Hi y’all!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here — in January. We’ve had lots of snow the past week and it’s so cozy and fun! I wish it was still Christmas break and we could sleep in and drink hot chocolate and read all day. But we’re back at school and starting up our winter activities this week. Still finding time for tea and books though!

Today I am excited to share my review of A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett. I have read this before a few times. But it was really fun to read it as an adult and to appreciate the beautiful language, magical imagery, and lovely message in this classic.

Book Summary: “Alone in a new country, wealthy Sara Crewe tries to settle in and make friends at boarding school. But when she learns that she’ll never see her beloved father again, her life is turned upside down. Transformed from princess to pauper, she must swap dancing lessons and luxury for hard work and a room in the attic. Will she find that kindness and genorosity are all the riches she truly needs?”

Sara is an absolutely fascinating protagonist. She is curious, loyal and incredibly imaginative. In many ways, she seems much older than her years. She sees things that adults don’t see and can include even the most timid of girls. I was struck this time by how her personality is steady throughout the story. She is kind and loyal and imaginative when she is rich and when she is poor. She is friends with Becky when Becky is her maid and when they are maids side by side. I admire her maturity but appreciate her humanity. Sara can see the bright side in many situations but sometimes, she cries and feels lost and alone. Her journey is beautiful, tragic, and so inspiring.

Sara is surrounded by a cast of compelling and memorable characters. These characters are vibrant and stick with you long after you finish the story. We have Miss Minchen, a cruel, hardened woman fueled by greed. Then there is Lottie, the youngest student who needs a mother. Ermengarde, round and kind but not very clever. Becky who is as loyal as they come and has seen too much suffering in her life. Ram Dass is one of my favorites and is intriguing as he is mysterious. And Mr Carrisford, a man haunted by the grief of his past mistakes. I enjoyed seeing how Sara interacts with these characters. I enjoyed her stories about the Carmichael family and how she gives them names before she knows them. I was fascinated by how some people refuse to change, refuse to see goodness and light, focus only on what they don’t have. While others are able to change and be their best selves and see the magic all around them.

My favorite element in this story is the magic. Sara has a unique ability to create magic — to be a princess. She sees the best in people. She connects with others regardless of their situation or hers (even with the rats in the attic). She calms the most intense of tantrums. She helps others even when she needs help. And she creates beautiful places and stories for herself. I love her ability to be a princess regardless of her circumstance. She can create a beautiful feast in her dark, dirty attic with simple props. She can make the room feel different and even look different in her imagination. And that makes it even better when the room does change. When food does appear. When warmth and comfort come to the attic. I love the beautiful ending that climaxes the magic in this story.

This book is a classic for so many reasons. The writing is beautiful; the characters are compelling; the magic is fantastic. And there are so many beautiful lessons to learn in this story — the power of kindness, the importance of friendship, the magic that is possible in everyday life, and the power of creating your own magic. I loved this story and hope to read it to my kids when they are a bit older.

What are your favorite children’s classics?
Which is your favorite Francis Hodgson Burnett novel?

This is my 7th classic finished on my 2nd list for The Classics Club!
Check out my full list here. To see my completed first list, click here. For more info on the club, click here.