Reviews with content warning for Racism - Five Children and It

It's clear that E Nesbitt was a funny writer, and in many ways ahead of her time. It's all so clear that a book this old has serious problems for a modern reader. There is racism, search a terrible class structure and on a less contentious level the language for children use is just massively dated.

All that said, the story is clever and wise. I just really struggled to see past those other things.

Content Warnings

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

One of the less racist, less sexist children’s books from the early 1900s I’ve read so far (there is insensitive rep of Native Americans and there’s some toxic masculinity related to fighting and not crying)! This is a fun story about magic and all the ways wishes can go awry. I realized I must have seen a TV adaptation of this book as a kid, because some of the chapters were extremely familiar.

Content Warnings

laralarks's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

NO.

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