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jnishi's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.75. A good quick read that flew by. Not much character development but I liked that the match girl was given a voice. Good historical fiction. Have a very clear yet horrific look at the industrial period in Britain.
popgoesbitty's review against another edition
3.0
A really beautiful novel about women and child labor conditions in Victorian era London. The book is a rewrite by the author, who wanted to give a voice (and a little bit more depth) to the protagonist from The Little Match Girl story. Love, love, love.
evenstr's review
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
3.0
rebekahy's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant story based on fact but with a magical twist to it. Aimed at 7-10 year olds its a simple read but powerful story none the less.
scoutabout's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-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
4.0
kevinmccarrick's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-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
4.0
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
A sequel/re-writing that brings context and social issues to 'light'.
It's one of the saddest, Andersen's Little Match Girl Story. Carroll makes sure her protagonist references this early on and several times, Bridie a close contemporary and fellow match worker. Bridie isn't Andersen's fated heroine. She may be dirt poor, sharing shoes in her small family, dreaming of earning enough for a decent meal, worried about her mother in the match factory.
But she's not helpless or accepting of any fate. The book gives the reader real insight into real-life conditions for those selling matches on the street, those making them in poisonous factory conditions, and all those Victoria families who had no welfare system to catch them if they fell. That alone makes this worth reading.
An aspect that didn't appeal to me but probably will to young readers is the magical realism, the magic matches that allow Bridie to see how others are living and spurs her on to 'strike back'. I thought this could have been achieved without 'magic'. But it's not my book so that's not really important. It works in the book and children will like this aspect.
I was glad to see extra notes on the real lives of workers, with photos, showing that while the story might be fiction, the lives like Bridie's and her family's were anything but. The actions Bridie instigates were also real and had real impact both locally and on a wider scale. Stirring stuff.
Loved Child's illustrations too, red/white/black was striking, and the whole book flew by in a few short chapters. There's nothing overly upsetting here for a primary-aged reader, and seeing children and workers take their futures and health into their own hands is both timely and something I'd want the next generation to see as something they can achieve themselves together, as we have done in the past.
For ages 8-12.
It's one of the saddest, Andersen's Little Match Girl Story. Carroll makes sure her protagonist references this early on and several times, Bridie a close contemporary and fellow match worker. Bridie isn't Andersen's fated heroine. She may be dirt poor, sharing shoes in her small family, dreaming of earning enough for a decent meal, worried about her mother in the match factory.
But she's not helpless or accepting of any fate. The book gives the reader real insight into real-life conditions for those selling matches on the street, those making them in poisonous factory conditions, and all those Victoria families who had no welfare system to catch them if they fell. That alone makes this worth reading.
An aspect that didn't appeal to me but probably will to young readers is the magical realism, the magic matches that allow Bridie to see how others are living and spurs her on to 'strike back'. I thought this could have been achieved without 'magic'. But it's not my book so that's not really important. It works in the book and children will like this aspect.
I was glad to see extra notes on the real lives of workers, with photos, showing that while the story might be fiction, the lives like Bridie's and her family's were anything but. The actions Bridie instigates were also real and had real impact both locally and on a wider scale. Stirring stuff.
Loved Child's illustrations too, red/white/black was striking, and the whole book flew by in a few short chapters. There's nothing overly upsetting here for a primary-aged reader, and seeing children and workers take their futures and health into their own hands is both timely and something I'd want the next generation to see as something they can achieve themselves together, as we have done in the past.
For ages 8-12.
chlobro123456789's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
mayasowerby's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5