michaelion's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.75
I first read this book 13 years ago and was trying to figure out why it stuck with me.
Dakin is describe as brown skinned at least twice. Love that. But the images depict her as a white girl so 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾
It's such a fun nice sweet story I love girls going on adventures and fixing their towns but also I love that miss thing has an attitude like purr don't put up with anyone's shit queen!
I always remembered the frog and Dakin got together at the end. I always remembered Dakin was soecifucally 14, and I remember the frog was a full grown adult. I was like, "There's no way they paired a 14 year old with a MAN. There's just no way." Unfortunately there is a way. And I would say maybe it's just a product of the author's time, maybe when the book was written in- THE 60S?!?!?!?!! How often did they have child brides back then?!
And what made it worse, this grown 22 year old M A N sees baby girl Dakin again and goes "I'm such an idiot 🥺 I wish I could marry 🥺 someone like you 🥺🥺 but you wouldn't marry a foolish dum dum like me 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺" And Dakin, THE BABY THE BABY GIRL INFANT CHILD, of course she says yes! Because she's a child and he's A MAN. NOT JUST A 22 YEAR OLD MAN, A TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD MAN (222)!!!!! You've been imprisoned for 200 years and your first thought is "I gotta marry that 14 year old girl?" Lock his ass up AGAIN. He's the real villain here!
Last thing, I love her name maybe that's why I latched onto this book, maybe I remembered the brown skin detail and saw her name and went "That's a black queen right there!" Her sister's name being Triska? You're helping my case.
Dakin is describe as brown skinned at least twice. Love that. But the images depict her as a white girl so 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾
It's such a fun nice sweet story I love girls going on adventures and fixing their towns but also I love that miss thing has an attitude like purr don't put up with anyone's shit queen!
And what made it worse, this grown 22 year old M A N sees baby girl Dakin again and goes "I'm such an idiot 🥺 I wish I could marry 🥺 someone like you 🥺🥺 but you wouldn't marry a foolish dum dum like me 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺" And Dakin, THE BABY THE BABY GIRL INFANT CHILD, of course she says yes! Because she's a child and he's A MAN. NOT JUST A 22 YEAR OLD MAN, A TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD MAN (222)!!!!! You've been imprisoned for 200 years and your first thought is "I gotta marry that 14 year old girl?" Lock his ass up AGAIN. He's the real villain here!
Last thing, I love her name maybe that's why I latched onto this book, maybe I remembered the brown skin detail and saw her name and went "That's a black queen right there!" Her sister's name being Triska? You're helping my case.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Transphobia, and Abandonment
atris_lauraborealis's review against another edition
4.0
One of my favorites as a child, it has all the best bits of a fairy tale wrapped up in a simplistic story. There's an ogre, a witch, enchanted snow, a magic well, a lost ring. The story is simply written and a bit silly and easy, but it still makes me smile to this day and wish for an adult version with more evil villains, terrifying risks and frightening twists. But for now, this will do.
lvmuth's review
5.0
This was my absolute favorite book when I first started reading 'chapter books' -- novels. I remember returning to this book over and over again when I was little, until one day, I lost track of it and ended up devastated. So glad I remembered the name of the book and found the picture of the cover from my memories. I'll have to track it down again someday and offer it to my kids.
lisalark's review
5.0
This a childhood favorite I haven't re-read in awhile. Still love it. All the classic elements of a fairytale with a fabulous main character. This one would be fun to read aloud to kids, too. Some scary bits, but not too scary.
thekatisalie's review
4.0
This was one of my favorite young reader books, growing up. I love the wonder and the adventure that the pages held. This was one of my first books starring a heroin versus a hero, and it made a lasting impression on me. I would read this book again in a heart beat!
clarabooksit's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
rpaull_13's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
kbuchanan's review
4.0
This rating is definitely based on what I remember thinking of this when I was maybe 10 or 12. Like many of the reviewers here, seeing this cover pop up in my recommendations brought back fond memories. I can't honestly say whether I'd be as devoted to it now without a re-read, but I remember loving it back in the day. Thanks for the trip down memory land, Goodreads! I never would have recalled this one without you!