Reviews

The Mystery of the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

magic_at_mungos's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

3.25

zenithharpink's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was really charming, and far better than the last two books. There was mystery, world-building and self-discovery. Patrick had clearly matured and was far less annoying. The additional characters were interesting if not entirely lovable. This was a fun, if forgettable, read. 

I recommend to young readers as well as those who enjoyed previous books, particularly the first one.

kitsuneheart's review against another edition

4.0

This is really where the series should have ended. At the beginning. In this book, we learn about the origin of the key to the cupboard, and see the diary of its first user. It's a story about two estranged sisters, propriety, greed, and regret.

While I understand that the sequel was there to wrap up the story of Little Bull, I wish it had been done in book 3. Book 4 just feels far more satisfying. Not only does Onri discover the source of the magic, but he also heals, to an extent, a rift in his family.

Of course, if you've come this far, might as well finish...but just know, this is the high point. The next book? Not so good.

kimball_hansen's review against another edition

3.0

I've read this book a ton, don't remember how many times as a youth.

Update for November 2020: 5 stars

As a kid this book was boring. Now as an adult it's really good. Especially the clever twists at the end.

I love how this book ties up all the loose ends and explains things. The only thing it doesn't explain is, why does the chest work when there was no magic involved in creating that like the cupboard.

I didn't realize there was

Spoiler

history tied to Burt stealing the jewels of Omri's great grandmother which made them poor and making Omri's mom lose her inheritance

.

I don't understand now Jessica was able to make herself into a little toy and come back if she died in real life.

Even though, I hate Patrick and think he's an idiot, sometimes he thinks of important things that Omri is oblivious to.

I didn't know his dad found out at the end.

ladyluna83's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

lovelife1008's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this book and even though I didn't read the other books in the series I still felt connected to the characters. I enjoyed finding out the backstory of the cupboard. The way that the family interacted felt believable as I can see the way the siblings acted around each other as similar to the way I act with my own siblings. I loved finding out that the book allowed for the magic to happen in regards to the cupboard.

aotora's review against another edition

4.0

This one was different. I liked it- it still has that magic aspect where the figurines come to life but it explains the origins of the cupboard and how it came to be and how the magic works. It also dives more into the family history of Omri's family and I liked that a lot. The figurines are there at the end of the story- but they are barely there aside from Omri revealing them to his father who accepts the magic way too easily - but other than that, it's a good book. Probably my favourite in the series so far.

dr4manrx's review against another edition

5.0

I must have read this book a thousand times in middle school. I don't remember much of the plot, but I was fascinated by it.

herbalmoon's review against another edition

4.0

This is a really good book, even with the characters of old missing. Learning how the cupboard and the key came to be was fascinating. After re-reading the first book, I also discovered that my childhood belief that it was a "small cupboard" (as the book said) was all wrong, and that it was more like a regular-sized medicine cabinet! (Surely no smaller than the one in my grandparents' bathroom.)

One big question that bothers me (and I see it's been carried over to the final book)...why the change to Little Bull? I know that Natives taking new names to mark significant moments in their lives means that the change could've been brought about by Little Bear becoming chief, but why wasn't that done all the way back in the second book, rather than arbitrarily popping up in the fourth?

That (seeming) error and one more made me suspicious that books four and five might be ghostwritten: fortunetelling was illegal in England (and Great Britain later on) until the year after

Spoiler

Jessie died

. As I suspected, fortunetelling was covered under witchcraft laws in their various forms until the final one was repealed in 1951. (more info) A woman who has lived in the UK all her life would not only know that, she'd probably use it to have

Spoiler

Jessie put in jail a few times, thereby proving Maria's belief that she was "wicked". Or she'd talk about Jessie having to hide her work from the authorities.

Either way, someone who knew what they were doing wouldn't casually write that their secondary protagonist made a living telling fortunes without any significant legal repercussions.

thenschultz's review against another edition

Arguably the best of the series outside the first. We loved it.