Sara Crewe was best friends with her father, a captain. They always walked around hand in hand, and her father would give little Sara her heart's desires. Then one day Sara's father drops her off at old Miss Minchin's boarding school in London. There she is spoiled with her own room, with beautiful luxuries, closets full of silks and furs. But Sara Crew was not haughty or arrogant at all. She loved the company and happiness of others, and always had a good story to tell. Sara could only dimly imagine what it would be like to be truly miserable. But then that would soon change. Because of one tragic fate, Sara turns unbelievably poor and is forced to work for so little, up in the attic of Miss Minchin's boarding school.
My thought
This is the story of Sara, who grew up very wealthy in India. She attends a seminary and while there she learns her father has died. Suddenly, Sara is thrust into a world of poverty and servanthood. The same person can be treated very differently depending on their social class. Sara is well off at first and considered spoiled. When her fortunes change and put her in a lower social class, the school people treat her differently, even though Sara retains the same manners she has always had.This is a beautiful story of how a young girl perseveres through hard times. Although she does not have all the things that she once had, she is still able to continue to maintain a positive attitude. Dramatic, situational, and verbal irony is uses continuously thoughout the book. It keeps the book interesting. The descriptions of the book are very detailed, form the descriptions of the people, to the settings and buildings.
It is not hard to understand how this became a beloved children's classic.
I am not a classics person but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.The narrative was very clear and strait forward with just enough detail where it was desired.
I recommend this book to empethetic readers, or readers who like to feel touched.
Quotes
“My mamma says that way of hers of pretending things is silly. She says she will grow up eccentric”
Lavinia“I suppose she thinks she could be a princess if she was a beggar. Let us begin to call her 'Your Royal Highness'.”
Lavinia“It's true. Sometimes I do pretend I'm a princess. I pretend I am a princess, so that I can try and behave like one.”
Sara“There is nothing so nice as supposing. It's almost like being a fairy. If you suppose anything hard enough it seems as if it were real.”
Sara“It's all very well to suppose things if you have everything. Could you suppose and pretend if you were a beggar and lived in a garret?”
Lavinia
