Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

9 reviews

dalek_caan's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

This book was okay, I had been meaning to read it for a while and I thought a light classic children's book would be kind of fun. It was definitely boring in a modern context but given its intended original audience I feel like in a historical context it might have been a good book. I'm glad I tried it but probably didn't need to sit through the whole thing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Medical trauma, and Forced institutionalization

woodenrust's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Ableism, and Racism

Moderate: Colonisation, Chronic illness, and Medical trauma

Minor: Physical abuse, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, and Death

Abundant racism throughout the book, and a child is presumed to be disabled and spoken of in a manner as if he's less than human because of this assumption. Also, adults in the household actively work to convince this child that he's severely sick and is going to die young, which caused him to develop some mental issues around believing he's going to die and becomes a hypochondriac. Parental death is mentioned throughout but in no great detail.

a_bloom's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a reread from my Childhood and it made me realize why I loved this book so much. While the beginning has some questionable language about class and race (as to be expected of an older book) it's message is beautiful. Reading at different ages and phases in life reveals extra messages and the beautiful complexity of these characters stuck in a partially unknown time of our modern day... Yet the events and lessons and feelings and conversations doesn't feel that outdated besides the language shift.
I adore the characters and the magic they bring to the story. I adore the descriptions of nature and growing friendship. I adore the hope in the impossible and the magical. I adore a feel good story in the midst of everyday tragedy. No wonder I would read this year after year growing up... It was beautiful and gave me hope. Very few books actually make me emotional to the point of crying, but if I'd taken the time to read it straight in one sitting I probably would have. 
If you don't know if you'd like classics or think they're too hard or boring then I BEG YOU TO READ THE SECRET GARDEN. Because at first it is a cruel indifference that quickly turns to kindness. God I love this book and hope that everyone gets the chance to read it. Devour it. And let it sit within your soul as you grow. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Ableism, Body shaming, Grief, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Mental illness

Minor: Slavery, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

orchidlilly's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Medical content, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Ableism, and Body shaming

Moderate: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Confinement

Minor: Colonisation

sasquatch_3's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Racism

strawbibble's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment, Ableism, Child abuse, Body shaming, Classism, Colonisation, and Medical trauma

livelaughomo's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, and Ableism

Moderate: Death of parent and Racism

Minor: Death

nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional slow-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

3.0

It was so hard to get through this book. If I didn’t have the audiobook, I don’t think I would have. It’s slow and dry as really all classics are but also these characters are racist as heck! Holy moly! 

I did enjoy that these kids came together as a found family and became well adjusted because they were spoiled brats in the beginning. 

The only nice and likeable character in this book is Dickon. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, and Abandonment

veganecurrywurst's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-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

4.0

“At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done--then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.”

I am giving a very generous  4.25 stars. I did enjoy the book. It's an easy read and serves as a nice escape from everday life. I also liked how this book puts emphasis on the beauty of nature. 
However, I don't belive that this is a good childrens book:

1. Constant Bodyshaming
2. Racism... like it's alot. The way Mary and all the other characters speak(/treat) about India and Indians is just horrible.
3. Ableism
4. Collin's dad really failed as a father? I mean there are no consequences for him whatsoever
5. There is one part in the book where Collins says that it's the fault of the women that her husband hits her.

This book is more for young adults, who want to feel nostalgic or like dark academia/ cottagecore. I feel like this book could be edited (of course without changing the storyline) to be less racist ?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexism