shadereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol and Animal death
crystal_reading's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story of three children raised by wolves and their new (very young almost too good to be true) nanny.
frogie's review against another edition
4.0
Dec. 14-16, 2020
A fairly quick read that kept me curious all throughout. A definite breath of fresh air.
A fairly quick read that kept me curious all throughout. A definite breath of fresh air.
smaugerella's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Do you like plucky heroines/governesses, witty asides, clever narrators, light gothic elements, an undercurrent of mystery, unique character names, and/or ferns? This book is for you.
Honestly, this book is possibly for everyone, but especially English majors (*cough* me). The series was described to me as “a better Series of of Unfortunate Events in the style of Jane Eyre”, and nowhere did it disappoint.
Honestly, this book is possibly for everyone, but especially English majors (*cough* me). The series was described to me as “a better Series of of Unfortunate Events in the style of Jane Eyre”, and nowhere did it disappoint.
decafplease's review against another edition
5.0
I know that there are people of the opinion that this is rather Lemony Snicket-ish. But since I couldn't even suffer through the first chapter of one of his books, all I can is that this is a book that is quintessentially funny, darkly. I don't really come across this sort of humour a lot in children's books. It has irony, caricatures, dark humor, and a few characters that are downright pitiful and ridiculous. And to top it off is our lovely, admirable governess Penelope, who has some admittedly impossible ideals but a huge heart, dealing with three children that have been raised by wolves! Throughout the book the children are notoriously fond of chasing squirrels. So Penelope devises a squirrel disensitisation program: "I will have the children read Hamlet as soon as it is practical. There are some useful precautions against eavesdropping to be gleaned from that. In the meantime, we shall deal with the squirrels." I think her resolution typifies the very ambivalence of her character. I know that she carries some impossibly high hopes for those children, but we come to see that she does everything out of good intention for the children. And really, she's just doing her best being in an extraordinary situation. Oh, another thing, I love the commentaries provided by the narrator, who says things like "Oh, there's also that famous fictional contemporary of hers, Sherlock Holmes, who is also brilliant at deduction, but she doesn't know that, yet." Fully anticipating the second book now. Meanwhile, I'll read this again when I have time!
hereistheend's review against another edition
3.0
so quirky and sweet. love the cover so much. hard to get into (but im going through a phase that every book is hard to get into :/ ) but once you do, it's adorable.
kiramke's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
Charming background listen for a sick day. I shall forget all about it until the next rainy day I need some sound.
elinacre's review against another edition
3.0
a strange and fun little book, raucous but unfulfilling--i'll have to read the next in the series to see if questions are answered!
prynne31's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Good story but no ending!