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piedwarbler's review against another edition
5.0
Charming story, with the emphasis on beautiful descriptions of Elizabethan London, without the horrors of bear baiting and ordure in the streets. Made me nostalgic for the reading experiences of childhood, when somehow my imagination felt stronger, and I could make a book like this live. A really lovely Christmas book that deserves to be read every Christmas.
phoevincent's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
smemmott's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
clairetrellahill's review against another edition
5.0
I love how older books just have this JOY to them, a sort of swooping in your chest and tickle at the back of your throat from the wonder of the world through a child’s eyes and the utter certainty that no matter how bad it gets everything will be all right. The descriptions in this were simply marvelous and I knew all along what the ending would be but that didn’t make me choke up any less when it arrived.
shonagh_catherine's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
aj_denver's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this children's book off the family bookcase when I wanted a quick, easy read. It's a pleasant tale set in London during the time of Henry the VIII. There's not much plot, but the details of life in a well-off but not noble family during peacetime were interesting. The author has a reputation for historical research, so I hope I can trust her descriptions.
charlielovesbooks's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ladylegerwood's review against another edition
4.0
Sutcliff's descriptions are always so beautiful. And her characters! Oh her characters are so wonderfully drawn.
Not my most favourite, but still very good.
Not my most favourite, but still very good.
siofradelaney's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
luthien3720's review
5.0
This was a sweet little book. One of Sutcliff's stories for a juvenile audience, it's a slice of life in Tudor England, under the reign of Henry VIII and his second queen, Anne Boleyn (they have a brief cameo in the story). Pre-teen Tamsyn has been sent to London to live with relatives after her grandmother's death, and the story covers her trying to find her place in her new family and new surroundings. Unlike so many of these type of stories with tiresome "we hate you and treat you badly" families picking on the poor cousin, Tamsyn's aunt and uncle welcome her and her cousins are good to her, but it's hard to find a place in a loving family that seems complete without you. I liked how that part of the plot progressed. Sutcliff's descriptions of 1500s England make you feel like you are there seeing it. The story progresses through a year, covering different seasons and events (May Day--I loved the description of the Morris dancers; Halloween, Christmas). I particularly enjoyed Sutcliff's chapter on the tale of Tam Lin. It wouldn't make a whole novel on its own, but putting it as a story told by Aunt Deborah to the children on Halloween night was perfect. Many historical stories for children put young characters into major world events, meeting famous people, but I think a story like this, just about life at the time, captures the historical feeling much better. This book was a pleasant discovery.