2.5/5
The thing is, I first read the book when I was around 7, and let's just say I did not remember there being colonial racism and ableism in the book but that was probably because I did not notice it back then... 😔
Although those elements make sense since this was written in the 1900s. Nonetheless, it was still shocking to read this book that I remembered and is reputed for being a bittersweet and wholesome tale. There is not TOO much colonial racism but keep in mind it does contain some. Ableism was coming up more frequently so it was quite distracting for me to read. （；´д｀）ゞ On top of that, the pacing was a little slow and the language used in the book was a bit challenging as it is quite dated.
Anyway, as for the story, it was still enjoyable as we get to the kids in the novel bond and heal each other. The plot was more complicated than what I remembered but still easy to follow nonetheless. The book does wonderfully explore themes of change, growth, and healing extremely well. Also, the depiction of nature and the environment is very well done.
Overall, it was a good tale about healing, taking care of others, and nature's wonders. However, colonial racism and ableism make the unfortunate novel a lot less enjoyable so keep that in mind before proceeding to read.