hannahreads1070's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
purple_rose_kat93's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
soulwinds's review
2.0
Did I read the same book as everyone else?
Okay, I'm going to be completely honest and confess that I found large chunks of this book completely boring. I mean, put down the book and complain to the air that my book is boring type boring. As this is a historical fiction for children, I find that concerning.
In theory this book should be really interesting, but it's not. It actually takes place after the rebellion and deals mostly with the fall out of choices the men in the rebellion made on their families. Because Arabella's father is already locked up and her useless mother is continuing to be useless and insist she needs a maid at any cost, including her child. Arabella decides to take a job to get away from her mother, who already gave her bed to the maid, and becomes a scullery maid at a former friend's house.
So the first bit of the book are these long winding entries, first complaining about the state of things, then realizing that she and her mother are in serious trouble, and THEN it back tracks to give you a long winded 3rd or 4th hand version of events that already happened that got her father locked up. The actual moving out, auction of possessions and move to the new tiny apartments is pretty glossed over considering it's a major even in Arabella's life. Then we are back to some long winded entries complaining about her new life scrubbing and peeling everything. Honestly...
This book is suppose to teach you about an interesting event in history in a fun, non-boring way. Unfortunately, for me personally, it failed in both places. I am not any better informed, nor was I entertained. The Historical Notes were my favorite part of the book because they actually said something pertinent to what this book is supposed to be about.
Now if you wanted to know the ins and outs of being a scullery maid, you've come to the right place! If you want to know more about the rebellion, keep looking or just flip to the back few pages and read those as a starting point.
Okay, I'm going to be completely honest and confess that I found large chunks of this book completely boring. I mean, put down the book and complain to the air that my book is boring type boring. As this is a historical fiction for children, I find that concerning.
In theory this book should be really interesting, but it's not. It actually takes place after the rebellion and deals mostly with the fall out of choices the men in the rebellion made on their families. Because Arabella's father is already locked up and her useless mother is continuing to be useless and insist she needs a maid at any cost, including her child. Arabella decides to take a job to get away from her mother, who already gave her bed to the maid, and becomes a scullery maid at a former friend's house.
So the first bit of the book are these long winding entries, first complaining about the state of things, then realizing that she and her mother are in serious trouble, and THEN it back tracks to give you a long winded 3rd or 4th hand version of events that already happened that got her father locked up. The actual moving out, auction of possessions and move to the new tiny apartments is pretty glossed over considering it's a major even in Arabella's life. Then we are back to some long winded entries complaining about her new life scrubbing and peeling everything. Honestly...
This book is suppose to teach you about an interesting event in history in a fun, non-boring way. Unfortunately, for me personally, it failed in both places. I am not any better informed, nor was I entertained. The Historical Notes were my favorite part of the book because they actually said something pertinent to what this book is supposed to be about.
Now if you wanted to know the ins and outs of being a scullery maid, you've come to the right place! If you want to know more about the rebellion, keep looking or just flip to the back few pages and read those as a starting point.
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