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draven_deathcrush's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? Yes
2.5
I think it's time for me to stop reading Diana Wynne Jones books. They're all just kinda boring to me, and I just read them because I own a lot of them, and because they're fast reads.
zezee's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
the_other_coraline's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
zoroco's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
my most beloved childhood read. it's hard to say how well it would hold up now, in this age of YA novels that are slicker than an oil spill, but i have the fondest memories of this book. a perfect mashup of historical, fantasy, and magical realism. plus, a cat you will love. three cheers for ms wynne jones!
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
5.0
2021: Possibly loved this even more on my reread. Especially charmed by the Goddess, who reads lots of boarding-school novel, and wants to exist in a school story from the 1950s, despite her ferocious powers. Very funny and charming. Also delighted to meet the cats again: Throgmorten the daring and Proudfoot the adorable.
Review from 2018:
This is an excellent children's fantasy novel: it does absolutely everything it needs to do. It begins with Christopher Chant (who we have met as an adult in Charmed Life, but this book stands alone), a lonely child with wealthy, self-obsessed parents, who can travel to other worlds. This is a singular skill, but Christopher doesn't know it: he gets solace from travelling, but doesn't know it's an exceptional skill until he meets his charismatic uncle, Ralph. Unfortunately, Ralph is not really on Christopher's side at all.
It's a fast paced novel, with Christopher shuttled from place to place, meeting many unsatisfactory adults. In another world, he befriends a Goddess in human form, and they become allies, along with a number of delightful and fiercesome cats. The story is very satisfying, keeping to its internal logic, and full of daring, and, not always present in children's books, genuine human emotion. It's fun to read and makes wonderful escapism.
Review from 2018:
This is an excellent children's fantasy novel: it does absolutely everything it needs to do. It begins with Christopher Chant (who we have met as an adult in Charmed Life, but this book stands alone), a lonely child with wealthy, self-obsessed parents, who can travel to other worlds. This is a singular skill, but Christopher doesn't know it: he gets solace from travelling, but doesn't know it's an exceptional skill until he meets his charismatic uncle, Ralph. Unfortunately, Ralph is not really on Christopher's side at all.
It's a fast paced novel, with Christopher shuttled from place to place, meeting many unsatisfactory adults. In another world, he befriends a Goddess in human form, and they become allies, along with a number of delightful and fiercesome cats. The story is very satisfying, keeping to its internal logic, and full of daring, and, not always present in children's books, genuine human emotion. It's fun to read and makes wonderful escapism.
readingrobin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
3.5
Sometimes I'm utterly blind-sided by the underlying aspects of colonialism, racism, and xenophobia in 20th century British children's fantasy. I feel like it's unfair to fault Jones' entirely, due to the environment in which she wrote and how our understanding of these elements has grown in the past few decades, but it doesn't make the content easier to digest at times. The way Millie/The Goddess is ultimately depicted and described as less savage than her peers due to her adopting a more Western name and aspiring to live the British schoolgirl life is, eh, not great. Describing Tacroy, a person of color, as "one of the good ones" when compared to others of his ethnicity, is also a big yikes.
It feels so out of place in what is yet another engaging Jones fantasy. I had similar feelings when I read Castle in the Air, so I imagine it's only going to be a reoccurring thing when Jones focuses on any nonwhite civilization or people. Again, a product of its time, but it doesn't exactly make it age well.
That aside, it's a classic fantasy about a boy coming into his power, kicking and screaming all the way. He's a reluctant hero in the most bratty way possible, without even fully realizing how much of a terror he is to other people. There's a bit of humor in when he realizes this and tries to be better, much to the relief of the castle staff.
This book is great for those that also feel between places most of the time, that find strength in discovering things on their own while also coming from a broken upbringing. While Christopher's innocence and loyalty is turned against him, it never leads him to betray those that matter most to him, only to realize there are better people to ally yourselves with than those who want you for only what you can give them.
It feels so out of place in what is yet another engaging Jones fantasy. I had similar feelings when I read Castle in the Air, so I imagine it's only going to be a reoccurring thing when Jones focuses on any nonwhite civilization or people. Again, a product of its time, but it doesn't exactly make it age well.
That aside, it's a classic fantasy about a boy coming into his power, kicking and screaming all the way. He's a reluctant hero in the most bratty way possible, without even fully realizing how much of a terror he is to other people. There's a bit of humor in when he realizes this and tries to be better, much to the relief of the castle staff.
This book is great for those that also feel between places most of the time, that find strength in discovering things on their own while also coming from a broken upbringing. While Christopher's innocence and loyalty is turned against him, it never leads him to betray those that matter most to him, only to realize there are better people to ally yourselves with than those who want you for only what you can give them.
swanny_'s review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
I read this book as a young adult and it remains my favourite.
I fell in love with the escapism through the dream world, and identified with the connections Christopher made with friends after spending much of his life isolated in a broken home.
This book I've read several times, and listen to it when I want to try and dream about dreaming, it also led me into learning about lucid dreaming.
I love that the world they live in is just like normal, but with magic. I related to feeling under pressure to achieve what other people wanted.
I also loved the caste, the gardens and the many worlds that Christopher explored. He also grew, and it showed through his keeping his promises to the goddess, the way he treated throgmorton, and how he felt when he knew what was in those fishy packages.
I read this when I felt lost as a young human, and didn't feel so alone after.
I read this book when I'm feeling lost, feeling old or wanting to remember to dream and grow.
I fell in love with the escapism through the dream world, and identified with the connections Christopher made with friends after spending much of his life isolated in a broken home.
This book I've read several times, and listen to it when I want to try and dream about dreaming, it also led me into learning about lucid dreaming.
I love that the world they live in is just like normal, but with magic. I related to feeling under pressure to achieve what other people wanted.
I also loved the caste, the gardens and the many worlds that Christopher explored. He also grew, and it showed through his keeping his promises to the goddess, the way he treated throgmorton, and how he felt when he knew what was in those fishy packages.
I read this when I felt lost as a young human, and didn't feel so alone after.
I read this book when I'm feeling lost, feeling old or wanting to remember to dream and grow.
thunguyen's review against another edition
3.0
Wonderful children's book! DWJ had an incredible way of keeping the children children, not turning them into some seemingly heroes who came to out-power the adults in a splash and save the day as easily as counting 1-2-3.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It tells so much about the Related Worlds with endless adventures that Christopher went on aimlessly as a kid.
The plot is quite simple and predictable. In this story, Christopher was between 5 and 12 years of age (I think) and was awefully childish and innocent. A good story for kids to learn the tricky person lesson. Do not trust anyone who says "don't tell your Mama" or "keep this a secret between us".
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It tells so much about the Related Worlds with endless adventures that Christopher went on aimlessly as a kid.
The plot is quite simple and predictable. In this story, Christopher was between 5 and 12 years of age (I think) and was awefully childish and innocent. A good story for kids to learn the tricky person lesson. Do not trust anyone who says "don't tell your Mama" or "keep this a secret between us".
ginabbina's review against another edition
5.0
I am continuing my Chrestomanci audiobook phase with the first book, chronologically. This one is Chrestomanci's origin story. I read this as a kid and I guess I never reread it because I couldn't remember most of the plot. I'm pretty sure I finished it (I think?) I remember some of the final battle. But one of the main abilities he has, to visit parallel worlds in his dreams, and bring back items, struck me so much as a kid. I drift into daydreaming about this ability pretty frequently as an adult. It's a fairly basic "what if a magic kid could do this" but I found it (find it) absolutely fantastical in the best way.
The book is well written and the worlds are so lively and vivid. I also remembered his big magic-allergy reveal, and it was sprinkled into the early part of the book in a good way. I like the one of the personal growth things at the end (very very mild spoilers but I'll hide it anyway)Christopher is really angry at his situation, and somebody yells at him saying he's unpleasant, and he's like "who, me? the kid who spends all day brooding?", then he tries to be nice to others, and is shocked to discover people are more pleasant to him, and decides being nice to people is a good thing.
If parents are reading along with kids, it would be good prompting for a discussion about who's a villain, and why. Like in the other Chrestomanci books, the adults are sometimes detrimental to kids and the kids don't always notice.
Same note as before: this is part of a series but the reading order doesn't matter.
I recommend to middle grade kids who are becoming interested in fantasy, and maybe would be a subtle nudge for kids who becoming angry teenagers and need something nice.
The book is well written and the worlds are so lively and vivid. I also remembered his big magic-allergy reveal, and it was sprinkled into the early part of the book in a good way. I like the one of the personal growth things at the end (very very mild spoilers but I'll hide it anyway)
Spoiler
If parents are reading along with kids, it would be good prompting for a discussion about who's a villain, and why. Like in the other Chrestomanci books, the adults are sometimes detrimental to kids and the kids don't always notice.
Same note as before: this is part of a series but the reading order doesn't matter.
I recommend to middle grade kids who are becoming interested in fantasy, and maybe would be a subtle nudge for kids who becoming angry teenagers and need something nice.