Reviews

Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge

carriedoodledoo's review against another edition

3.0

I had a vague idea when I started this of attempting to read this when I was a child and not getting very far. This was borne out as I read, for I remembered the wooden skates and nothing else. So I made it to chapter one?

I do not blame my youthful self, because this book is so exactly what you think of when you imagine Victorian children's fiction. Poor but noble protagonists, family love, great hardship. What is this--a contest? Classmates both kind and cruel. MASSIVE serendipity strikes-twice! All is resolved in the best possible way, and the action was only mostly impeded by the massive doses of educational information...not completely impeded!

Mary Mapes Dodge was a widowed mother when she wrote this, and the most affecting scenes are the ones in which the wife is interacting with her husband. However, as much as I don't think any modern child would really care much for this, as an adult I enjoyed this atmospheric winter read. Highly recommend for anybody flying to the Netherlands as a travel read!

bookie936ange's review against another edition

2.0

Re-reading as an adult, I was unpleasantly surprised to find so much racism and stereotyping mixed in the book; perhaps I only read the abridged version as a child? The basic story is still a good one, but I was very disappointed with so many incidents mixed in.

cultneophyte7's review against another edition

5.0

I came across this book while growing through old stuff and it sure sprouted up a lot of memories inside me. I remembered this as one of the books I had enjoyed the most when I was a kid. I remembered it being magical. No wonder that I re-read it! Loved every bit as much as I had done the first time around. Set in the beautiful Holland during the winter season, this is the perfect winter read. Tucked up inside a blanket reading about those kids making that amazing journey on skates felt so good!

sallyavena's review against another edition

5.0

We listened to this book on the way to PA and the kids loved it, not wanting to stop so that they could keep listening. I liked the characters and the goodness they inspire. A very moving book and a great description of the lovely country of Holland.

lisamizokami's review against another edition

5.0

One of my favorite books as a kid. I distinctly remember the first time I read the part about how the ropes from the wooden skates had rubbed into Hans and Gretel's ankles-- and how much they wanted to win that prize. So good, need to read it again...

auntiepam's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Ho voluto rileggere questo classico di quando ero bambina e oggi ne apprezzo ancor di più la trama e i personaggi.
Davvero un capolavoro senza tempo.

pianosharon's review against another edition

4.0

Written in 1865 and set in 1840. The historical and cultural information reads like a textbook at times but the story of the poor Brinker family carries it along. 

counting_sunsets's review against another edition

3.0

3 ⭐️

funsized327's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

elisereading's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.75