Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

56 reviews

bookreadingelf's review against another edition

hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Ableism, and Chronic illness

Minor: Death of parent

luananki's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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

4.0

i understand why this one is a classic and it’s getting so much love. the story is very innocent and sweet. i loved the magical aspects of the book and it was refreshing that there was no romance in it.

still, it contains a lot of ableism and racism and i don’t feel like that’s something to read to a child when they’re just forming their world view

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Chronic illness, and Ableism

Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Racial slurs

Minor: Child death

quinn24's review against another edition

emotional relaxing medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Animal death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Body shaming and Misogyny

veganecurrywurst's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing 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

4.0

“At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done--then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.”

I am giving a very generous  4.25 stars. I did enjoy the book. It's an easy read and serves as a nice escape from everday life. I also liked how this book puts emphasis on the beauty of nature. 
However, I don't belive that this is a good childrens book:

1. Constant Bodyshaming
2. Racism... like it's alot. The way Mary and all the other characters speak(/treat) about India and Indians is just horrible.
3. Ableism
4. Collin's dad really failed as a father? I mean there are no consequences for him whatsoever
5. There is one part in the book where Collins says that it's the fault of the women that her husband hits her.

This book is more for young adults, who want to feel nostalgic or like dark academia/ cottagecore. I feel like this book could be edited (of course without changing the storyline) to be less racist ?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexism

anelya's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, and Ableism

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse and Grief

sapphic_reader's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Mental illness

tr_born's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment and Racial slurs

jennamck's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

1.5

got this book as a gift when i was like 7 or 8 and never read it. glad i never did because i finally read it at age 22 and my god i hated it.  idk how anyone could rate this 5 stars. mary is the worst and dickon’s dialogue is so hard to read, i found myself just completely skipping over the words whenever he was speaking. overall boring, racist and ableist. however i did appreciate the book for capturing the essence of childish wonder and imagination

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Ableism and Chronic illness

pelledorso's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Racial slurs, Ableism, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Death and Racism

Minor: Child death, Fatphobia, and Colonisation

morganperks's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Racism, and Racial slurs

Minor: Death of parent and Misogyny