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_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
yggie's review against another edition
- 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
That said, it's very much a product of its time, and the casual racism at the beginning is definitely not ok.
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, and Colonisation
Minor: Alcoholism, Classism, Racial slurs, Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Grief
barefootsong's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent and Racial slurs
luananki's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Chronic illness, and Ableism
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Racial slurs
Minor: Child death
lynn_pugh's review against another edition
5.0
Minor: Racial slurs
quinn24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Medical content, Animal death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Body shaming and Misogyny
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Secret Garden is mildly better than A Little Princess, but I still had such a hard time getting through the writing and the plot. I did enjoy Mary, but the fact she was almost fully abandoned as the main character made me so mad. Martha was abandoned as well. The characters had no consistency in their appearances in the story and it just seemed like halfway through the story changed focus.
The end chapter made me irrationally angry as well. The last page didn't feel satisfying at all, it just felt like the story suddenly ended with no wrap up to anything else.
Overall I didn't like this. It took me an entire month to read and now I think I have a chip on my shoulder. Maybe the movie is better.
One star for the appearance of a baby fox and one star for a pony named Jump.
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, and Child abuse
Moderate: Classism, Racism, and Racial slurs
Child abuse is fairly consistent throughout. There's also a startling passage where a character states that a woman caused herself to be beaten by her husband because she said the wrong thing to him. Racism and classicism abound.nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition
- 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
I did enjoy that these kids came together as a found family and became well adjusted because they were spoiled brats in the beginning.
The only nice and likeable character in this book is Dickon.
Moderate: Medical trauma, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, and Abandonment
lex_r's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, Colonisation, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
- 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 am giving a very generous 4.25 stars. I did enjoy the book. It's an easy read and serves as a nice escape from everday life. I also liked how this book puts emphasis on the beauty of nature.
However, I don't belive that this is a good childrens book:
1. Constant Bodyshaming
2. Racism... like it's alot. The way Mary and all the other characters speak(/treat) about India and Indians is just horrible.
3. Ableism
4. Collin's dad really failed as a father? I mean there are no consequences for him whatsoever
5. There is one part in the book where Collins says that it's the fault of the women that her husband hits her.
This book is more for young adults, who want to feel nostalgic or like dark academia/ cottagecore. I feel like this book could be edited (of course without changing the storyline) to be less racist ?
Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexism