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buzzybuzzybeefudge's review against another edition
hopeful
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
2.75
It’s very Of Its Time and gets a bit preachy but hey I chose to read it as an adult so that’s on me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Ableism
katie0528's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.0
A classic children's story I never got to as a kid. It's toothache sweet about Mary who, after the death of her parents, is sent to live in the manor of her reclusive uncle. She finds his late wife's private garden and with the help of a local boy and her cousin who was raised to believe he was a half-step from death himself, turn restore the garden it into a private sancuary. It is a story of the power of friendship and play and positive thinking, but it gets quite mundane with the repetition of the "magic" of positive thinking in the second half.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Chronic illness
Minor: Racism and Colonisation
admiralteaa's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
The story and narrative shows it's ages in places, but it's hasn't lost its timeless charm from when I was a child, even if it's abit more whimsical than I remember.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
brookey8888's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I mean this was fine. It was honestly kind of boring and I know it’s a product of its time, but the racism and ableism was actually so much of the book it took me completely out of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Ableism
swinckler's review against another edition
inspiring
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
Child neglectvezreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Ableism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
aasthaj's review against another edition
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
aalamb's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
ellenravioli'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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Ableism, and Child abuse
gracielou2000's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
You’d have to pay me to listen to this audiobook again. I couldn’t stand the accents and the pitch the narrator used to voice the children. It made them that much more unlikable. Narration aside, this is not a story I would let any child of mine read. It had racist and negative views throughout. I feel like the author would have to hate children to write them in such a nastily light. In addition to multiple racist instances, it was also ableist. The physically disabled main character felt like a disappointment to his parents solely because he was disabled and only until he overcame his disability would his father approve of him.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Ableism