Type of bind: Hardcover
EAN num: 9780590486279
ISBN number: 0590486276
Label: Scholastic
Manufacturer: Scholastic
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 48
Printing Date: 1995-06
Publishing house: Scholastic
Age index: Ages 4-8
Sale Popularity Level: 1852418
Studio: Scholastic
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Based on the original classic, the story of young Sara Crewe, a Victorian girl of privilege, finds her at the mercy of a cruel headmistress when her beloved father dies, in a Keepsake edition that includes a Little Princess necklace charm. Movie tie-in.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I grew up watching the films, so there were a couple of surprises when I finally sat down and read the original novel. Sara Crewe is a spoiled little girl and called a "princess" by everyone, some insultingly and others endearingly. Her life changes utterly when her father dies and she is reduced to Cinderella, working as a scullery maid. Frances Hodgson Burnett was a master of fairy tale-like literature for children with her simple beautiful prose and clever stories. Here, she presents a very different sort of princess, one with grace and generosity. Grade: A-
Rated by buyers 
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I know there are probably a lot of people that would gag on the sugary sweetness of this book, but as a book for little girls it is absolutely enchanting. Even as an adult I still adore its sweet little heroine and her bravery and goodness.
The story is about Sara, a pampered little girl who travels to New York to attend school whilst her father does his work. She begins as the gem of the school, the administration falling over her, or more precisely Daddy's money. Then tragedy strikes, and Sara is left as poor orphan shuffled to the attic with the rats and the servants.
Good think she has such spunk to get through this hard time!
Don't worry, it's not entirely eye-rolling. Sara truly develops as a precocious character. While she was never villainous, we see her become kinder and more aware of the misfortune in the world around her despite her own problems.
It's an enchanting, dramatic story full of rich character and Burnett's signature gorgeous writing.
Rated by buyers -
Having been already exposed to both film versions of the book, I was finally curious enough to engage myself in this classic and this time with my seven year old daughter.
Needless to say this is a fairly direct departure from the films. Sara Crewe and her world is not the sappy musical world of Shirley Temple nor the melodrama of the more recent version. This is an exploration of character. Sara Crewe is struggling with her identity and the toolkit she had built up to cope with life and discovers that poverty and cruelty cannot repair a hungry stomach or a lonely heart. Readers may be surprised by the ending which is far less melodramatic than the film and frankly much better. This book is a more gentle Oliver Twist. It is a reminder to us all that we cannot hide from the torments of the world around us. Instead we must face the trials of society if we are to make them better.
At the end of the story, Sara learns the true meaning of being a Princess and the ending is as poignant as anything I have read for it is real drama based on real situations.
Just as a caution please be aware the language is a bit dated. The term 'queer' is used to describe strange long before other meanings were added on. The term 'oriental' and 'yellow man' were used as well but this is just a reflection of the time, not overt racism.
Rated by buyers -
This book is about a rightly raised little girl and how she turns out - nearly PERFECT. This goes to show parents to BE NICE TO THEIR dependant and helpless little kids - brats are raised by @sshole parents, NOT by kind and loving parents, as Sarah's dad had been. It is about a very serious battle of the Self. Sarah says to every one "me and you are the same. it just so happens that I was born rich and you born poor." It doesn't make us WHO we are." which is true, but then her self-doubt manifests "who knows? maybe I am kind and generous because I have everything I could ever want. I give someone 100 pence and I don't lose anything because I have many many more. maybe if I was poor or had to work I'd be cruel and just a total Miss Michnkin or something." Note: these quotes are not exact from the book.
at this, "the Magic" steps in so that she DOES become poor and wretched, and thus proves to herself that she is who she is BECAUSE SHE IS, NOT because of being rich and doesn't work. Being poor and wretched gives the child the opportunity to manifest her inate kindness in unprecedented ways, like giving other people food when SHE herself had been so cold, wet and very hungry. See, she could not have proven this to herself had she stayed rich, and she apparantly needed to. All in all, a beautiful story of truimph of good over evil, abundance over poverty, exuberance over stale bread, and self security over self doubt (which she didn't have before). A truimph of the SELF shown where it always begins in life - in childhood. We are used to seeing this type of stuff in adults but adults do NOT have the same battles as children do. For one, adults are not helpless, dependant, and our battles are not as serious life-and-death. so, whatever empathy we have for other adults, should be increased a thousand times for children, like this soldier this little girl. yeay!
Rated by buyers -
Good to see that readers are still enjoying this marvelous 1905 book which makes it a century old. Reminiscent of Dickens, but mercifully shorter, the prose flows in beautiful rhythms keeping young readers and readers like myself who are young at heart poised to keep on reading to find out what becomes of our tough little heroine.
Sara had a charmed life as an only and beloved child which fortified her through later immense difficulties as she fell from riches to rags. Her ability to tell stories and to help others saved her from the appalling treatment she received from the aptly named Miss Minchin. The author's own life (1849-1924) as a child parallels that of her heroine.
Young readers will find Sara a loving spirit to emulate. We are truly THERE with her on every page. When she eats her hot cross buns and tea we long for the same. Although drawn out at the end, the book ends at a surprising and perfect place.
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