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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
This book kept popping up in a Facebook discussion about all-time favorite books (which I now cannot find again, alas), and the glowing recommendations made me curious enough to look it up.
First published in 1917, this is the story of fragile Elizabeth Ann's move to live with her "horrible Putney cousins" on their Vermont farm. This had me imagining something like "Harris and Me," but instead I got a cozy, almost-orphan story in the vein of childhood favorites like Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and A Little Princess.
At first I was put off by some of the outdated language (even the introduction had a strange, patronizing tone), but then I became fascinated by the description of Betsy's awakening, essentially, into a self-actualized person whose brain learns how to think right before our eyes.
The Afterword details how the author met Maria Montessori and was very influenced by her ways: "Understood Betsy can be read almost as a manual of Montessori principles as acted out by a cast of Vermont characters, each giving, as Helen Keller once said of the method, 'guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.' There's theory behind the engrossing narrative. Certainly some of the set pieces...persuasively capture the notion of learning for its own sake and the value of process, without feeling didactic or preachy."
Favorite quote:
"It's not right or left that matters -- it's which way you want to go!"
First published in 1917, this is the story of fragile Elizabeth Ann's move to live with her "horrible Putney cousins" on their Vermont farm. This had me imagining something like "Harris and Me," but instead I got a cozy, almost-orphan story in the vein of childhood favorites like Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and A Little Princess.
At first I was put off by some of the outdated language (even the introduction had a strange, patronizing tone), but then I became fascinated by the description of Betsy's awakening, essentially, into a self-actualized person whose brain learns how to think right before our eyes.
The Afterword details how the author met Maria Montessori and was very influenced by her ways: "Understood Betsy can be read almost as a manual of Montessori principles as acted out by a cast of Vermont characters, each giving, as Helen Keller once said of the method, 'guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.' There's theory behind the engrossing narrative. Certainly some of the set pieces...persuasively capture the notion of learning for its own sake and the value of process, without feeling didactic or preachy."
Favorite quote:
"It's not right or left that matters -- it's which way you want to go!"
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a lovely classic old book. I hadn't read it since I was a child, but at the beginning of the year, we were doing Ambleside with our kids, and it was in the lineup for my youngest daughter, so I used it as a readaloud. It paints such a quiet cozy picture of life on a farm, and it's fun to watch Miss Betsy go from a trembling, anxious little soul, to the strong healthy young girl she is by the book's end. Books like this always made me want to go see New England autumns, with vivid descriptions of the reds and golds of the trees.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
There's the briefest mention of a young child with an abusive father. It's not graphicaly described, and the situation is dealt with quite swiftly.
Very enjoyable story, I loved that it contained so much parenting wisdom. Looking forward to seeing what my kids think of this one.
funny
relaxing
sad
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I forget what made me put this book on hold, exactly... but it was a classic children's title I'd never read. It's a very nice story and is great encouragement for children to learn at their own pace and also to puzzle things out for themselves at times.
The book is pretty darn heavy-handed in relating the author's take on education, but I didn't look her up until after I was done, so that's when I found out that Dorothy Canfield Fisher was a major advocate for bringing the Montessori method to the US. Yeahhhhh. I shudder to think what she'd think of some of today's parents; Aunt Frances was a solid example of a helicopter parent.
It's an enjoyable book with a lot of pleasant characters, but be prepared to VERY THOROUGHLY understand Canfield Fisher's thoughts on the education of children.
The book is pretty darn heavy-handed in relating the author's take on education, but I didn't look her up until after I was done, so that's when I found out that Dorothy Canfield Fisher was a major advocate for bringing the Montessori method to the US. Yeahhhhh. I shudder to think what she'd think of some of today's parents; Aunt Frances was a solid example of a helicopter parent.
It's an enjoyable book with a lot of pleasant characters, but be prepared to VERY THOROUGHLY understand Canfield Fisher's thoughts on the education of children.
Loved this story. So much depth in the characters, and so much depth to the themes behind the plot. I loved it and so did my daughter. Looking forward to reading it again this coming year, this time with my son.
I thought it would be corny and old-fashioned, but I got really into it because the narrator told the story with a sort of twinkle in the eye. Like the words are simple enough to be read aloud as a bedtime story, but there are so many spot on insights about humans, especially in the way the adults act or react, that if you are an adult yourself you will recognize the sly humor.
The descriptions of country life are just enough to paint a picture without getting too florid (the included sketches are also lovely by the way), and the scenes always had some kind of action going on in them that they pulled the reader smoothly forward. Many chapters featured a situation which forces Betsy to change for the better, and it was satisfying to see Betsy progress from a timid, coddled Town Mouse to astrong, independent black woman brave and resourceful child.
Feel good story. There are some scenes where my eyes got a little watery. Should read for Christmas or for when one is feeling downtrodden and/or useless. Inspires a Can Do attitude and warm, fuzzy feelings without forcing it down your throat. This Grinch gives it four stars.
Free on Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5347/5347-h/5347-h.htm
The descriptions of country life are just enough to paint a picture without getting too florid (the included sketches are also lovely by the way), and the scenes always had some kind of action going on in them that they pulled the reader smoothly forward. Many chapters featured a situation which forces Betsy to change for the better, and it was satisfying to see Betsy progress from a timid, coddled Town Mouse to a
Feel good story. There are some scenes where my eyes got a little watery. Should read for Christmas or for when one is feeling downtrodden and/or useless. Inspires a Can Do attitude and warm, fuzzy feelings without forcing it down your throat. This Grinch gives it four stars.
Free on Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5347/5347-h/5347-h.htm