Scan barcode
lucygoosey's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Racism
maggibird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Racial slurs, and Racism
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I didn't quite finish this book bc I kept falling asleep every time I picked it up so I just skimmed to the end after chapter 22 bc Mary virtually disappeared and FHB seemed as done writing this story as I was reading it. But I'll count it as read bc I read near 80%. Anyways the first four chapters are jarringly racist and the story throughout has that racist undertone of how Mary became a civilized person once she went out to the fresh, white air moor bc India is hot and terrible and weird. Honestly this book is past its expiration date. FHB's writing is easy and sticks with you though but if you have to read a FHB book, read A Little Princess it's still got its problematic stuff (I suppose bc I read it years ago and don't remember much) but it's not as jarringly racist as this one. And Sara Crewe stomps on Mary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
yggie's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Such a wholesome, lovely book. Great cast, great development. This book is one of the few I can reread every few years and it will always make me feel better.
That said, it's very much a product of its time, and the casual racism at the beginning is definitely not ok.
That said, it's very much a product of its time, and the casual racism at the beginning is definitely not ok.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Grief, and Classism
amalielisabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Racism
kw_may4's review
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Racism
bookreadingelf's review against another edition
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
barefootsong's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Death of parent
emilygv's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Two things cannot be in one place.
Where you tend a rose, my lad,
A thistle cannot grow.
Hopeful, inspiring, and so throughly full of life that even thinking about the garden brings a smile to my face.
We're introduced to this world that Burnett has created through the eyes of children, and it's the feeling of child-like wonder that the book inspires that has earned it the 5 stars in my book. The occasional glimpses through the eyes of the adults around them serve to add context and contrast the perspectives of the children at just the right moments.
A word of caution to any potential readers:
This novel is a product of the early 1900s, and as such contains racist and ableist language brought up in passing repeatedly. I found myself uncomfortable in the early chapters.
I massively enjoyed the development of the characters, and it made sticking through reading via Mary's downright petulant and spoiled perspective in the early chapters all the more worth it.
That being said, I can understand why some wouldn't like this novel- particularly if going into it expecting fantasy or characters having wisdom beyond their years. There's no big action scenes. Or, as I've heard - why does Colin attribute everything to this 'Magic'? Well, he's a child. A 10 year old child. In 1911. And as I've said, this child-like point of view is exactly what I found to be most endearing. I wanted this novel to be a cute read about a garden, and I got was I was looking for. Add in the gorgeous descriptions that left me wanting to explore the manor for myself? An air of mystery? The nostalgia of childhood? Inspirational sentiments, a found family, and cute animals? That's a 5-star read for me.
I'm a sucker for old buildings and feel-good stories, and I don't think I've ever read a novel that ends on a happier note. The idea that we should take caution to not crowd out the goodness in our hearts and minds with sorrows and negativities remains a message important to the world even today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Death of parent
luananki's review
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i understand why this one is a classic and it’s getting so much love. the story is very innocent and sweet. i loved the magical aspects of the book and it was refreshing that there was no romance in it.
still, it contains a lot of ableism and racism and i don’t feel like that’s something to read to a child when they’re just forming their world view
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death