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The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden
Frances Hodgson Burnett | 2017 | Children
9
8.2 (107 Ratings)
Book Rating
A childrens classic
I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read or seen The Secret Garden. It passed me by as a child and I can understand why as i don't think the book lends itself to a younger reader with the language used. But as an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed this - all thanks to my Smashbomb secret Santa (book exchange).


This is one of the few stories with a child protagonist that I really enjoyed. Mainly because the child starts off as the usual stubborn stroppy brat, but the whole point of this story is to detail Mary's change in character. And boy does she change, and not only her but her cousin too. The character development in this book is brilliant, and whilst the plot itself is fairly basic but enjoyable, it's the characters that make this book. The writing itself is very good although not as good for younger readers as you'd expect. My only criticism is the Yorkshire characters. Whilst I'm used to the Yorkshire accent in reality, trying to read it in a book proves to be very trying and gets a little bit irritating after a while. Although it definitely does sound Yorkshire when you read it out!


Altogether a very good enjoyable and heartwarming read, that's also just about the right length for the plot.
  
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Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) Jul 2, 2019

I loved this book. I stole a second hand copy from a posh hotel in Inverness

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Aimee Bender | 2010 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved the concept of this books and as soon as I heard about it I was intrigued and wanted to read it. I read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake in a couple of days, which with 3 children rarely happens, so I continued to find it intriguing and compelling throughout.

However, I found the narrative elusive and shadowy which was often frustrating. Whilst I understand that Bender was creating a narrative largely written from the perspective of a child, from whom many things were hidden and secret, I still found that as a reader you were constantly trying to grasp what she was describing and failing. I found this made the book less plausible and destroyed the intrigue turning it into annoying gameplay.

I have read other novels with narratives from the perspective of a child such as The Earth Hums in B Flat, The Book Thief, Mister Pip, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Room etc and found these all to be written far more skillfully than Bender manages here. It is an art to realistically write through the eyes of a child but reveal things to an adult reader through the child's naive perspective of the world. If this is failed to be achieved it can leave the reader feeling frustrated and disillusioned through being led on a journey that is over-constructed and inauthentic.
  
I Can Handle It! (Mindful Mantra #1)
I Can Handle It! (Mindful Mantra #1)
Laurie Wright | 2016 | Children, Health & Fitness
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I found another good book. This one is to help with your mental health. Though it is for children. The adult may enjoy it as well. It has a Mindful Mantra that may help you or your child or children how to handle tricky situations. It is called “I Can Handle It!”

This book is a good read and teaches you how to handle some situations that you may end up in your children. It deals with some different emotions that everyone goes through. It is easy to read. Parents will want this to read to their children to help with improving their confidence.

This will help your child or children with difficult emotions and with some of their problems. This book may have some ideas to help them to deal with some of the problems that they may have. The pictures are done well. It was written well.

Parents can read this to their child or children. They will learn to practice these Mantas or saying I Can Handle it as they read it. They will have this to fall back on after they read and reread this book. It is a wonderful teachable book. I enjoy the pictures. They show off some things that we can do to solve some of our emotions that are hard to express or deal with.
  
Halloween Yoga (Little Mouse Adventures #4)
Halloween Yoga (Little Mouse Adventures #4)
Teresa Anne Power | 2022 | Children
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Are you looking for more fun and a healthy way to get your child or children to enjoy Halloween? Well, maybe this new book soon to be coming out will do the trick. “Halloween Yoga” is a sweet and cute addition to a book. It occurs during Halloween. It’s little mouse’s favorite time of year; What yoga pose will little mouse and his best friend learn from the McDowell family and friends.

I wonder what kind of Halloween yoga poses Tammy and her friends learn that are Halloween-related. Children will learn new poses but also enjoy this book as they read. This book shows how to stay calm before going trick or treating.

Can you child or children guess what the pose will be? This book continues to help children with different situations and the poses that change during each adventure. Children will learn that wellness and health will keep each child or children calm and enjoy their experience.

In each book in this series, Children learn different kinds of poses to do or enjoy. Little Mouse adventures are enjoyable to all to read—what an excellent book to add to your collection of books; or your yoga classrooms. Children can love reading about the little mouse and his best friend. Children can learn some not-so-spooky, and Halloween-themed yoga poses to try and stay calm.