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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
One of my favorites. I fall in love with it every time I pick it back up.
I really enjoyed reading this but I wish I had read it when I was younger.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Forever a favorite of mine 🫶
This might be my favorite book for 2024. I loved this movie as a child and don't know how I made it this far along in life not having read it. I love love loved this book so much that I listened to a chapter via audiobook, and then re-read the chapter, because I didn't want to miss a single word. I am already looking forward to reading-reading it with my daughter next year.
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Classism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Colonisation
Read aloud with Bea. She was unimpressed. I enjoyed the parts with Melchisidec and embarrassing Ms Minchkin.
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love this, it's a tried and true classic from childhood, so maybe nostalgia is bumping up my rating here, but sometimes you just need something sweet and magical that tugs at your heartsrings, and for me this will do exactly that.
Although I'm in my twenties now, I've never actually read A Little Princess before; my only experience with the tale lies in the movie from the 90's that I rented from my local library on VHS (which naturally wasn't a 100% faithful to the story and details of the book).
I must say, even as an adult, this is a charming tale! The language strikes that balance between simple enough for a child, but lovely enough to delight older readers (though of course, since this from the 1900's there are some aspects of the writing that don't quite agree with my 21st century English education)and is told in a much more traditional story sense--as if transcribed from someone telling it aloud directly to an audience, instead of the more polished third-person of more modern days. The book's best feature lies in Sara herself, a young girl who is all at once peculiar and charming and endearing and fascinating. There isn't one place within the story where Sara is unlikable; she is all at once the best of children and adults, a mix of fierce childhood innocence and imagination and grown-up composure. I suppose the only real fault in this is that we don't really see much of a character arc with Sara; she starts out endearing and clever and good and ends the story that way as well, the only real difference being that personally experiencing hardship has made her a little less naive and more aware of the worst realities she was once protected from by wealth and status.
The story is ultimately very simple-- a delightful, wealthy little girl finds her world turned upside down but doesn't let it make her any less benevolent and good, only to be rewarded by the universe for her goodness even in the face of horrible treatment--and could have been a bit of boring read if not for the way the narration was written; somehow even hearing minor details of Sara's life is engaging and makes readers smile. It strikes a good balance for children, playing towards the things that interest them most and that paint the best mental pictures, and I can see this being especially liked by them for these reasons.
I don't really have any complaints. It's a sweet little read! Plus, my Puffin in Bloom edition is absolutely darling and it makes a great addition to my classic novels collection! A definite recommend for a read someday, especially if there's a child you can read this to.
I must say, even as an adult, this is a charming tale! The language strikes that balance between simple enough for a child, but lovely enough to delight older readers (though of course, since this from the 1900's there are some aspects of the writing that don't quite agree with my 21st century English education)and is told in a much more traditional story sense--as if transcribed from someone telling it aloud directly to an audience, instead of the more polished third-person of more modern days. The book's best feature lies in Sara herself, a young girl who is all at once peculiar and charming and endearing and fascinating. There isn't one place within the story where Sara is unlikable; she is all at once the best of children and adults, a mix of fierce childhood innocence and imagination and grown-up composure. I suppose the only real fault in this is that we don't really see much of a character arc with Sara; she starts out endearing and clever and good and ends the story that way as well, the only real difference being that personally experiencing hardship has made her a little less naive and more aware of the worst realities she was once protected from by wealth and status.
The story is ultimately very simple-- a delightful, wealthy little girl finds her world turned upside down but doesn't let it make her any less benevolent and good, only to be rewarded by the universe for her goodness even in the face of horrible treatment--and could have been a bit of boring read if not for the way the narration was written; somehow even hearing minor details of Sara's life is engaging and makes readers smile. It strikes a good balance for children, playing towards the things that interest them most and that paint the best mental pictures, and I can see this being especially liked by them for these reasons.
I don't really have any complaints. It's a sweet little read! Plus, my Puffin in Bloom edition is absolutely darling and it makes a great addition to my classic novels collection! A definite recommend for a read someday, especially if there's a child you can read this to.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes