A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of the few books I recall reading multiple times as a child. Not normally a “re-reader”, I adored this story and returned to it more than once. As an adult, I was curious to see if it would still hold the same charm, or if I would find I had outgrown it. I am happy to report that one is never too old for this novel.
The author, Ms. Burnett, is best known for this novel and for The Secret Garden. While every young reader wants to have their own secret garden, it is the character of Sara Crewe that almost every young girl would like to be. Although not a princess, Sara has all the qualities that a princess should have–kindness, resilience, determination, strength, poise under fire, optimism through imagination, and hope. Sara sinks to such desperate circumstances and remains noble and generous through it all. The descriptive writing compels the reader to feel Sara’s hunger and the cold, wet London streets that she toils through. A Little Princess is a classic for a reason…make sure your young reader doesn’t miss it!
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 1 religious exclamation.
Violence/Gore: Report(s) of deaths’ of parents; older child slaps a younger child; character skins knees; mention of the French Revolution and a head on a pike; an adult boxes a young character’s ears; adult shakes a child.
Sex/Nudity: None
Mature Subject Matter:
Death of a parent, poverty, socio-economic disparity.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
None
