unicornrhyfedd's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Animal cruelty, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
theworstofit's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Domestic abuse
aeriefaeriee's review
5.0
absolute classic comfort read but my opinion might be totally biased because this is a childhood favourite of mine
skeleton_richard's review
1.0
Well, I'm depressed now.
The Peasants' Revolt and its aftermath from the viewpoint of a dog. Obviously since the narrator is a dog, she doesn't have much direct experience with the Revolt, though the main events are described by humans, so it focuses more on her life than the time period. I was hoping for more engagement with the history but it makes sense. What parts of the history do appear are integrated into the story very well, neither giving the narrator too much knowledge nor forgetting it's supposed to take place in 1381 and the years after. The references to real figures, like John Ball (who actually appears early on but is not named) are fun and contextualize it well.
I was reminded several times of [b:The Book of the Dun Cow|77721|The Book of the Dun Cow (Chauntecleer the Rooster, #1)|Walter Wangerin Jr.|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388271082s/77721.jpg|75067] series, especially the third book because much of it focuses on several wolves. Though mostly, like the Book of the Dun Cow, it's really violent, both in descriptions of hunting and the abuse of both humans and animals. It was yet another example of my favorite trope, "Making The Villain Super Obviously Evil Through Abuse." Yay. I'm not a prude and I'm not against violence in children's media, but I thought all the instances of animal abuse probably shouldn't be in a children's book. I do know that had I read this when I was a child, I would have been very upset by it.
"But Fyo," I hear you say, "Redwall is pretty violent and that's one of your favorite books from childhood." Redwall's violence is different though-- it's played out in an anthropromorphic medieval universe where much of the violence is combat-related and wasn't depictions of abuse that happens in the real world. I don't know why I'm so hung up on this but I am.
The ending is not as depressing as it could be, I'll give it that. The Peasants' Revolt did not end well and I did not expect this to be a happy book, but at least it avoided a total downer ending. After this and the last book I read, I need to read something happy.
The Peasants' Revolt and its aftermath from the viewpoint of a dog. Obviously since the narrator is a dog, she doesn't have much direct experience with the Revolt, though the main events are described by humans, so it focuses more on her life than the time period. I was hoping for more engagement with the history but it makes sense. What parts of the history do appear are integrated into the story very well, neither giving the narrator too much knowledge nor forgetting it's supposed to take place in 1381 and the years after. The references to real figures, like John Ball (who actually appears early on but is not named) are fun and contextualize it well.
I was reminded several times of [b:The Book of the Dun Cow|77721|The Book of the Dun Cow (Chauntecleer the Rooster, #1)|Walter Wangerin Jr.|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388271082s/77721.jpg|75067] series, especially the third book because much of it focuses on several wolves. Though mostly, like the Book of the Dun Cow, it's really violent, both in descriptions of hunting and the abuse of both humans and animals. It was yet another example of my favorite trope, "Making The Villain Super Obviously Evil Through Abuse." Yay. I'm not a prude and I'm not against violence in children's media, but I thought all the instances of animal abuse probably shouldn't be in a children's book. I do know that had I read this when I was a child, I would have been very upset by it.
"But Fyo," I hear you say, "Redwall is pretty violent and that's one of your favorite books from childhood." Redwall's violence is different though-- it's played out in an anthropromorphic medieval universe where much of the violence is combat-related and wasn't depictions of abuse that happens in the real world. I don't know why I'm so hung up on this but I am.
The ending is not as depressing as it could be, I'll give it that. The Peasants' Revolt did not end well and I did not expect this to be a happy book, but at least it avoided a total downer ending. After this and the last book I read, I need to read something happy.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Who would have thought that a children's book about a dog living in England in 1381 would have such a realistic feel? The dog experiences losing her master and mistress, captured and imprisoned by men who don't like the peasants revolting. The dog experiences losing her puppies. The dog experiences the difficulties of trying to find food in lean times. An unexpectedly stark look at life during these times. So stark that I would caution parents of sensitive children.
mat_tobin's review
5.0
Set in England in the year 1381, Branford's novel takes place during the uprising of the peasants against the taxtations which were driving them to poverty. Yet this historical has an unusual twist in which we almost have an observer-narrator of sorts in the guise of a hunting dog whose thoughts and are as human as yours or mine.
As a form for looking afar (emotionally) yet physically close, the narrator offers an almost detached view of the atrocities which befell thousands during these oppressive times and she can be seen as a true moral compass in times where morality seems to have evaded much of the country. I soon found myself caring for and placing the deepest trust in her.
What struck me most though was not the excellent storyline or sense that the landscape which she lives in is so well evoked, it is the masterful prose. Each sentence is a treat, each reflection and observation meaningful and deeply touching. Although I state that this could be shared with KS2, I only mean Year 6 and even then the most mature and reflective of readers.
As a form for looking afar (emotionally) yet physically close, the narrator offers an almost detached view of the atrocities which befell thousands during these oppressive times and she can be seen as a true moral compass in times where morality seems to have evaded much of the country. I soon found myself caring for and placing the deepest trust in her.
What struck me most though was not the excellent storyline or sense that the landscape which she lives in is so well evoked, it is the masterful prose. Each sentence is a treat, each reflection and observation meaningful and deeply touching. Although I state that this could be shared with KS2, I only mean Year 6 and even then the most mature and reflective of readers.
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