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A review by lesserjoke
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
3.0
This 1812 children's classic of a shipwrecked family is understandably old-fashioned, but it's still a fun read. Although the action is incredibly episodic with almost no ongoing plot or sense of real danger, the characters' plucky optimism makes it easy to root for them as they set up their new island home. It’s a welcome change from their dreary namesake Robinson Crusoe, and a nice picture of a family that sometimes bickers but always pulls together.
[With that being said, modern readers, especially those looking to share the story with young children, should be aware of some mild racism and colonial attitudes in this text. The island has no other human life, but the castaways occasionally discuss "Negroes" and "savages" in disparaging terms. These moments are unfortunately typical for the time of publication, but can be jarring amid the general pleasantness of the story.]
[With that being said, modern readers, especially those looking to share the story with young children, should be aware of some mild racism and colonial attitudes in this text. The island has no other human life, but the castaways occasionally discuss "Negroes" and "savages" in disparaging terms. These moments are unfortunately typical for the time of publication, but can be jarring amid the general pleasantness of the story.]