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travel_in_pages's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
electricjuicebox's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book as a kid, and revisiting it was so comfortingly nostalgic! It's still a delightful read.
harukoreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was a nostalgic reread, and it's definitely one of the more interesting ones I've done. This book, and Eva Ibbotson's work in general, seems to embody both the best and worst of the British children's literature of the period. At its best it's quirky and charming, and at its worst it's needlessly cruel (why does this book hate fat people so much??). That said, I am glad I reread this, and I do think this is one of the more enjoyable rereads I've done this year, even if I wouldn't recommend it to kids now.
booksandbabble's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Kidnapping
oweatherwax's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
alternbruno's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
A charmingly dull story with no pretensions of grand morals or ever longing lessons, which is quite frequently the death of the fantasy books made for children. The snarks toward the rich and the tantrums of the spoiled were nice cherries on top.
Character development is a miss, setting is plain and mild, but the effort for the whimsical and the well-behaved are worth almost all the rating (with an extra for making it funny and entertaining).
Character development is a miss, setting is plain and mild, but the effort for the whimsical and the well-behaved are worth almost all the rating (with an extra for making it funny and entertaining).
rachelfreedman's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
This was a childhood favorite of mine that I reread recently for a palate cleanser and it really highlighted the challenge of writing good children’s literature. The book both captures the sense of childhood wonder and quietly reminds us the importance of being good and kind to others.
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
A fun and magical story but I didn’t like the whole mistaken identity stuff and how that was handled.
I was curious about this book, also because I just LOVED the cover. The blurb also sounds interesting and so I picked it up, along with book 2 which I plan to read this week (as I didn’t have time to do so during my vacation).
Let’s start with the good: I do love the idea of a magical island. Of a magical entrance to that island. That is accessible once every x years and that everyone can get into, no matter what. If you know about it you are allowed to come. Of magic and ghosts that just wander around us. Odge was adorable and a fun character and one of the few who actually was questioning things and wondering if maybe it wasn’t someone else. I loved her different eyes, I loved how sweet she was. There was Nanny and her plotline just had me sad for her and for how it would end. Because we know how it ends. I loved seeing all the magical creatures. The mistmakers were just ADORABLE and I would love one. The illustrations were fab (as I thought it would be). The story was fun written and in a way that just made you WANT to read and read and read and read.
I am deducing one star for the ridiculous and stupidly written mistaken identity stuff. It would have been fun if it didn’t TAKE THE WHOLE BOOK. Now it was blatantly obvious to the reader that Ben was the prince (I don’t see this as a spoiler, especially since he is on the cover and not to mention all the other things) and that Raymond was just Dudley only less fat and with more money. Come on. Raymond LOOKS like his mother. Raymond is scared of magic. Raymond doesn’t care about magic. Ben can whistle. Ben can take care of magical creatures. Ben doesn’t look like Mrs Trottle. Ben has NO parents. Ben can see ghosts. Ben has memories. But does anyone actually look? No. They just go by the, well she stole a boy and then don’t give a hoot about the rest. It was just annoying and frustrating and definitely spoiled my reading experience.
So there is a lot to love.. if only the mistaken identity was done better this would have been 5+. But for now it is 4 stars.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was curious about this book, also because I just LOVED the cover. The blurb also sounds interesting and so I picked it up, along with book 2 which I plan to read this week (as I didn’t have time to do so during my vacation).
Let’s start with the good: I do love the idea of a magical island. Of a magical entrance to that island. That is accessible once every x years and that everyone can get into, no matter what. If you know about it you are allowed to come. Of magic and ghosts that just wander around us. Odge was adorable and a fun character and one of the few who actually was questioning things and wondering if maybe it wasn’t someone else. I loved her different eyes, I loved how sweet she was. There was Nanny and her plotline just had me sad for her and for how it would end. Because we know how it ends. I loved seeing all the magical creatures. The mistmakers were just ADORABLE and I would love one. The illustrations were fab (as I thought it would be). The story was fun written and in a way that just made you WANT to read and read and read and read.
I am deducing one star for the ridiculous and stupidly written mistaken identity stuff. It would have been fun if it didn’t TAKE THE WHOLE BOOK. Now it was blatantly obvious to the reader that Ben was the prince (I don’t see this as a spoiler, especially since he is on the cover and not to mention all the other things) and that Raymond was just Dudley only less fat and with more money. Come on. Raymond LOOKS like his mother. Raymond is scared of magic. Raymond doesn’t care about magic. Ben can whistle. Ben can take care of magical creatures. Ben doesn’t look like Mrs Trottle. Ben has NO parents. Ben can see ghosts. Ben has memories. But does anyone actually look? No. They just go by the, well she stole a boy and then don’t give a hoot about the rest. It was just annoying and frustrating and definitely spoiled my reading experience.
So there is a lot to love.. if only the mistaken identity was done better this would have been 5+. But for now it is 4 stars.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/