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jfield351's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was a good book. I’ve never read it before, only seen the movie and I think they changed some details in the movie. Sara was a beautiful character and the story was very lovely. I read this very fast on the 26th and 28th of feb 2022. It helped me to relax and therefore helps me complete the dymocks reading challenge for ‘a book that helps you relax’.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying and Slavery
Minor: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
bexi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Okay, I watch/listen to *a lot* of BookTube content and everyone who recommends this book NEVER mentions the fact that there's a character who basically spies on the MC night after night, and then proceeds to sneak (break) into her room one night and completely redecorate it. Look I know it was completely innocent and was supposed to be sweet and magical, but that's wild and creepy AF if you really think about it. Like why does nobody mention it when talking about this book? 😂😂😂
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Slavery, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
peachypenny's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I find Sara Crewe to be a bit annoying, as there is little character development— after all she is repeatedly said to be perfect and well mannered throughout the book. No character development, period-typical (but not excusable) racism, and classism that makes the book ‘icky’. Nevertheless, I love the bit where Sara pretends and describes what could be: Magic. A few good quotes and a classic orphan finding home makes for a good ending however.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, and Classism
luciaartworld's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
“If nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that—warm things, kind things, sweet things—help and comfort and laughter—and sometimes gay, kind laughter is the best help of all.”
I'm so glad I decided to give this book a try. I remember loving the 1995 film as a child and I can safely say the book is just as good.
The story of little Sarah Crewe warmed my heart once more. The plot is a very simple one and quite possibly something that you have read before.
When reading it you have to remember the times when this book was written and that this is a story of a child. It includes many cruel and real parts but it also includes fantasy worth of a fairy-tail book.
I think this is a fantastic small read for both children and adults to enjoy.
I'm so glad I decided to give this book a try. I remember loving the 1995 film as a child and I can safely say the book is just as good.
The story of little Sarah Crewe warmed my heart once more. The plot is a very simple one and quite possibly something that you have read before.
When reading it you have to remember the times when this book was written and that this is a story of a child. It includes many cruel and real parts but it also includes fantasy worth of a fairy-tail book.
I think this is a fantastic small read for both children and adults to enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racism and Death of parent
katsusho_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Sometimes, you sit down to read a classic, and it’s immediately so clear why it’s a classic. Frances Hodgson Burnett’s books are like that, but A Little Princess has a special place in my heart. I grew up watching the 1995 film over and over, and even though I didn’t read the book until I was an adult… Sara’s imagination and grace shines so bright.
It’s Sara that draws me to this book – it has always been Sara Crewe. Although she is repeated called out by certain peers and adults as being odd, her hopeful personality is a thing I strive to. It seems a bit silly for an adult to say: “I want to be like this child in this hundred year old book”, but little Sara has a lot to teach us about looking for silver linings, writing a better story, humility, compassion, dignity, inner strength, and friendship. Sara is the reason why A Little Princess is a classic and is still, more or less, relevant today. The lessons she teaches are necessary for anyone in any time period.
A product of its time, there are a few moments in A Little Princess that don’t shine as bright as I wish they would. While there are no outright racial comments, there is language and depictions that didn’t age well of the Indian servant who lives next door. Ram Dass is intelligent, kind, and layered – something that can likely not be said of many other minor characters from books written by white people of the time. But he nonetheless is a bit of a caricature. His way of speak, in particular, doesn’t seem right to me.
It’s difficult for me to be objective of the plot because I have known the story for as long as I can remember. I don’t think it’s cliche because this story came before so many others that at the time of its writing it would have felt more original… but it is a bit too easy. The puzzle pieces for Sara fall perfectly into place, and although she certainly struggles, her struggling does not affect the outcome of the book. It may not be the most satisfying read, for all it is heartwarming.
Sara’s imagination is delightful and there is no scene more memorable in the book than when Sara and Becky wake to a room altered by “magic” one day and it’s all such a lovely thing – the novelty of it and the warmth that there are some people out there good enough to orchestrate such things. If you aren’t interested in the book at all but want a quick read… this scene makes it all worth it. A Little Princess is an all-around darling read, but it’s this moment that makes you feel as though there can always be a little sunshine after the rainfall. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Colonisation
genny's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was pure comfort to me. I didn't read this as a child so it shouldn't feel nostalgic, but listening to the audiobook (narrated by Elizabeth Klett, who does a wonderful job) made me feel just that. I feel so maternal towards Sara 😅 I love that her kindness is a conscious thing; she becomes angry and hopeless but chooses to be kind anyway. And I love her all the more for those rare moments when she let her composure slip! I understand that the racist and classist undertones were a product of the times, but they were still jarring, so just be aware before going in. All that talk about Indian servants and slaves and the diamond mines... And then there's Becky. She gets nothing but a share of dinner while Sara is drowning in gifts (when they both suffered from child labor!), and then stays a servant at the end despite Sara inheriting more money than she could ever use.... Haha. Well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Fatphobia
Minor: Racial slurs and Death of parent
littlecat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
The racism is the biggest ugh of it for me, followed by the classism.
I like Sara as a character, she is genuin kind, but also a little weird in the way of a child that grew up without peers of equal footing, and I like how it shows that kindness is something you have to chose and that sometimes its hard. I do not like the way everyone else is made to be lesser so she can shine, I cried for the other girls, and Saras story is sad, but it has this, this is wrong cause it happens to her a rich person, the happy end literally has Becky becoming her servent instead.
I like Sara as a character, she is genuin kind, but also a little weird in the way of a child that grew up without peers of equal footing, and I like how it shows that kindness is something you have to chose and that sometimes its hard. I do not like the way everyone else is made to be lesser so she can shine, I cried for the other girls, and Saras story is sad, but it has this, this is wrong cause it happens to her a rich person, the happy end literally has Becky becoming her servent instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Death of parent
lapetite's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It's complicated for me to rate this one. The obvious racism, classism, fat-shaming was jarring. It's also different than the much-beloved (by me at least) 1995 movie. Ram Dass has very little agency, Captain Crewe is very much dead and there is a new character that becomes Sara's guardian by the end.
I did like Sara, though. I liked seeing her efforts to be kind and fair, even when her circumstances were dire and downright depressing.
The narrator of the audiobook was just ok. Her voice for Miss Minchin was spot on, but everyone else sounded very similar at times.
I did like Sara, though. I liked seeing her efforts to be kind and fair, even when her circumstances were dire and downright depressing.
The narrator of the audiobook was just ok. Her voice for Miss Minchin was spot on, but everyone else sounded very similar at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Fatphobia, Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
ok7a's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, and Death of parent