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in_and_out_of_the_stash's review against another edition
2.0
Very disappointed with this book and the message for young girls.
A male dallys with her feelings and then tells her he's engaged. Her heart is broken so she decides to marry another for security as love only gets you a broken heart.
Where was the outrage that he was leading her on? This book is a step back in time for the time period it is set and a step back for women. There are plenty of books written in the 19th century that show the little choice that woman had and they can be read and discussed in context, we don't need a modern book to undermine how girls see themselves.
A male dallys with her feelings and then tells her he's engaged. Her heart is broken so she decides to marry another for security as love only gets you a broken heart.
Where was the outrage that he was leading her on? This book is a step back in time for the time period it is set and a step back for women. There are plenty of books written in the 19th century that show the little choice that woman had and they can be read and discussed in context, we don't need a modern book to undermine how girls see themselves.
hudsonpeeps's review against another edition
4.0
I love a book with talking animals.
It wasn't my absolute favorite story but it did leave me thinking about it and the Bears days after I finished so I guess that counts for something!
It wasn't my absolute favorite story but it did leave me thinking about it and the Bears days after I finished so I guess that counts for something!
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
Goldilocks and the three bears meet Jane Eyre. Cute story!
rachelwrites007's review against another edition
3.0
I DNF at page 240. I found this book slow. The concept was great, but I'm not sure who the audience is (if I, at age 29, found the book slow and plodding, what would an actual middle schooler think?).
will_o_the_wisp's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Grief, Death, and Hate crime
Minor: Misogyny, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse
Most of the cw's are written in a very soft fairytale sort of way, but they also do definitely happen. (also, racism is towards talking animal characters, if that matters.)the_story_girl's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so much more complex than I had expected from what seemed to be a simple children’s story! I loved it and will definitely check out more books by this author.
turrean's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book immensely. I finished it in just over a day; I could hardly bear to put it down! (and that's a terrible pun...)
Ursula, the bear Jane Eyre, is a virtuous, inexperienced young governess who accepts a position with the wealthy Vaughn family. She finds her young charge, Teddy, to be a joy; Mr. Vaughn is a bit pompous and rigid; Mrs. Vaughn approachable but mysteriously absent; Nurse, a badger, is deeply resentful of Ursula's presence. And Ursula must deal with eerily mysterious and dangerous circumstances, too. Who is the ghostly little figure of a human girl who flits about the house at night? How can the animal population deal with the corruption of local officials? What will happen to the animals in the Enchanted Forest as human resentment reaches its peak?
The folktale and nursery rhyme allusions are absolutely charming, as is the literary style, which manages to invoke the air of a Gothic romance--with bears--without becoming a spoof. Describing the novel as a "mash-up" of Austen, Brontë, and Mother Goose make it sound as if this is done for comic effect. But in fact, the plot is complicated, the book is nearly 400 pages long, and the vocabulary is challenging. The themes of the book--bigotry and justice--are weighty. This actually put me more in mind of [a: Jasper Fforde|4432|Jasper Fforde|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1350497674p2/4432.jpg]'s Nursery Crime series than anything else.
Various review sources recommend the novel to grades 5-8. I think it would be a rare 10 year-old who could manage the text.
Ursula, the bear Jane Eyre, is a virtuous, inexperienced young governess who accepts a position with the wealthy Vaughn family. She finds her young charge, Teddy, to be a joy; Mr. Vaughn is a bit pompous and rigid; Mrs. Vaughn approachable but mysteriously absent; Nurse, a badger, is deeply resentful of Ursula's presence. And Ursula must deal with eerily mysterious and dangerous circumstances, too. Who is the ghostly little figure of a human girl who flits about the house at night? How can the animal population deal with the corruption of local officials? What will happen to the animals in the Enchanted Forest as human resentment reaches its peak?
The folktale and nursery rhyme allusions are absolutely charming, as is the literary style, which manages to invoke the air of a Gothic romance--with bears--without becoming a spoof. Describing the novel as a "mash-up" of Austen, Brontë, and Mother Goose make it sound as if this is done for comic effect. But in fact, the plot is complicated, the book is nearly 400 pages long, and the vocabulary is challenging. The themes of the book--bigotry and justice--are weighty. This actually put me more in mind of [a: Jasper Fforde|4432|Jasper Fforde|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1350497674p2/4432.jpg]'s Nursery Crime series than anything else.
Various review sources recommend the novel to grades 5-8. I think it would be a rare 10 year-old who could manage the text.
linneahedvig's review against another edition
4.0
Charming retelling of Goldilocks via Jane Eyre. And as if that isn't enough, there was an interesting subplot about...race relations? between humans and enchanted animals. The main character, Ursula, is charming and intelligent and I loved reading about her struggling to do her job well in difficult circumstances while also navigating the politics of the enchanted world.
lynnietakalele's review against another edition
5.0
Best language and vocabulary ever!!!! Learned tons of words. A little slow at times. Sweet romance. Good blending of humans and the enchanted.
elizabethbromm's review against another edition
5.0
I borrowed this book from my sister, who borrowed it from the library. I'm going to buy it now!