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orchidlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
If there's something I love, it's found family and mystery, and this story has both! the relationships are touching and feel very real, and the mysterious plot is gripping the whole way through
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Medical content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
This was one of my favorite books as a child, but my copy got lost after loaning it to someone, and I've been waiting for years to get a new one so I could reread it. I really enjoyed it! I was surprised by how much I remembered. And like, it's true that some things about the book are problematic and on-the-nose (liking books isn't inherently good, TV isn't inherently bad, there's the ableist trope of the bad guy getting up from the wheelchair , and there's so much to unpack with all the "gifted" stuff). But still, I can't help adoring this book. I'm excited to reread the rest of the series!
Also, spoiler:I can't believe Constance is TWO?! I remembered that she was actually very young, so the whole book I was paying attention to how she spoke and acted and stuff, and in my head I was like "there's no way she's like four what the heck she's the most advanced of all of them." But I thought she was like four or five, not two!!! Wild.
Also, spoiler:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Torture, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent