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mdlnnttng's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
elarsonwhittaker's review against another edition
4.0
i worried it wouldn’t hold up to my memories of it as a kid, but this is such a lovely little book! i definitely didn’t understand all the transcendentalism but rereading it it’s a really nice overview of emerson and thoreau (with a little louisa may alcott thrown in!)
misajane79's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't enjoy this near as much as I expected to. The fantasy bits just didn't do it for me. I kept thinking of Zilpha Keatley Snyder or Edward Eager and how they're able to weave fantasy and reality and make it all seem possible. For this one, I just couldn't suspend my disbelief and I couldn't get over how creepy the whole dream thing was.
But I loved the setting and the kids, so I was trying to hold out on judging the book too much until the conclusion.
And honestly, the conclusion just left a bad taste in my mouth. Part of it was I just felt uncomfortable with some of the racial undertones in the story of Prince Krishna. Because he's Indian, he's exotic and has a relative with some otherworldly power? And when they're freed (the aging thing seemed off to me too), he and Lily are just going to set off for India, set up free elections and head on home? Ummm, seriously?
I felt like I should have liked it more--it's Concord! There's a fabulous old house in trouble! Intrepid kids! But no, it just felt dated instead of timeless. And left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
But I loved the setting and the kids, so I was trying to hold out on judging the book too much until the conclusion.
And honestly, the conclusion just left a bad taste in my mouth. Part of it was I just felt uncomfortable with some of the racial undertones in the story of Prince Krishna. Because he's Indian, he's exotic and has a relative with some otherworldly power? And when they're freed (the aging thing seemed off to me too), he and Lily are just going to set off for India, set up free elections and head on home? Ummm, seriously?
I felt like I should have liked it more--it's Concord! There's a fabulous old house in trouble! Intrepid kids! But no, it just felt dated instead of timeless. And left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
sc104906's review
3.0
Orphans, Eddy and Eleanor, live with their spinster Aunt and demented Uncle. The two stumble upon the mystery of their missing cousins. Using clues found around their house and fighting supernatural bad guys in their dreams, the children work to find money to save their beloved home.
This book was okay. Some of the fantasy sequences were interesting. I may recommend it, based on the fact that I loved the references made to famous Romantic writers.
This book was okay. Some of the fantasy sequences were interesting. I may recommend it, based on the fact that I loved the references made to famous Romantic writers.
thestarsaligned's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed revisiting this book as an adult, and found it very engaging and fun! However, I did only rate is as 4 stars due to the sexism and stereotyping throughout the book (ie. bad man from bank is fat, evil villain has a hooked nose, whenever Eleanor runs into a problem Eddy has to save the day, etc).
lucymcclellan's review against another edition
5.0
It's hard to come to a children's book for the first time as an adult. I wish I'd read this one when I was in the intended age range because I think I would have loved it. As an adult, I couldn't overlook the sexism--and I don't mean Uncle Freddy, who is a sexist character (which is fine!), I mean the book itself seems to revere the accomplishments of men only and to view women as supporters of men and nothing more. Men have ideas; women run around keeping everything together for them. That bugged me, but it's fairly subtle and would probably not bother a kid. There are some other aspects of the book that are dated, too (Krishna). I had fun reading it, though, and it provoked some interesting discussions with my daughter about Transcendentalism, civil disobedience, God, nature, and sexism, too. And Erik Blegvad's art is perfect! (Rating is from kid’s perspective.)
tcbueti's review against another edition
5.0
Reread, still love:
Scene when they are mice is amazing. All their senses, so vivid. And Eleanor “leaned against Edward, enjoying his brotherly warmth, and savoring the sense of being nothing at all, a part of the night and of the woods and nothing more.” And the breadcrumb “tasted like more”!
However:
In the first few paragraphs, Edwards has ambitions, dreams of being the explorer Trebor Nosnibor, or President of the United States. Eleanor likes a boy in her class, Benjamin Parks.
In the scene where the great minds of the past trudge through the sand and give their lights to Mrs. Truth, although there are a few unnamed people from “Asian” and “Oriental” lands, there are no women. P. 132 “Some had come by other routes, paths lay down by pioneers in other sorts of clothes, odd clothes of bizarre and foreign make, Asian garments, Oriental silks and robes, or the rags and tatters of mystics and ascetics.“
In the mirror chapter, Eleanor chooses being a mother over any of her other options: “lady-doctor”, artist, poet, teacher. Edward isn’t given a father option, He gets various scientists, mathematician, writer, professor, lawyer.
Why does Louisa May Alcott have to get married? Why does Eleanor hate her freckles so much [even though she eventually realizes (in the mirror dream, when she sees that applying make up could lead her to become “tawdry”) they’re fine] she worries that no one will ever marry her.
Romantic, exotic Prince Krishna.
Published in1962, but when IS this? Eleanor wearing a middy blouse. Edward in short pants? Uncle Freddy in knickers (but he’s daft). P170 Model T car in the garage, and Uncle Freddy bundled into police car at Walden Pond, and then Aunt Lily drives in her car to the police station—but they walk to the train station heading off to India via...?
Scene when they are mice is amazing. All their senses, so vivid. And Eleanor “leaned against Edward, enjoying his brotherly warmth, and savoring the sense of being nothing at all, a part of the night and of the woods and nothing more.” And the breadcrumb “tasted like more”!
However:
In the first few paragraphs, Edwards has ambitions, dreams of being the explorer Trebor Nosnibor, or President of the United States. Eleanor likes a boy in her class, Benjamin Parks.
In the scene where the great minds of the past trudge through the sand and give their lights to Mrs. Truth, although there are a few unnamed people from “Asian” and “Oriental” lands, there are no women. P. 132 “Some had come by other routes, paths lay down by pioneers in other sorts of clothes, odd clothes of bizarre and foreign make, Asian garments, Oriental silks and robes, or the rags and tatters of mystics and ascetics.“
In the mirror chapter, Eleanor chooses being a mother over any of her other options: “lady-doctor”, artist, poet, teacher. Edward isn’t given a father option, He gets various scientists, mathematician, writer, professor, lawyer.
Why does Louisa May Alcott have to get married? Why does Eleanor hate her freckles so much [even though she eventually realizes (in the mirror dream, when she sees that applying make up could lead her to become “tawdry”) they’re fine] she worries that no one will ever marry her.
Romantic, exotic Prince Krishna.
Published in1962, but when IS this? Eleanor wearing a middy blouse. Edward in short pants? Uncle Freddy in knickers (but he’s daft). P170 Model T car in the garage, and Uncle Freddy bundled into police car at Walden Pond, and then Aunt Lily drives in her car to the police station—but they walk to the train station heading off to India via...?
valhecka's review against another edition
3.0
I have been trying to remember what this book was called for the past EIGHT MONTHS.