Scan barcode
purple_frog's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sampauwels's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Chrestomanci is the absolute worst and should probably not have had children and espicially shouldn't have adopted any regardless of whatever magical abilities they might have but at least he's an accurate depictian of an adult thinking he's doing something good while actively ruining childhoods. I hope his wife leaves him and takes the children.
midwifereading's review against another edition
3.0
⭐3.5 stars.
This book is the first in a series of six, with an extra book of short stories. It's quirky, very British, and full to the brim with magic and parallel universes!
I couldn't put it down, and had to pick up the second (according to the author's recommended reading order, rather than publication order).
This is completely escapist fiction (for me), and I am in.
This book is the first in a series of six, with an extra book of short stories. It's quirky, very British, and full to the brim with magic and parallel universes!
I couldn't put it down, and had to pick up the second (according to the author's recommended reading order, rather than publication order).
This is completely escapist fiction (for me), and I am in.
dembury's review against another edition
2.0
I read the Chrestomanci books as a kid and have memories of really enjoying them, so rereading this first one as an adult and disliking it so much was kind of a shock. There is quite a bit that is truly charming, such as the organization of the parallel worlds and explanation behind the Chrestomanci, and I think the foundations of the book are solid. However, the good stuff is tarnished by a heavy barrage of rampant fatphobia, physical and emotional child abuse that gets conveniently "excused" at the end, a random instance of racial stereotyping, and many instances of kids forced to bear the brunt of selfish adults.
There is definitely a way to offer a narrative on kids dealing with difficult situations, but the problem in this book is that the adults actions get explained away as just them trying to do what is best for the kids, even though the "best" is just incredibly self-centered actions that don't make sense. And the kids just have to accept it? There is so much emotional trauma on display at the close of the story and Jones tries to paint it over all happily with a picnic scene and promise of more magical adventures, but it ends up reading as quite ominous even though it definitely wasn't intended to.
I'm curious to reread the others and see how they hold up. This one, however, was better in my memory. I'm genuinely sad it wasn't the same as what I thought it was, but I'm crossing my fingers to find a little of what I used to like in the other books.
There is definitely a way to offer a narrative on kids dealing with difficult situations, but the problem in this book is that the adults actions get explained away as just them trying to do what is best for the kids, even though the "best" is just incredibly self-centered actions that don't make sense. And the kids just have to accept it? There is so much emotional trauma on display at the close of the story and Jones tries to paint it over all happily with a picnic scene and promise of more magical adventures, but it ends up reading as quite ominous even though it definitely wasn't intended to.
I'm curious to reread the others and see how they hold up. This one, however, was better in my memory. I'm genuinely sad it wasn't the same as what I thought it was, but I'm crossing my fingers to find a little of what I used to like in the other books.
cavitlum's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cavitlum's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cavitlum's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_blue_moon_'s review against another edition
5.0
Deceptively simple, perfectly fitting for its MG readership yet brimming with moral complexity and delicious characters - a discerning adult will find plenty to enjoy. And not like the snide parental humour that gets slotted into Pixar movies - this is for the weird kids, despite its prim facade of tea parties and magic lessons. I'm only sad I didn't find this as a child, but then again I might not have fully appreciated its subversiveness.
A surprising amount of reviews seem to have an issue with fatphobia in this one but I found it pretty obviously the views of specifically fatphobic characters (not the progonists, either) rather than the author herself.
Orphaned siblings. A magic school. Exquisitely light-handed multiverse plot. Over-dressed academic magician. Much to love, and I shall be re-reading.
A surprising amount of reviews seem to have an issue with fatphobia in this one but I found it pretty obviously the views of specifically fatphobic characters (not the progonists, either) rather than the author herself.
Orphaned siblings. A magic school. Exquisitely light-handed multiverse plot. Over-dressed academic magician. Much to love, and I shall be re-reading.
lores's review against another edition
3.0
This is great, but you-know-who is maybe the most horrifying children’s book villain I’ve ever seen, no remorse not even a little bit and it made me feel a little ill to imagine