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orangeowl55's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Fatphobia, and Terminal illness
tlaynejones's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
This was my favourite book when I was 8 or 9, I read and reread it so many times. I loved this story so much.
It’s been over 40 years since I’ve even looked at it, and I thought it had mostly faded away from my mind. Yet once I started it this time, it all came back so clearly I almost felt like I had it memorised. I began this read with a sense of trepidation; I remembered enough to know that I would find racism and a deeply colonial pov, but I didn’t remember enough to know any details or to guess how this reading would leave me feeling.
What I found was a book that encapsulates the hypocrisy and neglect of white supremacy and christian ‘benevolence’. Some will say, oh it’s ok, it’s a book of its time, so the racism and classism, and all the other isms in this story, can be excused. But why? The child that I was, that desperately needed a fairy tale about being rescued, deserved to also have books that allowed a more complex world to exist. That didn’t create paradigms that center her potential for rescue based on her whiteness, her class, her politeness, her stoic ness, or her feminine ‘goodness’. A book that didn’t reinforce class amongst white people, and completely devalue and dehumanise all people of colour. Children deserve to have magical fairytales to escape in to, without the burden of white supremacist messaging. There are so many wonderful children’s and middle grade novels available now. For me, this one is best left in memory for what it was then.
It’s been over 40 years since I’ve even looked at it, and I thought it had mostly faded away from my mind. Yet once I started it this time, it all came back so clearly I almost felt like I had it memorised. I began this read with a sense of trepidation; I remembered enough to know that I would find racism and a deeply colonial pov, but I didn’t remember enough to know any details or to guess how this reading would leave me feeling.
What I found was a book that encapsulates the hypocrisy and neglect of white supremacy and christian ‘benevolence’. Some will say, oh it’s ok, it’s a book of its time, so the racism and classism, and all the other isms in this story, can be excused. But why? The child that I was, that desperately needed a fairy tale about being rescued, deserved to also have books that allowed a more complex world to exist. That didn’t create paradigms that center her potential for rescue based on her whiteness, her class, her politeness, her stoic ness, or her feminine ‘goodness’. A book that didn’t reinforce class amongst white people, and completely devalue and dehumanise all people of colour. Children deserve to have magical fairytales to escape in to, without the burden of white supremacist messaging. There are so many wonderful children’s and middle grade novels available now. For me, this one is best left in memory for what it was then.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
jstar1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
dichap's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Colonisation
lauren_shilling'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
5.0
I adore this book. Technically this is a reread, but I'm not counting it as such since it's probably been around ten years since I read it and I'd forgotten all about it until I saw it in a bookstore one day and decided to buy it. I am so glad that I did, because I absolutely loved this book. It was so heartfelt and sweet and beautiful, and I loved everything about it. I loved the characters, I loved the story, and I loved the writing. Sara was such an adorable kid, and her passion and talent for imagination is so admirable, and in some ways relatable. As someone who has often used imagination to get through rough patches, the way Sara relied on her ability to pretend things, such as being a princess, was familiar to me, and it was kinda validating to see that presented as a coping mechanism that not only works, but can be encouraged. Sara was also very resilient, which I also really loved. She was so strong and was always caring and kind, even when she was shown so little kindness herself. I really loved this book, and I would high recommend it to readers of all ages who love to read about the joys and power of imagination!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia
cathuluu's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Fatphobia
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
My first time reading this was an experience. I never grew up knowing this story or being familiar with the movie - therefore I went in with no knowledge of it at all.
In short, it's not a bad story but I definitely didn't like it. Pushing aside the clear issues of classism, racism, and body shaming from 100 years ago - this story just didn't resonate with me. Sarah is continually put through the seven levels of hell and is such a perfect character she carries on with unflinching determination. I also found it SO creepy that the choice was made to have a grown man creep into her bedroom to bestow gifts on her. This book has the logic of a fairytale and lacks the charm of them.
Also justice for Becky because she deserved more than just becoming a paid maid at the end.
In short, it's not a bad story but I definitely didn't like it. Pushing aside the clear issues of classism, racism, and body shaming from 100 years ago - this story just didn't resonate with me. Sarah is continually put through the seven levels of hell and is such a perfect character she carries on with unflinching determination. I also found it SO creepy that the choice was made to have a grown man creep into her bedroom to bestow gifts on her. This book has the logic of a fairytale and lacks the charm of them.
Also justice for Becky because she deserved more than just becoming a paid maid at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, and Classism
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
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
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