Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

17 reviews

leaterary's review against another edition

fast-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Death of parent

fyre_flies's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia

vezreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny reflective slow-paced

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent

ellenravioli's review against another edition

• 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Racism, and Death of parent

hedyharper's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

vagorsol's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Child abuse

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

xandra_lyn's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

I had never read the secret garden before, but I absolutely loved it! The themes of people - and things - growing and blosso ing when shown a little bit of love are so appropriate for this day and age.

There are some inappropriate remarks about Indians (from India), and also a casual mention of a wife getting beaten.  I hated to see those in an otherwise wonderful story. I know it was fine for the time, but it's hard to see thosw things thrown in so casually.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Racism

Minor: Domestic abuse

It's clear that both Mary and Colin were neglected emotionally which constitutes abuse in my mind. Domestic abuse: an older gardener mentions that a villager beat his wife, and nothing is said about this being wrong (in fact there is some victim blaming along with it) Racism: some derogatory things said about Indians

fifth_magpie's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent

Minor: Racism

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

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