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sanjastajdohar's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 I realized I prefer Dragt's fantasy stories. This one had a great writing style, but the story itself didn't quite captivate me. It had some interesting points, but after the Letter for the King series, this was a bit too plain. I really liked some of the characters, though. A nice book, but I expected more.
kathrinpassig's review against another edition
3.0
Ich habe das Buch vor mindestens vierzig Jahren schon mal auf Deutsch gelesen und hatte es in guter Erinnerung. Es fängt auch sehr spannend an, aber im Mittelteil passiert dann wenig, verschiedene Leute führen langwierige Gespräche, die die Handlung kaum voranbringen, und den Schluss fand ich unbefriedigend.
rosannelortz's review against another edition
3.0
School teacher Frans van der Steg amuses the children in his classroom with adventure stories about Frans the Red, but he never imagined that he would find himself in the middle of his own adventure story. Shortly after arriving in the quiet village, he receives a letter from a mysterious Count Gradus Grisenstein asking him to tutor his nephew Geert-Jan. But before he can meet the Count, Frans finds himself finagled into a conspiracy including two old spinsters, a magician, a motorcycle punk, and a coachman. They are convinced that Geert-Jan’s life is in danger–and once he finds the hidden treasure in the House of Stairs, his uncle will do away with him. Guided by the prophecy in a sealed scroll and a children’s rhyme known as the Song of Seven, Frans must make head and tails of all the strange events surrounding him, becoming the hero of a story just as marvelous as the ones he tells his students.
This book was an unpredictable adventure that reminded me of The Phantom Tollbooth crossed with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow crossed with A Series of Unfortunate Events. Frans (and the reader) is in a state of cynical bewilderment for the majority of the tale. Is the treasure actually real? Are the conspirators just a bunch of crackpots? Although I did not find it as compelling as Tonke Dragt’s other books, it was an amusing story with clever wordplay and a decidedly Dutch flavor to the people and places.
This book was an unpredictable adventure that reminded me of The Phantom Tollbooth crossed with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow crossed with A Series of Unfortunate Events. Frans (and the reader) is in a state of cynical bewilderment for the majority of the tale. Is the treasure actually real? Are the conspirators just a bunch of crackpots? Although I did not find it as compelling as Tonke Dragt’s other books, it was an amusing story with clever wordplay and a decidedly Dutch flavor to the people and places.
lunaschu's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
irenevh's review against another edition
4.0
De zevensprong is een Nederlandse Kinderklassieker, die ondanks zijn leeftijd nog steeds mensen kan verwonderen. Ondanks wat ouderwets taalgebruik is het nog steeds een echte aanrader voor jong en oud.
Tonke Dracht slaagt erin een geweldig atmosferisch, spannend mystery neer te zetten met de extra spanning en aantrekkingskracht van een zoektoch naar een schat en oude voorspellingen. Oplettende (of terugkerende) lezers kunnen de hint en aanwijzingen vinden in de tekst om te achterhalen waar alles naartoe gaat.
Met verschillende twists en onverwachte onthullingen houd het boek iedereen gespannen.
De personages zijn bijna net zo mysterieus als het verhaal, en ook al kon ik als volwassene volledig de irritatie van Frans met sommige van de karakters snappen wordt er in totaal een geweldig goed avontuur neer gezet.
ook als volwassene raad ik dit boek aan, want deze klassieker blijft ook in deze tijd een geweldig sterk verhaal.
Tonke Dracht slaagt erin een geweldig atmosferisch, spannend mystery neer te zetten met de extra spanning en aantrekkingskracht van een zoektoch naar een schat en oude voorspellingen. Oplettende (of terugkerende) lezers kunnen de hint en aanwijzingen vinden in de tekst om te achterhalen waar alles naartoe gaat.
Met verschillende twists en onverwachte onthullingen houd het boek iedereen gespannen.
De personages zijn bijna net zo mysterieus als het verhaal, en ook al kon ik als volwassene volledig de irritatie van Frans met sommige van de karakters snappen wordt er in totaal een geweldig goed avontuur neer gezet.
ook als volwassene raad ik dit boek aan, want deze klassieker blijft ook in deze tijd een geweldig sterk verhaal.
ilseoo's review
4.0
I can’t help but love Tonke Dragt her writing. This book evoked strong feelings of nostalgia within me, since I remember my teacher reading the first two chapters of this book -in Dutch- to my class when I was ten. Now, many years later, I can finally say that I have finished the story, even though it is in another language. This story is not necessarily very action-packed or fast-paced, but yet it has a feeling of tension weaved through it that makes you want to continue reading. Right from the beginning you go on this bumpy ride with the main character and meet all kinds of interesting persona and tales along the way. This story will blur the border between everyday reality and a magical otherworldliness, but just ever so slightly. Also due to the ageless prose, I think ‘The Song of Seven’ will appeal to readers of all ages.
eugeniekruijt's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my childhood favourites for a reason, it is so, so good
ashtardeza's review against another edition
5.0
A fantasy twist to a very common tale... if I remember correctly it was made into a tv-series for Dutch tv at one point.
Tonke Dragt has a talent for making the common seem mysterious and making you see wonder in the world around you.
Tonke Dragt has a talent for making the common seem mysterious and making you see wonder in the world around you.
mira_vm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
The second of Dragt's books that I have read and one which, unusually, has an adult protagonist in the guide of Frans van der Steg, a storytelling teacher. Although I enjoyed [b:The Letter for the King|21028440|The Letter for the King|Tonke Dragt|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498744578s/21028440.jpg|1329309] more with its easier-to-follow narrative, there was still so much here to celebrate. The characters are complex, the set elusive and wild (reminding me of Wynne Jones and Aiken in a way) and the plot itself - super-smart.
When Frans van der Steg arrives at his new school, he falls on telling the children stories as a reward for their hard work. One day though, he begins a story which starts to show elements of truth and become real. The teacher and his class find themselves involved in a deep conspiracy which involves saving a boy from a wicked uncle who wishes to find a long-hidden treasure destined for his nephew.
Again, I am floored by how accomplished Laura Watkinson is in her translation. Riddles and word-play about in this Dutch children's book yet none of the humour or play seems to have been lost at all. I would agree with reviews that says this book is not for all readers but then, which book is? I think what they mean is that it asks a lot of the reader to work and stay with it but if you do so, you open up a rare little treasure of a book.
When Frans van der Steg arrives at his new school, he falls on telling the children stories as a reward for their hard work. One day though, he begins a story which starts to show elements of truth and become real. The teacher and his class find themselves involved in a deep conspiracy which involves saving a boy from a wicked uncle who wishes to find a long-hidden treasure destined for his nephew.
Again, I am floored by how accomplished Laura Watkinson is in her translation. Riddles and word-play about in this Dutch children's book yet none of the humour or play seems to have been lost at all. I would agree with reviews that says this book is not for all readers but then, which book is? I think what they mean is that it asks a lot of the reader to work and stay with it but if you do so, you open up a rare little treasure of a book.