean society!
I am starting to see a pattern here though, after having read [b:Ballet Shoes|10444|Ballet Shoes|Noel Streatfeild|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320527732s/10444.jpg|1505465] recently. There's always a character who lets fame and public attention get to her pretty little head, and who subsequently has to be taught a lesson. What distinguishes Streatfeild from lesser writers is that there is no miraculous solution, and no sudden turnaround. Characters behave consistently, and the realisation that one has been wrong doesn't come easily.
What I found myself quite unexpectedly liking (unexpected, because I didn't expect to encounter this in the book) was Streatfeild's thoughts on exam stress. This is one of the things that plague developed Asian societies, yet we also see Lalla, the 'star skater' in the book, worrying herself literally sick over her upcoming inter-gold exam. The adults have different views - the kind teacher/governess, 'Goldie', is completely sanguine about exams, and feels that those who pass them may not know all that much anyway, and so she wouldn't worry about her students actually failing or passing (hurrah); the overbearing aunt thinks the exams are a necessary evil - a means to achieve glory for her niece and herself; the good friend Harriet can't help but be anxious for her friend, going to the extent of engaging in talismanic gestures to bring good luck for her friend... hey, this could have been Singaporean society!
elle4352's review against another edition
4.0
Skating Shoes was a wonderful addition in the Shoes Series. Young Harriet Johnson is to take up ice skating to make her legs and body stronger after being very sick. She meets Lalla Moore on her first day, who’s been groomed to be a champion skater like her deceased father since birth. The book is more or less about watching their friendship blossom.
All the the Johnson family are admirable and make a whimsical cast of characters. Though Lalla herself comes off as spoiled, she remains inherently a sweet girl and her tantrums and “moments” are justifiable by Streatfield. In comparison to Ballet Shoes, I definitely enjoyed this book much more as I was able to enjoy the girls and everyone around them much more. Writing wise, it’s written similarly to Streatfield’s other books in an episode like format that I absolutely love.
My one complaint about the book is there was no real closure in the end. We don’t really get to see what becomes of Lalla or Harriet the way we did in Ballet Shoes with Pauline, Petrova, and Posy and it’s unknown whether either girl gets to ascended to champion skater status
All the the Johnson family are admirable and make a whimsical cast of characters. Though Lalla herself comes off as spoiled, she remains inherently a sweet girl and her tantrums and “moments” are justifiable by Streatfield. In comparison to Ballet Shoes, I definitely enjoyed this book much more as I was able to enjoy the girls and everyone around them much more. Writing wise, it’s written similarly to Streatfield’s other books in an episode like format that I absolutely love.
My one complaint about the book is there was no real closure in the end. We don’t really get to see what becomes of Lalla or Harriet the way we did in Ballet Shoes with Pauline, Petrova, and Posy and it’s unknown whether either girl gets to ascended to champion skater status
mcsangel2's review against another edition
4.0
I skated as a teenager, and took it up again this year almost 35 years later. My mother-in-law gave me this book for Christmas, and I adored it! I loved the postwar England setting (where my MIL grew up), and all the skating references were very accurate, although now outdated (since figures were dropped from competitive skating in 1991).
I had never read any of Streatfeild's books although I was aware of them because of the references in "You've Got Mail."
Lovely book that reminds me a lot of Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series.
I had never read any of Streatfeild's books although I was aware of them because of the references in "You've Got Mail."
Lovely book that reminds me a lot of Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series.
isabel_j_'s review against another edition
5.0
Read this when I was younger hundreds of times, so it has to be one of my favourites :)
lizzybd's review against another edition
4.0
I decided to buy some of the “shoe books” after watching You’ve Got Mail for the umpteenth time. (Thanks, Kathleen Kelly!) This was a very sweet book with quirky characters who I really grew to love. I look forward to reading more of the shoe books.