A Little Princess (Annotated): A Tar & Feather Classic: Straight Up with a Twist: A Tar & Feather Classic: Straight Up with a Twist

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

~Straight up: Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess
~The twist: an introduction by you.
~ Annotated literary pairing for a truly immersive experience.

This children’s classic is the story of Sara Crewe, a student at Miss Minchin's London school who is left to poverty when her father dies. But all is not as it seems and she is rescued by a mysterious stranger. It is story of love and ultimately redemption.
Presented with perfect pairing partners for epicurean pleasure, this Tar & Feather Classic also features an introduction where you are the author- creating a truly bespoke gift or addition to your personal library.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tar & Feather
• Release date: Sep 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9788834182307

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Francis Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) was a novelist and playwright born in England but raised in the United States. As a child, she was an avid reader who also wrote her own stories. What was initially a hobby would soon become a legitimate and respected career. As a late-teen, she published her first story in Godey's Lady's Book and was a regular contributor to several periodicals. She began producing novels starting with That Lass o’ Lowrie’s followed by Haworth’s and Louisiana. Yet, she was best known for her children’s books including Little Lord Fauntleroy and The Secret Garden.

Book preview

Publishing

Chapter 1

Sara

Once on a dark winter's day, when the yellow fog hung so thick and heavy in the streets of London that the lamps were lighted and the shop windows blazed with gas as they do at night, an odd-looking little girl sat in a cab with her father and was driven rather slowly through the big thoroughfares.

She sat with her feet tucked under her, and leaned against her father, who held her in his arm, as she stared out of the window at the passing people with a queer old-fashioned thoughtfulness in her big eyes.

She was such a little girl that one did not expect to see such a look on her small face. It would have been an old look for a child of twelve, and Sara Crewe was only seven. The fact was, however, that she was always dreaming and thinking odd things and could not herself remember any time when she had not been thinking things about grown-up people and the world they belonged to. She felt as if she had lived a long, long time.

At this moment she was remembering the voyage she had just made from Bombay with her father, Captain Crewe. She was thinking of the big ship, of the Lascars passing silently to and fro on it, of the children playing about on the hot deck, and of some young officers' wives who used to try to make her talk to them and laugh at the things she said.

Principally, she was thinking of what a queer thing it was that at one time one was in India in the blazing sun, and then in the middle of the ocean, and then driving in a strange vehicle through strange streets where the day was as dark as the night. She found this so puzzling that she moved closer to her father.

Papa, she said in a low, mysterious little voice which was almost a whisper, papa.

What is it, darling? Captain Crewe answered, holding her closer and looking down into her face. What is Sara thinking of?

Is this the place? Sara whispered, cuddling still closer to him. Is it, papa?

Yes, little Sara, it is. We have reached it at last. And though she was only seven years old, she knew that he felt sad when he said it.

It seemed to her many years since he had begun to prepare her mind for the place, as she always called it. Her mother had died when she was born, so she had never known or missed her. Her young, handsome, rich, petting father seemed to be the only relation she had in the world. They had always played together and been fond of each other. She only knew he was rich because she had heard people say so when they thought she was not listening, and she had also heard them say that when she grew up she would be rich, too. She did not know all that being rich meant. She had always lived in a beautiful bungalow, and had been used to seeing many servants who made salaams to her and called her Missee Sahib, and gave her her own way in everything. She had had toys and pets and an ayah who worshipped her, and she had gradually learned that people who were rich had these things. That, however, was all she knew about it.

During her short life only one thing had troubled her, and that thing was the place she was to be taken to some day. The climate of India was very bad for children, and as soon as possible they were sent away from it—generally to England and to school. She had seen other children go away, and had heard their fathers and mothers talk about the letters they received from them. She had known that she would be obliged to go also, and though sometimes her father's stories of the voyage and the new country had attracted her, she had been troubled by the thought that he could not stay with her.

Couldn't you go to that place with me, papa? she had asked when she was five years old. Couldn't you go to school, too? I would help you with your lessons.

But you will not have to stay for a very long time, little Sara, he had always said. You will go to a nice house where there will be a lot of little girls, and you will play together, and I will send you plenty of books, and you will grow so fast that it will seem scarcely a year before you are big enough and clever enough to come back and take care of papa.

She had liked to think of that. To keep the house for her father; to ride with him, and sit at the head of his table when he had dinner parties; to talk to him and read his books—that would be what she would like most in the world, and if one must go away to the place in England to attain it, she must make up her mind to go. She did not care very much for other little girls, but if she had plenty of books she could console herself. She liked books more than anything else, and was, in fact, always inventing stories of beautiful things and telling them to herself. Sometimes she had told them to her father, and he had liked them as much as she did.

Well, papa, she said softly, if we are here I suppose we must be resigned.

He laughed at her old-fashioned speech and kissed her. He was really not at all resigned himself, though he knew he must keep that a secret. His quaint little Sara had been a great companion to him, and he felt he should be a lonely fellow when, on his return to India, he went into his bungalow knowing he need not expect to see the small figure in its white frock come forward to meet him. So he held her very closely in his arms as the cab rolled into the big, dull square in which stood the house which was their destination.

It was a big, dull, brick house, exactly like all the others in its row, but that on the front door there shone a brass plate on which was engraved in black letters:

MISS MINCHIN, 

Select Seminary for Young Ladies.

Here we are, Sara, said Captain Crewe, making his voice sound as cheerful as possible. Then he lifted her out of the cab and they mounted the steps and rang the bell. Sara often thought afterward that the house was somehow exactly like Miss Minchin. It was respectable and well furnished, but everything in it was ugly; and the very armchairs seemed to have hard bones in them. In the hall everything was hard and polished—even the red cheeks of the moon face on the tall clock in the corner had a severe varnished look. The drawing room into which they were ushered was covered by a carpet with a square pattern upon it, the chairs were square, and a heavy marble timepiece stood upon the heavy marble mantel.

As she sat down in one of the stiff mahogany chairs, Sara cast one of her quick looks about her.

I don't like it, papa, she said. But then I dare say soldiers—even brave ones—don't really LIKE going into battle.

Captain Crewe laughed outright at this. He was young and full of fun, and he never tired of hearing Sara's queer speeches.

Oh, little Sara, he said. What shall I do when I have no one to say solemn things to me? No one else is as solemn as you are.

But why do solemn things make you laugh so? inquired Sara.

Because you are such fun when you say them, he answered, laughing still more. And then suddenly he swept her into his arms and kissed her very hard, stopping laughing all at once and looking almost as if tears had come into his eyes.

It was just then that Miss Minchin entered the room. She was very like her house, Sara felt: tall and dull, and respectable and ugly. She had large, cold, fishy eyes, and a large, cold, fishy smile. It spread itself into a very large smile when she saw Sara and Captain Crewe. She had heard a great many desirable things of the young soldier from the lady who had recommended her school to him. Among other things, she had heard that he was a rich father who was willing to spend a great deal of money on his little daughter.

It will be a great privilege to have charge of such a beautiful and promising child, Captain Crewe, she said, taking Sara's hand and stroking it. Lady Meredith has told me of her unusual cleverness. A clever child is a great treasure in an establishment like mine.

Sara stood quietly, with her eyes fixed upon Miss Minchin's face. She was thinking something odd, as usual.

Why does she say I am a beautiful child? she was thinking. I am not beautiful at all. Colonel Grange's little girl, Isobel, is beautiful. She has dimples and rose-colored cheeks, and long hair the color of gold. I have short black hair and green eyes; besides which, I am a thin child and not fair in the least. I am one of the ugliest children I ever saw. She is beginning by telling a story.

She was mistaken, however, in thinking she was an ugly child. She was not in the least like Isobel Grange, who had been the beauty of the regiment, but she had an odd charm of her own. She was a slim, supple creature, rather tall for her age, and had an intense, attractive little face. Her hair was heavy and quite black and only curled at the tips; her eyes were greenish gray, it is true, but they were big, wonderful eyes with long, black lashes, and though she herself did not like the color of them, many other people did. Still she was very firm in her belief that she was an ugly little girl, and she was not at all elated by Miss Minchin's flattery.

I should be telling a story if I said she was beautiful, she thought; and I should know I was telling a story. I believe I am as ugly as she is—in my way. What did she say that for?

After she had known Miss Minchin longer she learned why she had said it. She discovered that she said the same thing to each papa and mamma who brought a child to her school.

Sara stood near her father and listened while he and Miss Minchin talked. She had been brought to the seminary because Lady Meredith's two little girls had been educated there, and Captain Crewe had a great respect for Lady Meredith's experience. Sara was to be what was known as a parlor boarder, and she was to enjoy even greater privileges than parlor boarders usually did. She was to have a pretty bedroom and sitting room of her own; she was to have a pony and a carriage, and a maid to take the place of the ayah who had been her nurse in India.

I am not in the least anxious about her education, Captain Crewe said, with his gay laugh, as he held Sara's hand and patted it. The difficulty will be to keep her from learning too fast and too much. She is always sitting with her little nose burrowing into books. She doesn't read them, Miss Minchin; she gobbles them up as if she were a little wolf instead of a little girl. She is always starving for new books to gobble, and she wants grown-up books—great, big, fat ones—French and German as well as English—history and biography and poets, and all sorts of things. Drag her away from her books when she reads too much. Make her ride her pony in the Row or go out and buy a new doll. She ought to play more with dolls.

Papa, said Sara, you see, if I went out and bought a new doll every few days I should have more than I could be fond of. Dolls ought to be intimate friends. Emily is going to be my intimate friend.

Captain Crewe looked at Miss Minchin and Miss Minchin looked at Captain Crewe.

Who is Emily? she inquired.

Tell her, Sara, Captain Crewe said, smiling.

Sara's green-gray eyes looked very solemn and quite soft as she answered.

She is a doll I haven't got yet, she said. She is a doll papa is going to buy for me. We are going out together to find her. I have called her Emily. She is going to be my friend when papa is gone. I want her to talk to about him.

Miss Minchin's large, fishy smile became very flattering indeed.

What an original child! she said. What a darling little creature!

Yes, said Captain Crewe, drawing Sara close. She is a darling little creature. Take great care of her for me, Miss Minchin.

Sara stayed with her father at his hotel for several days; in fact, she remained with him until he sailed away again to India. They went out and visited many big shops together, and bought a great many things. They bought, indeed, a great many more things than Sara needed; but Captain Crewe was a rash, innocent young man and wanted his little girl to have everything she admired and everything he admired himself, so between them they collected a wardrobe much too grand for a child of seven. There were velvet dresses trimmed with costly furs, and lace dresses, and embroidered ones, and hats with great, soft ostrich feathers, and ermine coats and muffs, and boxes of tiny gloves and handkerchiefs and silk stockings in such abundant supplies that the polite young women behind the counters whispered to each other that the odd little girl with the big, solemn eyes must be at least some foreign princess—perhaps the little daughter of an Indian rajah.

And at last they found Emily, but they went to a number of toy shops and looked at a great many dolls before they discovered her.

I want her to look as if she wasn't a doll really, Sara said. I want her to look as if she LISTENS when I talk to her. The trouble with dolls, papa—and she put her head on one side and reflected as she said it—the trouble with dolls is that they never seem to HEAR. So they looked at big ones and little ones—at dolls with black eyes and dolls with blue—at dolls with brown curls and dolls with golden braids, dolls dressed and dolls undressed.

You see, Sara said when they were examining one who had no clothes. If, when I find her, she has no frocks, we can take her to a dressmaker and have her things made to fit. They will fit better if they are tried on.

After a number of disappointments they decided to walk and look in at the shop windows and let the cab follow them. They had passed two or three places without even going in, when, as they were approaching a shop which was really not a very large one, Sara suddenly started and clutched her father's arm.

Oh, papa! she cried. There is Emily!

A flush had risen to her face and there was an expression in her green-gray eyes as if she had just recognized someone she was intimate with and fond of.

She is actually waiting there for us! she said. Let us go in to her.

Dear me, said Captain Crewe, I feel as if we ought to have someone to introduce us.

You must introduce me and I will introduce you, said Sara. But I knew her the minute I saw her—so perhaps she knew me, too.

Perhaps she had known her. She had certainly a very intelligent expression in her eyes when Sara took her in her arms. She was a large doll, but not too large to carry about easily; she had naturally curling golden-brown hair, which hung like a mantle about her, and her eyes were a deep, clear, gray-blue, with soft, thick eyelashes which were real eyelashes and not mere painted lines.

Of course, said Sara, looking into her face as she held her on her knee, of course papa, this is Emily.

So Emily was bought and actually taken to a children's outfitter's shop and measured for a wardrobe as grand as Sara's own. She had lace frocks, too, and velvet and muslin ones, and hats and coats and beautiful lace-trimmed underclothes, and gloves and handkerchiefs and furs.

I should like her always to look as if she was a child with a good mother, said Sara. I'm her mother, though I am going to make a companion of her.

Captain Crewe would really have enjoyed the shopping tremendously, but that a sad thought kept tugging at his heart. This all meant that he was going to be separated from his beloved, quaint little comrade.

He got out of his bed in the middle of that night and went and stood looking down at Sara, who lay asleep with Emily in her arms. Her black hair was spread out on the pillow and Emily's golden-brown hair mingled with it, both of them had lace-ruffled nightgowns, and both had long eyelashes which lay and curled up on their cheeks. Emily looked so like a real child that Captain Crewe felt glad she was there. He drew a big sigh and pulled his mustache with a boyish expression.

Heigh-ho, little Sara! he said to himself I don't believe you know how much your daddy will miss you.

The next day he took her to Miss Minchin's and left her there. He was to sail away the next morning. He explained to Miss Minchin that his solicitors, Messrs. Barrow & Skipworth, had charge of his affairs in England and would give her any advice she wanted, and that they would pay the bills she sent in for Sara's expenses. He would write to Sara twice a week, and she was to be given every pleasure she asked for.

She is a sensible little thing, and she never wants anything it isn't safe to give her, he said.

Then he went with Sara into her little sitting room and they bade each other good-by. Sara sat on his knee and held the lapels of his coat in her small hands, and looked long and hard at his face.

Are you learning me by heart, little Sara? he said, stroking her hair.

No, she answered. I know you by heart. You are inside my heart. And they put their arms round each other and kissed as if they would never let each other go.

When the cab drove away from the door, Sara was sitting on the floor of her sitting room, with her hands under her chin and her eyes following it until it had turned the corner of the square. Emily was sitting by her, and she looked after it, too. When Miss Minchin sent her sister, Miss Amelia, to see what the child was doing, she found she could not open the door.

I have locked it, said a queer, polite little voice from inside. I want to be quite by myself, if you please.

Miss Amelia was fat and dumpy, and stood very much in awe of her sister. She was really the better-natured person of the two, but she never disobeyed Miss Minchin. She went downstairs again, looking almost alarmed.

I never saw such a funny, old-fashioned child, sister, she said. "She has locked herself in, and she

Reviews for A Little Princess (Annotated)

[desiree_reads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A sweet story of a little girl, growing up at a boarding school, who keeps herself happy by "supposing" she is a princess.

Both entertaining as well as a good teaching tool for young ladies on how to behave.

This Barnes and Noble edition is just lovely also, with an embossed and glittering cover, gilded edges, and an attached pale-yellow bookmark-ribbon. Colored bookplate illustrations included too.

A perfect classic for your bookshelf collection and for chapter-book readers.

[zoes_human · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a charming, old-fashioned children's story teaching the values of imagination, grace under pressure, integrity, and kindness. It also a story replete with classism and imperialistic attitudes.I loved this story as a child, and it will always have a place in my heart, but oh my what the adult mind can see in it.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sara Crewe’s mother died when Sara was an infant, and Sara has been brought up by her Army captain father in India. As soon as she’s old enough, Captain Crewe makes arrangements for Sara to enroll in Miss Minchin’s boarding school in London. The wealthy Captain Crewe spares no expense to make Sara comfortable at the school, where she will have a private room with its own sitting room, beautiful clothes, and her own pony and carriage. Sara is a kind and generous girl, and she befriends the girls that the other girls shun. Sara has a vivid imagination and she entrances the other girls with her storytelling. Sara imagines that she is a princess, and she tries to behave as a princess would do. This attitude serves her well when her father dies after losing all his fortune, and Sara becomes an unpaid servant relegated to an attic bedroom. Even in these unpleasant circumstances, Sara is still kind and generous. Things eventually work out for Sara in a way that even her vivid imagination can’t conceive.Sara seems a little too perfect, especially for a child, yet her attitude is one that I aspire to for myself. Sara’s riches to rags to riches story brings to mind the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11-13:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (KJV)I am very familiar with the Shirley Temple movie, which changed the plot somewhat. I love the movie version and the book equally, and Shirley Temple was perfect for the role of Sara.

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite books and has been since I was eight years old. I love seeing her overcome the obstacles in her life, usually by sheer grit and determination, and do so without losing her humanity. As the daughter of an Englishman in India during Victorian times, it is expected that at some point, she would be sent home to England for schooling. This is partly because of the prejudices of the time and because they felt that the Indian climate was not healthy for children. The book opens when Sara is seven years old and taken to the London boarding school where she is expected to live for the next decade. She is heartbroken at being separated from her beloved father but puts a brave face on it for him. Having spent all her life around adults, she is rather serious and unusually observant. Her initial take on Miss Minchin is spot-on and proves so throughout the book. During the first part of the book, we see Sara settling into school life and making friends. As something of a misfit herself, Sara leans towards other outcasts like herself. One of her first friends is Ermengarde, a little girl who is overweight and a slow learner. She is bullied unmercifully by other girls and Miss Minchin. I loved seeing Sara take Ermengarde under her wing and find a faithful and loyal friend. Next is Lottie, a very young child who is far too young to have been sent away to school. Lottie has been spoiled by her family and has learned to use her motherless state to get what she wants. I liked the first scene between Sara and Lottie, with Sara's quiet empathy and kindness saving the day. Finally comes Sara's friendship with Becky, the school's scullery maid. Once again, Sara's innate compassion and empathy lead her to befriend a young girl very different from herself but with whom she can also see their similarities. The first four years of Sara's life at Miss Minchin's pass quickly with brief vignettes of her life during that time. Then comes her eleventh birthday and the day her life changed. As Sara and her schoolmates enjoy an elaborate birthday party, Miss Minchin receives a visit from Captain Crewe's lawyer. The man brings the unwelcome news that Captain Crewe is dead of fever and that he died broke and in debt due to a bad investment. Miss Minchin is furious that she is out the money she has spent, adding to her resentment and dislike of Sara. Thinking better of just throwing the girl out on the street, she turns Sara into an unpaid servant. I ached for Sara, whose life was completely upended. She wasn't even allowed time to grieve her father's death before facing the drastic changes in her life. It breaks my heart every time to see her try to hang on to her upbeat attitude while enduring the abuse of others. During this time, Sara's ability to lose herself in the worlds her imagination creates makes her life a little more bearable. It was infinitely satisfying to see Sara's inner strength as she survived the appalling treatment. There were a few bright spots in her life - occasional surreptitious visits from Ermengarde or Lottie, the rat she befriends, and unexpected kindnesses from outsiders. Another bright spot in her life occurs when a new neighbor moves in next door—an Englishman who has been ill and has an Indian servant with a mischievous pet monkey. Sara spotting several items from India through his windows brings back good memories of her life there. An unexpected visit to her attic room by the monkey also introduces her to Ram Dass, the Indian servant, an event that will profoundly affect her life. We get a glimpse into the neighbor's life, Mr. Carrisford, and discover an unexpected connection to Sara. I always love the events of these final chapters. Sara's life goes from immeasurably hard and very close to breaking her spirit to returning her to her previously privileged life. But this time, her experiences give her an added depth of understanding of the world around her and a desire to help others. I've seen others comment that Sara is "too perfect" or Miss Minchin "too awful." When I read it, I consider that this book was written in 1905. At that time, books for children were deliberately written as moral tales, designed to show children the difference between right and wrong. So, while the characters' attitudes may be somewhat exaggerated, there is enough realism to make them believable. I especially enjoyed seeing that Sara knows how to get under Miss Minchin's skin with a simple look and that she isn't too good to lose her temper now and then. I also must add that it's hard to talk about this story without mentioning the films that have been made from it. There are three that I am aware of: the 1939 version with Shirley Temple, the 1986 version with Maureen Lipman (a British TV mini-series), and the 1995 version starring Liesel Matthews. In my opinion, only one of them is worth watching. The Shirley Temple version vaguely resembles the book, with an added romance between two characters who don't exist in the story, an odd dream sequence, and a wholly made-up ending resulting in Sara's father still being alive. The 1995 version changes the time and location from Victorian London to World War One New York and again changes the ending to reuniting with her father. The 1987 version, on the other hand, is a faithful adaptation of the book. I loved seeing some of my favorite scenes come alive, from the French lesson to the bun shop scene to the revelation of Sara and "the Indian Gentleman's" connection. I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves the book. (It can be found on YouTube in its original six episodes)

[henrog-315853 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Seven year old Sara Crewe lives with her dad in India and is his pride and joy. Her father is rich and she is never exposed to any other life. As with other children, however, she must go to school in England, as the climate in India was seen to be unhealthy for children. She is taken to Miss Minchin's school. There she meets other girls who are from less wealthy families and not accustomed to children like Sara. When news of her father's death reaches Miss Minchin, she realizes that Sara is no longer wealthy and Sara is then treated like a servant.The story of Sara's life in England is told beautifully. The reader can almost feel the emotions Sara feels and the hardships she endures. This book is worth the read

[linyarai · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A great classic.

[sarahgracegrzy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love love love this story! Such a beautiful tale of a young girl! Of course, the fatherdaughter relationship made me sob in parts, but I loved it! So beautiful, pretty and innocent! A little slow at times, but still amazing!

[griffin22 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lovely classic.

[deckla_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My mother recommended this to me; I read this when I was eight or nine, and multiple times since. There's something so satisfying about the contrasts of Sara Crewe privileged, and Sara Crewe underprivileged. Also a tribute to the power of imagination and storytelling in overcoming adversity. And, of course, a tribute to kindness.

[shahnareads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I watched this movie so much as a child and I always loved it.
I'm glad I finally tackled this.

I want to be a princess too.

[nomnivor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ich habe das Buch zufällig bei Projekt Gutenberg gesehen und war leicht besorgt: Einerseits mochte ich zwar Der geheime Garten von der selben Autorin, hasste aber (und das nicht mal leidenschaftlich) den Anime Kleine Prinzessin Sara, den es früher gab. Oder vermutlich gibts ihn immer noch, zum Glück wird er aber nicht mehr gezeigt. Auf jeden Fall war meine Sorge unbegründet: Das Buch A Little Princess war toll.

Ich konnte es kaum aus der Hand legen. Es war eins dieser Bücher, die einen fühlen lassen, als wäre man gefüllt mit warmer Schokolade während man in einem Haufen Welpen und Zuckerwatte liegt.

“I liked you to listen to it,” said Sara. “If you tell stories, you like nothing so much as to tell them to peolpe who want to listen. I don’t know why it is. Would you like to hear the rest?”

Einen Kritikpunkt habe ich: Sara war zu perfekt. Wie der Prototyp einer Mary Sue. Alles was sie tat, alles, was sie sagte, alles war perfekt. In ihrer allererste Unterrichtsstunde verkündet der Lehrer, dass er ihr nichts mehr beibringen könne, weil ihr Französisch vollendet sei. Und so geht es gerade weiter. Also ja. Mir sind Charakter mit einem kleinen Fehler natürlich lieber, auch bei Kinderbüchern. Es wäre zumindest schöner gewesen, wenn es nicht auf jeder Seite 10 mal erwähnt würde, wie toll Sara ist. Nach 5 Seiten dachte ich mir dann doch: Okay, jetzt weiß ichs. Muss man mir nicht mehr sagen.

Als Sara dann jedoch zur Sklavin wurde ist das viel, viel besser geworden. Und ihr abmühen, sich weiter wie eine Prinzessin zu benehmen, obwohl sie seit 2 Tagen nichts mehr zu essen hatte, lässt sie dann doch viel menschlicher erscheinen.

Ein echter Pluspunkt ist, dass Sara ein Buch nach dem anderen verschlingt. Wie ein Buchwurm wühlt sie sich durch jedes Buch, das sie in die Finger bekommt. Sie fiebert auf Neuerscheinungen hin. Und sie wäre generell ein Buchblogger, wenn sie heute am Leben wäre.

Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddelny disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment. The temtation to be unreasonable and snappish is one not easy to manage.

Von daher ist es ein echtes, flauschig-warmes, Wohlfühlbuch.

[terris-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Such a cute little book of Sara Crewe, whose father, stationed in India, sends her to boarding school in England. When she starts there she has lots of income which satisfies the insecure, jealous matron of the school. However, when things go downhill for Sara's father and his fortune, Sara's daily life takes a landslide downward. However, she is a very mature child and tries to act like she thinks a princess would act, with a fortune or without. And therein lays the story of her reaction to her situation and her encouragement of others. There is also an ongoing search for a mystery child which culminates at the end of the book. I enjoyed this children's book very much, and think it would be a wonderful book to read along with a child and discuss how he/she might react in a similar situation. I highly recommend this book :)

[kerilynned · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is always difficult for me to read a book after already seeing the movie. Especially in this case where the girls are physically so different. I kept picturing the girl from the movie. I am, however, really glad I read it because there are quite a few differences from the movie. I loved how imaginative Sara is and how well she handled all of the horrible things that happened to her. It is a wonderful book for any young girl to read.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely adored The Secret Garden, so I read this, too. When one is a girl, one can believe such fantasies.

[mamashepp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my all-time favorites, I give this book to every little girl. Ms. Hodgson Burnett tells a beautiful tale of Sara Crewe, a rich girl whose father leaves her at a boarding school while he goes off to war. She is treated like a princess because of her money, which makes some girls like her very much and others not at all. But when her father is presumed dead and funds dry up, all of her beautiful things are taken from her, she is moved to the attic and made to work. A secret benefactor, true friends and a magical tale makes this a charming novel, full of wonderful lessons every little girl should learn.

[katieloucks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

so good! I remember loving my mom reading this to my sister and I when we were younger.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When I finished the book, I felt like it was incomplete--that there were still plot questions left unanswered.

[courtney_anne-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Such a heartwarming little story. Quite different from the movie I watched all the time when I was little. Sara Crewe is an inspiration, and I wish more children were actually as imaginative, selfless, and poised as she is.

[veronica.sparrow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favourite childhood books that I can read even now as an adult!

[elliepotten · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This must surely be one of the sweetest, loveliest books a girl could read in childhood. It's been a long time but reading it again all these years down the line (in my early 20s), it still holds such charm, wonder and profound messages about class, poverty and happiness that I know it'll be returning to my shelf to read again and pass on to my own children.It tells the story of Sara Crewe, a rich little girl brought up in India by her beloved father, who moves to England to go to boarding school at the gloomy seminary belonging to the formidable Miss Minchin. She is the star pupil, dressed in finery and always happy to share her good fortune and vivid imagination with her classmates. But when a tragic twist of fate strips her of everything, Sara ends up a poor orphan working as a drudge in the seminary where once she was idolised by her fellow pupils. Miss Minchin uses this as a fine opportunity to take a sort of revenge on this strange little girl, who she has never understood but has always indulged thanks to her wealth. But no matter how hard her life becomes, she remains generous and polite to those around her, rich and poor alike, pretending that she is a princess in order to keep her morals and spirits strong. Finally, just as even her fiery spirit is at breaking point, an English gentleman who has been living in India moves into the house next door and magical things start to happen as their interest in each other grows. Of course everything will come right in the end, but I won't give away any more because it deserves to be read and enjoyed...This is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring novel, whether you're 6 or 60! It is well written, with highly individual and well-rounded characters, and a wealth of description which makes it very atmospheric and allows even a child to see Sara's London in vivid detail. There are images in the book which I could still remember clearly and recognise years after I read it as a little girl, and even now I was holding my breath and waiting for everything to fall into place! In today's selfish modern society it also provides a reminder of how a little generosity and kindness goes a long way, and is a perfect fairy tale for littler princesses too. I'd also recommend The Secret Garden for a slightly less girlie but equally sweet, timeless and beautiful story.

[kaylaraeintheway · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly, I never read this when I was younger, even though I first got this book when I was 8 or 9 (yeah, it's been on my shelf for a loooong time). I absolutely love the 1995 movie version (directed by Alfonso Cuaron), so I was eager to start reading this. Um. It was OK. I know I would have appreciated it a lot more if I read it when I was younger (although I'm pretty sure I would have thought a lavish wardrobe for a doll is silly). I liked some of the more beautiful and lyrical sentences Hodgson Burnett wrote, but the whole thing seemed overly saccharine to me, specifically the way Lottie, Ermengarde, and Becky basically worshiped the ground Sara walked on. Also, the casual racism and some of the older men's fascination with little girls does not hold up well. But I like the overall message of the book: if you remain kind and hold on to your dreams/imagination, you will be OK. I know this is a classic, and I'm glad so many people love it; however, it just wasn't for me.

[mozzie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I remember watching the movie version when I was little and finding it to be so fanciful and dreamy that the story has stayed with me even into adulthood.

Suppose...just suppose that one day I become a mother. Oh how I would hope that my baby was a little daughter with whom I could share such charming stories. Wouldn't it be grand?

[rainpebble_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett; (5*)This tale has ever been a favorite of mine. I read it for the first time in 2nd grade, checking it out of the school library. I read it 2 or 3 times a year until I reached my teens and then cut back to once a year, always over the Christmas holidays. By that time I had my own copy and what a treasure that book was to me. As an adult I have continued to read it every few years. This book just fills up some empty space in my heart & soul.It is the story of a very different kind of princess than one might imagine; a motherless child, Sara Crewe, whose father always called her his little princess. When he was called away to fight in the Crimean War he took her to an elite girl's school run by one arrogant Miss Minchin & her cowardly sister. She was their most exclusive student and most all of the girls wanted to be her friend including one very timid scullery maid, Becky, for Sarah was the only girl there to befriend her.When her papa dies penniless, having lost all of his wealth, Sara is forced to give up her schooling, to clean & run errands for the Miss Minchins, (throwing her out in the streets would put their school in a very bad light) & scuttle coal as Becky did. They took all of her pretty clothes & dolls away from her and made her live in a cold, leaky attic room under the eaves of the house. She and Becky soon made up a code whereby they could communicate with each other by knocking on the wall between their rooms. Even though Sara is always cold, never has enough to eat and is friendless except for Becky, she remains the same sweet little girl who was her father's 'little princess'.The man in the neighboring house took a great interest in the girls, especially Sara, and his rooms looked right into hers. It is very interesting how, in the book, his life becomes engaged with hers.The Little Princess is a beloved story tale as are all of the writings of Frances Hodgson Burnett and it happens to be my favorite. This is a wonderful story even for adults and for those of us nearing or going into our 'second' childhood.I very highly recommend it.

[patrick0shea14 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sara Crewe was sent to a little girls home during World War 1 because she found out her father was killed in action during the War. Sara and many other girls living with her are being treated as slaves or servants to a woman who's considered their "guardian." Because of Sara standing up for herself, she's banished from living in the same room with the girls and forced to sleep in the attic and do extra chores. To many who are surprised especially the reader, Sara's dad is found alive and well and he comes to retrieve Sara from the Girls home. This isn't a true story but it is based on true events during World War 1 where singles fathers are forced to have their child stay in a children's home as they've gone to War. Some made it out alive, some weren't so lucky. This is a historic realism book.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lovely as always. I don't know how often I've read this, but my eyes fill up every time at certain scenes. Having just read Sara Crewe, I had a slightly different view than previously - but the events are basically the same; it's just the description, and the evocation of emotion, that this book has and Sara Crewe mostly missed out on. I do like Sara - she manages to stay just this side of saccharine in her goodness.

[jami_leigh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 3 1/2 stars
Style: 3 1/2 stars
Pace: 3 1/2 stars
Rounding up because sentimentality.

I admit, I had higher expectations for this book than the other 2 I read for the same purposes. Partly, it's that I adored the Shirley Temple movie when I was a child. Partly, it wasn't a play trying to be a book. It was a book from the start, and despite all the adaptations, it holds up even still. It's sweet, and if it's simple compared to modern stories, well, that's okay.

[allygggggg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sara is a little princess who is trapped in her attic penthouse bedroom in her father's house where their next door neighbors are going to stalk her! It's just like the modern contemporary internet age. That's what Bedford, Westchester County is. She can't leave her room.

[thewallflower-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Why did I read this? I'm not a girl. I'm not eight years old. I'm not living in the turn of the century. Well, I decided to read a little young adult fiction aimed at females, just to see what it was like. I'd just read "Jungle Book" and "Just So Stories", so I wanted to see how the other half lives. It apparently lives in a great deal of warm and fluffy feelings. Burnett must have been a genius to stretch this story out as long as she did. Talk about your Mary Sues. The "little princess" in question is a precocious girl from a colorful background traveling in mysterious India, who's dropped off at a girl's school. Everyone loves her, except for the trunchbull Miss Minchin. She spends half the time being the Jesus-figure for her obnoxious spoiled classmates, and the other half being a poor ragamuffin once her fortune's lost and she's relegated to scullery-maid (what is a scullery? And are they so dirty they need maids?). Then she uses her *imagination* (sparklies!) to rise above her poverty and remain a "princess".Anyway, I got an interesting glimpse of female characters during this time, and what they were into. Good thing we got out of that era.

[brittasorensen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sara Crewe lives in India with her father, but is moved to a boarding school in England when he is convinced it will be best for her. She is very rich and is treated very well until her father dies after losing all of his money. She is banished to the attic and forced to work as a servant. She is treated horribly and is close to starving and freezing all the time, but she remains kind, thoughtful, and graceful. She catches the attention of a rich neighbor who she discovers is her father's business partner. He takes her in and she takes the other servant girl with her.I adore Frances Hodgson Burnett books, and A Little Princess in particular. I think Sara Crewe is a wonderful role model for children. She is unwavering in her belief in right and wrong and will not be bullied by anyone. She is open and honest and cares deeply about everyone, including the mice who infest the attic. I will never forget the part where she buys some bread and gives it to a starving girl outside, even though she is malnourished herself, which inspires the baker to hire that girl. I think the lesson, about doing what is right no matter what and caring about others, is a beautiful one. I also think the old-fashioned writing, though difficult, would be perfect for expanding kids' vocabulary and sentence structure, and fits right in the the Common Core Standards.

[renrav · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Little Princess was one of my favorite movies growing up but I had never read the book. I enjoyed it but I think I prefer the movie just to see her stories come to life.