Scan barcode
tlaynejones's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
This was my favourite book when I was 8 or 9, I read and reread it so many times. I loved this story so much.
It’s been over 40 years since I’ve even looked at it, and I thought it had mostly faded away from my mind. Yet once I started it this time, it all came back so clearly I almost felt like I had it memorised. I began this read with a sense of trepidation; I remembered enough to know that I would find racism and a deeply colonial pov, but I didn’t remember enough to know any details or to guess how this reading would leave me feeling.
What I found was a book that encapsulates the hypocrisy and neglect of white supremacy and christian ‘benevolence’. Some will say, oh it’s ok, it’s a book of its time, so the racism and classism, and all the other isms in this story, can be excused. But why? The child that I was, that desperately needed a fairy tale about being rescued, deserved to also have books that allowed a more complex world to exist. That didn’t create paradigms that center her potential for rescue based on her whiteness, her class, her politeness, her stoic ness, or her feminine ‘goodness’. A book that didn’t reinforce class amongst white people, and completely devalue and dehumanise all people of colour. Children deserve to have magical fairytales to escape in to, without the burden of white supremacist messaging. There are so many wonderful children’s and middle grade novels available now. For me, this one is best left in memory for what it was then.
It’s been over 40 years since I’ve even looked at it, and I thought it had mostly faded away from my mind. Yet once I started it this time, it all came back so clearly I almost felt like I had it memorised. I began this read with a sense of trepidation; I remembered enough to know that I would find racism and a deeply colonial pov, but I didn’t remember enough to know any details or to guess how this reading would leave me feeling.
What I found was a book that encapsulates the hypocrisy and neglect of white supremacy and christian ‘benevolence’. Some will say, oh it’s ok, it’s a book of its time, so the racism and classism, and all the other isms in this story, can be excused. But why? The child that I was, that desperately needed a fairy tale about being rescued, deserved to also have books that allowed a more complex world to exist. That didn’t create paradigms that center her potential for rescue based on her whiteness, her class, her politeness, her stoic ness, or her feminine ‘goodness’. A book that didn’t reinforce class amongst white people, and completely devalue and dehumanise all people of colour. Children deserve to have magical fairytales to escape in to, without the burden of white supremacist messaging. There are so many wonderful children’s and middle grade novels available now. For me, this one is best left in memory for what it was then.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Racism, Classism, Sexism, Bullying, Death of parent, Violence, Child abuse, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse
katie0528's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A classic children's story I never read but wanted to give a go now after listening to excerpts on the Calm app. It's a cute story about positivity and imagination in the face of adversity, but some of the language and portrayals of minorty characters could be considered offensive to a modern reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism and Colonisation
dichap's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Grief, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Child abuse
thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Slavery
b_lownds127's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
One of my favorite classics to read aloud (with a few edits).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Racism, Classism, Colonisation, and Racial slurs
jfield351's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
This was a good book. I’ve never read it before, only seen the movie and I think they changed some details in the movie. Sara was a beautiful character and the story was very lovely. I read this very fast on the 26th and 28th of feb 2022. It helped me to relax and therefore helps me complete the dymocks reading challenge for ‘a book that helps you relax’.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Slavery
Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, War, Body shaming, Racism, Xenophobia, and Chronic illness
bexi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Okay, I watch/listen to *a lot* of BookTube content and everyone who recommends this book NEVER mentions the fact that there's a character who basically spies on the MC night after night, and then proceeds to sneak (break) into her room one night and completely redecorate it. Look I know it was completely innocent and was supposed to be sweet and magical, but that's wild and creepy AF if you really think about it. Like why does nobody mention it when talking about this book? 😂😂😂
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Grief, Racism, Classism, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Religious bigotry, Blood, Colonisation, and Slavery
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
4.0
Sometimes, you sit down to read a classic, and it’s immediately so clear why it’s a classic. Frances Hodgson Burnett’s books are like that, but A Little Princess has a special place in my heart. I grew up watching the 1995 film over and over, and even though I didn’t read the book until I was an adult… Sara’s imagination and grace shines so bright.
It’s Sara that draws me to this book – it has always been Sara Crewe. Although she is repeated called out by certain peers and adults as being odd, her hopeful personality is a thing I strive to. It seems a bit silly for an adult to say: “I want to be like this child in this hundred year old book”, but little Sara has a lot to teach us about looking for silver linings, writing a better story, humility, compassion, dignity, inner strength, and friendship. Sara is the reason why A Little Princess is a classic and is still, more or less, relevant today. The lessons she teaches are necessary for anyone in any time period.
A product of its time, there are a few moments in A Little Princess that don’t shine as bright as I wish they would. While there are no outright racial comments, there is language and depictions that didn’t age well of the Indian servant who lives next door. Ram Dass is intelligent, kind, and layered – something that can likely not be said of many other minor characters from books written by white people of the time. But he nonetheless is a bit of a caricature. His way of speak, in particular, doesn’t seem right to me.
It’s difficult for me to be objective of the plot because I have known the story for as long as I can remember. I don’t think it’s cliche because this story came before so many others that at the time of its writing it would have felt more original… but it is a bit too easy. The puzzle pieces for Sara fall perfectly into place, and although she certainly struggles, her struggling does not affect the outcome of the book. It may not be the most satisfying read, for all it is heartwarming.
Sara’s imagination is delightful and there is no scene more memorable in the book than when Sara and Becky wake to a room altered by “magic” one day and it’s all such a lovely thing – the novelty of it and the warmth that there are some people out there good enough to orchestrate such things. If you aren’t interested in the book at all but want a quick read… this scene makes it all worth it. A Little Princess is an all-around darling read, but it’s this moment that makes you feel as though there can always be a little sunshine after the rainfall. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Colonisation
ok7a's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and Colonisation
Minor: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Mental illness
More...