Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by kate douglas wiggin

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin is a charming and innocent children's classic.

It tells the story of Rebecca Randall, a precocious and imaginative 10-year-old girl. She leaves her poor family farm to live with her spinster aunts in the village of Riverboro, Maine. The family hopes that Rebecca will earn money to support her impoverished family and receive a proper upbringing. However, Rebecca's aunts are upright and rigid, which leads to conflicts with the lively and outgoing Rebecca. At the age of 10, she has a zest for life that many young girls possess.

The novel vividly details Rebecca's lively adventures and misadventures. She navigates school, friendships, and the challenges of growing up with ease. Although Rebecca is imaginative and creative, she also has a touch of naiveté. In my opinion, she seems more mature and self-aware compared to many young girls today. She is full of compassion and has a great sense of humor. The novel beautifully portrays the power of love and imagination in a sometimes difficult world.

I read this novel as it was the suggested book of the month in a book group I belong to. I don't remember reading it as a child, but I was aware of its existence. I'm glad I finally took the time to read such a heartwarming book. It brings warm smiles and all the feel-good emotions.

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FearQuare

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Recommended by my friend Meredith after I detailed my ~~love~~ obsession with Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series. This was one of those books I was always sort of aware of, but never quite managed to get around to reading.

There was definitely a touch of Betsy in Rebecca with her passion for writing. However, their stories are quite distinct. Rebecca is sent to live with her two maiden aunts when there are simply too many children and too little money at her widowed mother's home. Rebecca enchants many in her new town and becomes quite the scholar. The story mirrors many of the era, only since this is a stand-alone, Rebecca grows up and is on the verge of entering adulthood at the end of the book.

I truly relished the story, although I felt the ending was极其 abrupt. And while you can surmise what occurs in Rebecca's later life, I would envision that numerous readers eagerly demanded a sequel.

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tapewormslurper

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Although I read this book as a child (probably many times, from the condition of my copy), I'd forgotten most of it.

However, upon revisiting it, I was once again charmed by the endearing character of Rebecca. Her poetry is truly a source of joy and laughter.

It's amazing how a book can have such a lasting impact, even after all these years. I'm so glad I decided to pick it up again and rediscover the magic within its pages.

This experience has reminded me of the importance of literature and how it can transport us to different worlds and touch our hearts.

I look forward to sharing this wonderful book with others and seeing how it affects them.

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zkl

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Second reading - September 2016

First reading - June 2015

This book truly has to be one of the most captivating and endearing girl classics that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

It is a masterful and deft blend of humor, which had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions, sentimentality that tugged at my heartstrings and made me shed a tear or two, and a serious and in-depth character study that made me stop and ponder.

Fans of beloved classics such as Anne of Green Gables, Daddy Long Legs, Caddie Woodlawn, Understood Betsy, Pollyanna and Eight Cousins will毫无疑问 find this to be a highly satisfying, ennobling and enriching read.

It has the power to transport you to another time and place, and make you feel as if you are right there with the characters, experiencing their joys and sorrows.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a true gem that will be cherished for years to come.

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Huskkay

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is indeed a charming novel. However, as an avid fan of Anne of Green Gables, I couldn't help but feel that it was rather predictable. There are numerous similarities between Anne and Rebecca.

For instance, both girls find themselves living with others and being raised in a new environment. Interestingly, they both arrive at their destinations by riding alone in a wagon with a man they don't know. Moreover, in both cases, they live in a house with two siblings, one gentle and the other a bit tougher. Although in the case of Rebecca, the siblings are both women.

Nonetheless, there are also some differences. Anne is an orphan, while Rebecca is not. Additionally, Anne is an only child, whereas Rebecca is likely the oldest of seven children. They also get into different kinds of scrapes, and of course, the books have different characters.

I must admit that because I had already read Anne of Green Gables, this book didn't quite hold the same allure for me. I felt that it might not have been entirely worth the read. However, if you truly enjoy the type of plot that these novels share, then by all means, it could be a great read for you. But for me personally, I didn't like it as much.

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Alfalfa238

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I absolutely loved this book! There are remarkable similarities to Anne of Green Gables, even though this one was published 5 years earlier. And also to Pollyanna, which came 10 years after this. So, although Rebecca isn't as widely known, she actually preceded Anne and Pollyanna! I highly recommend this to fans of either of those books or to anyone who desires to read a classic, wholesome story about an intelligent, imaginative young girl who makes the best of whatever life throws at her.

However, I was a bit let down by the ending. Do we ever find out what ultimately becomes of Rebecca? I know there are a couple of sequels, but the reviews here on Goodreads make me think they might not be worth my time. It's quite sad.

Another of Kate Douglas Wiggin's books, The Birds' Christmas Carol, was one of my childhood favorites. I believe I had an abridged copy of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm while growing up, but I don't think I ever read it because I didn't remember any of the details while reading this.

A favorite quote from the story, regarding Rebecca's Aunt Miranda: \"The soul grows into lovely habits as easily as into ugly ones, and the moment a life begins to blossom into beautiful words and deeds, that moment a new standard of conduct is established, and your eager neighbors look to you for a continuous manifestation of the good cheer, the sympathy, the ready wit, the comradeship, or the inspiration, you once showed yourself capable of. Bear figs for a season or two, and the world outside the orchard is very unwilling you should bear thistles.\"

This would have been a full 5 stars if not for the ending. I'm giving it 4.5 stars.

Note: I listened to the audio version available at Librivox, which unfortunately had a mixture of readers. The quality was inconsistent depending on the reader. Some were quite good while others made me reach for my Kindle to read instead so I wouldn't have to listen to them.

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deleteplz

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is one of my favourites from my childhood, a simple and charming novel.

I reread it by chance recently and found it just as appealing as before. The protagonist, Rebecca Randall, is not all that different in her unforgettable personality compared to Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) or Emily Starr (Emily of New Moon). However, in Rebecca's tale, her emotional and physical growth occurs within a single novel, making her unique among others.

She is imaginative, unconventional, and sometimes irresponsible, but her self-confidence and individuality make her a leader among her peers and a favourite among young readers.

Rebecca's physical appearance is somewhat模糊. It is mentioned that she is an unusual-looking child with long dark braids and fascinating eyes. By the end, the grown-up Rebecca is described as strikingly attractive, thus simplifying the "ugly duckling" in that way. Her creativity ultimately earns her the respect of her schoolmates, her teacher, the townspeople, and even Aunt Miranda.

Whenever I see the novel, I can't help but pick it up and read the final chapters, wondering whether Adam Ladd, who guides her intellectual development both through the books he gives her and the direction he provides to her teachers, will be courting Rebecca in the future. Sadly, it remains vague, and I have no luck in finding out.

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TDude

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This was a truly enjoyable and engaging little coming of age novel. I found Rebecca to be an extremely fun and relatable character. She was the kind of girl that you can't help but cheer for throughout the story.

However, as the novel neared its end, there were a few things that left me with a bit of a strange feeling. For instance, when it seemed that she might end up marrying Mr. Ladd, I couldn't help but think, "Uhhh... that's a bit weird."

I mean, the idea of her getting together with someone who seemed so much older and perhaps not the most obvious match for her was a bit of a head-scratcher. But, I guess that's the beauty of fiction. It can take unexpected turns and make us question our assumptions.

Overall, despite that one small quirk towards the end, I still really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to others who are looking for a light-hearted and entertaining read.

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Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

kate douglas wiggin

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