Scan barcode
mokey81's review against another edition
5.0
I bought the audiobook, and I’m so happy I did. I love this book so much. I have read the book so many times that as I listened to the narrator I’d think, “I would have said that differently.” The narrator was fine. I’m so glad I have another way to enjoy my favorite book.
I just finished this beautiful book again. And this time, I felt such a strong longing to know these characters personally. I love this book so much.
This is such a beautiful coming of age stories. I've lost count of how many times I have read it. Beautiful.
I just reread this. I love this book. Years after I initially read it and it still moves me. Love it.
I just finished this beautiful book again. And this time, I felt such a strong longing to know these characters personally. I love this book so much.
This is such a beautiful coming of age stories. I've lost count of how many times I have read it. Beautiful.
I just reread this. I love this book. Years after I initially read it and it still moves me. Love it.
niteluna's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.25
sheilabookworm3369's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful coming of age story. Hope to read/listen to it again someday.
tnorris's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, a very good book. It’s not a casual read, and there are some politically incorrect sections that reflect the time period in which the book was written. I came to love and sympathize with Julie, as her voice and life experience matured. I appreciated the depth of the characters and their clear growth.
lydiasigwarth's review against another edition
5.0
I revisited this lovely little novel as an adult with very little memory of the plot. All I remembered is that I must've read it half a dozen times when I was in middle school.
Unlike many of my middle school obsessions, this one held up to adult scrutiny. I even shocked myself by shedding tears towards the end, not because of a death or typical tragic circumstance but just because Hunt so masterfully catches the inner dialogue of growing up. She doesn't resort to pure angst, but instead captures the complex insecurity of becoming a grown-up person in a way that felt timeless.
It's sacrilege, but I always related more to Julie than I did to Anne Shirley. (Anne is queen but I wish Julie was as loved as Anne is.) Anne and Julie feel very similar to me but Julie's flaws feel less charming and more real to me. Julie is not a charming child, she's rude, she acts out, she insults her Aunt regularly. I was also not a charming child, someone with a lot of feelings and no filter and I caused chaos in the way Julie did.
The family dynamics and siblings issues as a backdrop to Julie's story is my favorite element of the book as an adult. The way that the Haskell and Cordelia have a history and family tensions that will never be resolved, and everyone knows what happened and that it's not right but it's too late to change anything. Tragic and real and beautiful.
Anyway I have a lot of feelings and I just wish more people loved this book.
Unlike many of my middle school obsessions, this one held up to adult scrutiny. I even shocked myself by shedding tears towards the end, not because of a death or typical tragic circumstance but just because Hunt so masterfully catches the inner dialogue of growing up. She doesn't resort to pure angst, but instead captures the complex insecurity of becoming a grown-up person in a way that felt timeless.
It's sacrilege, but I always related more to Julie than I did to Anne Shirley. (Anne is queen but I wish Julie was as loved as Anne is.) Anne and Julie feel very similar to me but Julie's flaws feel less charming and more real to me. Julie is not a charming child, she's rude, she acts out, she insults her Aunt regularly. I was also not a charming child, someone with a lot of feelings and no filter and I caused chaos in the way Julie did.
The family dynamics and siblings issues as a backdrop to Julie's story is my favorite element of the book as an adult. The way that the Haskell and Cordelia have a history and family tensions that will never be resolved, and everyone knows what happened and that it's not right but it's too late to change anything. Tragic and real and beautiful.
Anyway I have a lot of feelings and I just wish more people loved this book.
elizabethcaneday's review against another edition
4.0
The later Betsy-Tacy books meet the Emily of New Moon trilogy (L.M. Montgomery) in this delightful middle-grade-ish coming-of-age story.
nn3lson's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet book about a girl growing up. Look forward to sharing it with my daughter someday
lindseyrknapp's review against another edition
5.0
2012
The first time I read this book (in 2009), I was around thirteen. I don't remember too much about it, although I know I did enjoy it. Now (in 2012, at sixteen) it felt almost painful - Julie makes so many mistakes, and I spent much of the book angry with her, but I also understood completely. Her mistakes were part of her growing up. I find myself making some of the same mistakes.
I think that, years from now, if I ever read this book again, I'll find a bit of my teenage self in the pages.
2014
Upon reading through this book for my third time, at eighteen, I love it even more. I said last time that I was angry at some of the mistakes Julie made - well, now I've made some really similar ones, and I love watching hers work out in the end. Life is messy, after all, but it's beautiful in its messiness. That's what this book is about, and that's why every read makes me love it more.
The first time I read this book (in 2009), I was around thirteen. I don't remember too much about it, although I know I did enjoy it. Now (in 2012, at sixteen) it felt almost painful - Julie makes so many mistakes, and I spent much of the book angry with her, but I also understood completely. Her mistakes were part of her growing up. I find myself making some of the same mistakes.
I think that, years from now, if I ever read this book again, I'll find a bit of my teenage self in the pages.
2014
Upon reading through this book for my third time, at eighteen, I love it even more. I said last time that I was angry at some of the mistakes Julie made - well, now I've made some really similar ones, and I love watching hers work out in the end. Life is messy, after all, but it's beautiful in its messiness. That's what this book is about, and that's why every read makes me love it more.
kmc3050's review
2.0
2. It's okay. The main character reminds me of Anne (of Green Gables). It bothers me that a lot of the bad things were hinted at instead of written out plainly. I am not sure many children would understand what was happening at certain parts because of that.
Jaselyn Blanchard was an okay narrator. Some of her voices were annoying, though.
Jaselyn Blanchard was an okay narrator. Some of her voices were annoying, though.
lisa_the_bookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
A good book. I used to hear about this author in English textbooks, I think, so I thought to give her a go. Set in the past, so that was interesting. It's about a girl who is sent to live with her aunt after her mom dies + she has to learn tough life lessons + grow up. It's a coming of age story and not terribly exciting, but still good.
What I liked -
. Uncle Haskell. I know that's weird considering his questionable character but still. I really liked him.
. The life difficulties Julie faced. Like death. Death seems to be a bit more common in older books, and this was no exception. Two or three people died. Tragic and sobering.
. She was wrong about true love. Usually in YA people meet their true loves in chapter four and BOOM fate has been determined. This girl learned that her views were warped and she was wrong and not everyone is as good as they make you feel.
. I kind of appreciate how she matured. And Aunt Cordelia. I liked how her relationship with her aunt grew.
. I like how this explored character and things being different from what they seem and how the past shapes people and how you wish things could have been different but they weren't. I feel like one could gain a better empathy and understanding of difficult people in reading this.
Stuff I didn't like?
. Idk it was slow moving and was there a main plot premise? Idk. Just Julie growing up.
. Also why are all heroines quick tempered and clumsy and starting out as obviously immature and troublesome tomboys and then they grow into young ladies?? Where's the book where the girl IS a young lady and has to step out of her comfort zone into adventure??
Ok review over. You like old time coming of age classics? This is for you.
What I liked -
. Uncle Haskell. I know that's weird considering his questionable character but still. I really liked him.
. The life difficulties Julie faced. Like death. Death seems to be a bit more common in older books, and this was no exception. Two or three people died. Tragic and sobering.
. She was wrong about true love. Usually in YA people meet their true loves in chapter four and BOOM fate has been determined. This girl learned that her views were warped and she was wrong and not everyone is as good as they make you feel.
. I kind of appreciate how she matured. And Aunt Cordelia. I liked how her relationship with her aunt grew.
. I like how this explored character and things being different from what they seem and how the past shapes people and how you wish things could have been different but they weren't. I feel like one could gain a better empathy and understanding of difficult people in reading this.
Stuff I didn't like?
. Idk it was slow moving and was there a main plot premise? Idk. Just Julie growing up.
. Also why are all heroines quick tempered and clumsy and starting out as obviously immature and troublesome tomboys and then they grow into young ladies?? Where's the book where the girl IS a young lady and has to step out of her comfort zone into adventure??
Ok review over. You like old time coming of age classics? This is for you.