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A review by bookishchristiana
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“The island had come to seem one of those places seen from the train that belong to a life in which we shall never take part.” - Arthur Ransome, Swallows and Amazons.
Here's a short review of a children's book I re-read last year, just for a bit of respite. Swallows and Amazons is one of the classic children's books that so many children read at some point; in my case, my dad first read it to me when I was wee. I don't really know if I can give you a thought-provoking review when this book is for people a quarter of my age. So, here is just a brief note of my thoughts.
As children's books go, the story was fun and light-hearted. There was a little bit of adventure and some saving-the-day moments that are a staple in children's adventure stories of this era (think Famous Five). For a child getting into reading for the first time now, would I recommend this to a parent? Perhaps not. The gender roles are pretty outdated, although not as egregious as some of the stereotypes in Famous Five. And although not explicitly racist, I would err on the side of not continuing to uphold this book when it contains various mentions of Indigenous people (fictitious ones the children have made up) that rely on racial and ethnic stereotypes.
If a parent were to give this to their child, I'd at least advise that they explain the problematic parts and why they are not okay. Some may argue this book is 'of its time', but I'd say that doesn't excuse its contents, particularly if you are going to introduce it to a new generation of readers.
On the whole, if you were to remove the problematic parts—perhaps rewrite it for a modern audience—the book would be a light-hearted and fun adventure story for children. In its current form, though, I would not recommend it. Nevertheless, I'm glad I could revisit it for reflection purposes. - C x
Here's a short review of a children's book I re-read last year, just for a bit of respite. Swallows and Amazons is one of the classic children's books that so many children read at some point; in my case, my dad first read it to me when I was wee. I don't really know if I can give you a thought-provoking review when this book is for people a quarter of my age. So, here is just a brief note of my thoughts.
As children's books go, the story was fun and light-hearted. There was a little bit of adventure and some saving-the-day moments that are a staple in children's adventure stories of this era (think Famous Five). For a child getting into reading for the first time now, would I recommend this to a parent? Perhaps not. The gender roles are pretty outdated, although not as egregious as some of the stereotypes in Famous Five. And although not explicitly racist, I would err on the side of not continuing to uphold this book when it contains various mentions of Indigenous people (fictitious ones the children have made up) that rely on racial and ethnic stereotypes.
If a parent were to give this to their child, I'd at least advise that they explain the problematic parts and why they are not okay. Some may argue this book is 'of its time', but I'd say that doesn't excuse its contents, particularly if you are going to introduce it to a new generation of readers.
On the whole, if you were to remove the problematic parts—perhaps rewrite it for a modern audience—the book would be a light-hearted and fun adventure story for children. In its current form, though, I would not recommend it. Nevertheless, I'm glad I could revisit it for reflection purposes. - C x
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation