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hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
I like this series very much, but I felt that the girls' issues were rather glibly dealt with and resolved.
hfleur's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
2.5
Finished off a series from my childhood, found it didn't have the same charm as the others have and still have now. Enjoyable though, nice to revisit old favourite characters. The audio narrator gives some of the characters terrible terrible voices though
veilgarden's review against another edition
5.0
I put off finishing reading this series for so long because every book feels like a hug and I didn't want it to end. One day I'll do a proper review of these books
camoshamo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
5.0
poachedeggs's review against another edition
4.0
How can I explain my love for the dysfunctional Casson family, with its Type A-fiend of an artist father, Bill, the tumbling little children, and vague neglectful Eve?
When Suyin pushed this book at me in Sydney I was delighted! We get to meet Caddy before she meets her driving instructor, but more charmingly, we find out more about her friends, my favourite being Beth-who-is-too-tall-for-her-pony.
When Suyin pushed this book at me in Sydney I was delighted! We get to meet Caddy before she meets her driving instructor, but more charmingly, we find out more about her friends, my favourite being Beth-who-is-too-tall-for-her-pony.
amber_hastings's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
As a standalone novel, this is absolute perfection. I cared deeply about Caddy and each of the three friends that this novel also follows. If anything, I think I preferred Beth and her very real and relatable eating struggles. I did not want this story to end!
As a Casson novel, I'd rate it slightly lower and that's because overall it doesn't fit as well into the series as the first three books. I fully appreciated that Caddy became a much more nuanced and lovable character rather than the boy crazy teen/young adult that she is in the layer books, and I really loved seeing the sensitive, animal-loving, change-hating side to her. The way she fears life and hides her feelings was very convincing given she's an eldest child in a very dysfunctional child. I also absolutely loved seeing Indigo and Saffy as a younger children, and understanding the (very sad and anger-inducing) reality that their Dad was never really present at home. It definitely made me feel more positively towards the fairly absent Eve in the later books. And this prefaces the special connection Caddy and Rose have always had, especially when it comes to Michael, which was lovely. The negatives were really that the first-person perspective was out of keeping with the books that followed; that for a Casson novel this book focused much more on secondary characters external to the family than the other books did and this took time away from the family; and that the drama around baby Rose was unfortunately very similar to the drama Tom had with his half-sister in Indigo's Star, yet Indigo never referenced this in Indigo's Star because this prequel had not been written then!
But those are small complaints because it's a fantastic book.
As a Casson novel, I'd rate it slightly lower and that's because overall it doesn't fit as well into the series as the first three books. I fully appreciated that Caddy became a much more nuanced and lovable character rather than the boy crazy teen/young adult that she is in the layer books, and I really loved seeing the sensitive, animal-loving, change-hating side to her. The way she fears life and hides her feelings was very convincing given she's an eldest child in a very dysfunctional child. I also absolutely loved seeing Indigo and Saffy as a younger children, and understanding the (very sad and anger-inducing) reality that their Dad was never really present at home. It definitely made me feel more positively towards the fairly absent Eve in the later books. And this prefaces the special connection Caddy and Rose have always had, especially when it comes to Michael, which was lovely. The negatives were really that the first-person perspective was out of keeping with the books that followed; that for a Casson novel this book focused much more on secondary characters external to the family than the other books did and this took time away from the family; and that the drama around baby Rose was unfortunately very similar to the drama Tom had with his half-sister in Indigo's Star, yet Indigo never referenced this in Indigo's Star because this prequel had not been written then!
But those are small complaints because it's a fantastic book.
caroparr's review against another edition
5.0
I always think a five-star rating should be saved for a book that changes your life - this one didn't, but it is SO good. I love love love the Cassons, and this made me want to back to the beginning now that we've met Cassie and the firework baby in their youths.
saragatland's review against another edition
5.0
I will review this book the same way I reviewed Forever Rose.
I remember when I was younger and Caddy and I would meet up to talk. I was several years younger than her, but we were still great friends as cousins go. She would tell me about all of her friends: Beth and Alison and Ruby. Beth was the one with the pony, Alison the one who lived next door, and Ruby was the clever one. She was going through a hard time, Saffy had only recently joined the family and Indigo was a little younger than her. Rose had just been born, and wasn't expected to live very long. So with Alison moving out and Ruby moving school on top of all that, she had a lot to talk about. Beth had weird stuff going on too, but she mostly kept that to herself. Of course, as it always does with the Cassions, everything came out ok in the end. Even though she couldn't change anything that happened, she manages to deal with it. My biggest memory was of Lost Property the bird. I helped her look after him.
I remember when I was younger and Caddy and I would meet up to talk. I was several years younger than her, but we were still great friends as cousins go. She would tell me about all of her friends: Beth and Alison and Ruby. Beth was the one with the pony, Alison the one who lived next door, and Ruby was the clever one. She was going through a hard time, Saffy had only recently joined the family and Indigo was a little younger than her. Rose had just been born, and wasn't expected to live very long. So with Alison moving out and Ruby moving school on top of all that, she had a lot to talk about. Beth had weird stuff going on too, but she mostly kept that to herself. Of course, as it always does with the Cassions, everything came out ok in the end. Even though she couldn't change anything that happened, she manages to deal with it. My biggest memory was of Lost Property the bird. I helped her look after him.
cooeeaus's review against another edition
4.0
This is a lovely story about four twelve year old best friends, namely Caddy and her adventures and trials. There's fun pranks, serious upheavals but long term friendships bond and grow.
Families play a large part in the story, grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters. Connections and family secrets, fairy tales and dreams resound in the story, making this an enchanting read for all ages.
Families play a large part in the story, grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters. Connections and family secrets, fairy tales and dreams resound in the story, making this an enchanting read for all ages.