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roseleaf24's review against another edition
3.0
Good book with some characters of depth and richness, some one-dimensional, and one too young for her age and irritating. This book would have earned a 4 on its own basis, but the storyline felt really unoriginal to me.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
2.0
Cecily, her mother and brother leave London to go to stay with her uncle in the North of England just before the start of the Blitz, and they take in an evacuee, May. The two girls explore the surrounding countryside and find the ruins of Snow Castle, where they meet two boys dressed in curiously old-fashioned clothing.
What a strange book. It has a really old-fashioned description heavy style - some of the writing is wonderfully evocative, though much of it feels over-written. But I don't recall reading another book in which the author appears to not only dislike her protagonist, the hapless Cecily, but actively feels contempt for her - it makes for a very uncomfortable read. May isn't much more sympathetic as she appears to be aloof and rather snooty towards Cecily. The only character I warmed to was Jeremy, Cecily's older brother, and his intense frustration at not being old enough to participate in the war effort is really well conveyed. The story of Richard III (though unnamed) is woven in and is presented as 'true', though seems to follow the Shakespearean version somewhat more than the revisionist one - I think an author's note would have been helpful here.
I can't think of many kids who would enjoy this and I can't imagine myself recommending it to any.
What a strange book. It has a really old-fashioned description heavy style - some of the writing is wonderfully evocative, though much of it feels over-written. But I don't recall reading another book in which the author appears to not only dislike her protagonist, the hapless Cecily, but actively feels contempt for her - it makes for a very uncomfortable read. May isn't much more sympathetic as she appears to be aloof and rather snooty towards Cecily. The only character I warmed to was Jeremy, Cecily's older brother, and his intense frustration at not being old enough to participate in the war effort is really well conveyed. The story of Richard III (though unnamed) is woven in and is presented as 'true', though seems to follow the Shakespearean version somewhat more than the revisionist one - I think an author's note would have been helpful here.
I can't think of many kids who would enjoy this and I can't imagine myself recommending it to any.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent. Historical both in that it's set during WWII in England, and also reaches back (a lot) to a much earlier time (but I won't tell you when because it's more fun to figure it out as you go along!).
brandypainter's review against another edition
3.0
There were aspects of The Children of the King that I really appreciated. I enjoyed the story and, of course, the story with in it. I found the characters differing attitudes toward WWII and England's place in it to be well done and nuanced. I very much enjoyed the characters of Jeremy, May, and Uncle Peregrine. There were several aspects that annoyed me as well as though. Cecily is twelve and until she announced that at that the end of chapter two, I thought she was around six. She acts like it through the entirety of the book. What. A. Brat. There's no growth there either, but I don't really have so much a problem with that as some people are brats and that never changes. I did think she acted far to young for her age though. The aspect that bothered me the most though was the story within the story which is about the infamous Richard III and the princes in the tower. Peregrine was telling this story and it was like his audience had never heard it. ????? Keep in mind this audience consisted of a 10 year old, a 12 year old, and a 14 year old. I'm sorry, but what sorts of schools were these children attending? I went to an American school while living in England during elementary school and we all knew this story. I can understand Cecily not knowing as she's a feather brained idiot, but Jeremy has clearly been snoozing in all of his history classes if he didn't know this. Unfortunate since I'm sure his snooty parents pay out the nose for his education.
innocentstar's review against another edition
I didn't finish this book as I found it extremely boring. Idk why but it's not intriguing to me, Normally books allow me to imagine I'm in it but this book has been boring and made me think of other things. I'll try finish it but rn it's a no.
hellomei's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
i picked this book up when i was a kid i think bc there were (checks notes) ghost boys in it?? and i thought that fucked??? i never read it but cracked it open recently when cleaning my shelves and got immersed. to my surprise the ghost boys were not the draw in the end!
it feels very mature for a children’s book — not just because it’s set during wartime, but also because of the way it’s written. all these little observations about people’s behavior and children growing up that kids might pick up on but not fully grasp, and that adults will know full well from experience. the main character is annoying as hell but in that way that kids really can be, without meaning to be, so i still enjoyed reading her. loved the other characters too (particularly jeremy!) — all annoying and endearing and wonderfully real. the ending of the book suckerpunched me, as one susceptible to anything about pasts and futures and the passage of time. i really enjoyed this book
it feels very mature for a children’s book — not just because it’s set during wartime, but also because of the way it’s written. all these little observations about people’s behavior and children growing up that kids might pick up on but not fully grasp, and that adults will know full well from experience. the main character is annoying as hell but in that way that kids really can be, without meaning to be, so i still enjoyed reading her. loved the other characters too (particularly jeremy!) — all annoying and endearing and wonderfully real. the ending of the book suckerpunched me, as one susceptible to anything about pasts and futures and the passage of time. i really enjoyed this book
e_pp's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ebenelephant's review
4.25
Happy I finally got around to reading this one. The Children of the King offered a fairly insightful and nuanced take on war, especially for a children's book, while still retaining a solid anti-war stance.
The story-within-the-story was charming, and fitted seamlessly into the overall narrative rather than slowing it down, as often happens in similarly constructed stories. The brother-sister relationship is absolutely sending me, to be honest. Its just... far more genuine than I feel like you get a lot of the times. The descriptions of childishness are lovely – whimsical and innocent but also nowhere near as stupid as they first appear. Similarly, Jeremy is an absolute gem. He can be selfish and mean, but also helpful and kind in the sweetest ways; his aggravation is understandable even when it is unreasonable. Much love for him, and also for May, who deserves the world
The descriptions of the settings are gorgeous and the worldbuilding is vivid, really helping the reader to feel immersed in the time period. It's the little things, I think. The smell of toast and dog hair, Uncle Peregrine having a limp from when he had polio as a kid, an assortment of bones and oddities in his study. While it's not really explicitly addressed, I do sort of appreciate the classism being subtly shown throughout, often through the characters of Cecily and Heloise.
This is a charming and emotional tale, which while clearly aimed at a younger audience is, I think, suitable for all ages.
The story-within-the-story was charming, and fitted seamlessly into the overall narrative rather than slowing it down, as often happens in similarly constructed stories. The brother-sister relationship is absolutely sending me, to be honest. Its just... far more genuine than I feel like you get a lot of the times. The descriptions of childishness are lovely – whimsical and innocent but also nowhere near as stupid as they first appear. Similarly, Jeremy is an absolute gem. He can be selfish and mean, but also helpful and kind in the sweetest ways; his aggravation is understandable even when it is unreasonable. Much love for him, and also for May, who deserves the world
The descriptions of the settings are gorgeous and the worldbuilding is vivid, really helping the reader to feel immersed in the time period. It's the little things, I think. The smell of toast and dog hair, Uncle Peregrine having a limp from when he had polio as a kid, an assortment of bones and oddities in his study. While it's not really explicitly addressed, I do sort of appreciate the classism being subtly shown throughout, often through the characters of Cecily and Heloise.
This is a charming and emotional tale, which while clearly aimed at a younger audience is, I think, suitable for all ages.
nicehotcupoftea's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful multilayered writing, I thought the characters were wonderful and I loved the interwoven history of the Tudors.