n  If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.n

The story of ‘Princess Sarah’ will always stay close to my heart. I have so many fond memories of watching the anime with my brother on TV when we were younger (back when people still watched TV!). We were so invested in it and we’d eagerly wait for the next episode every day. Its theme song is still burned in the back of my mind. I’m so glad I finally read this classic! Reading this book was like taking a trip down the memory lane and re-experiencing those emotions all over again.

Set in the Victorian Era, this story is about a beautiful young Sara(h) whose mother dies when she’s young and she’s raised by her loving and rich father in India. In order to give her a good education, he brings her to London and enrolls her in Miss Minchin’s Seminary. Everyone is fascinated with her and calls her ‘Princess Sarah’ but Miss Minchin takes an instant dislike to her. Due to an unfortunate incident, she loses her father and is left penniless. Miss Minchin takes away everything she owns and forces her to become a servant.

The writing in this novel is very appealing. It has a childlike innocence and feel to it, along with the tendency to be bluntly honest which aligns perfectly with our main character Sarah. I mostly loved all the characters and hated Miss Minchin with an enormous passion! The writing made me nostalgic about my own childhood. I went through so many emotions while reading the book. You love Sarah, feel sad for her, cheer for her, pray for her. This book was so amazing!

The best thing about this book is the character of Sarah. She’s a peculiar child and she’s an embodiment of so many endearing qualities. She’s quiet, polite, well-mannered, smart, kind, strong, brave, hardworking, empathetic, self-aware and an ‘old soul’.

n  Perhaps I have not really a good temper at all, but if you have everything you want and everyone is kind to you, how can you help but be good-tempered?n

She treats people equally and helps them when they’re in need. Initially, she has everything she could ever want but she’s not spoiled and haughty. She loves reading books and inventing little stories and telling them to others. Even though Sarah has all these qualities, she’s not perfect. She loses her temper, she doesn’t like some people and she’s not afraid to stand up for someone who’s treated unfairly. This made Sarah a realistic character.

Everyone is fascinated with her charming personality except Miss Minchin who hates her. Despite Miss Minchin’s attempts to put down Sarah and show put her in her rightful place, she’s not able to break Sarah’s spirit. Even when Sarah loses everything and everyone treats her badly, she never ceases to be a princess.

n  If Nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that—warm things, kind things, sweet things—help and comfort and laughter—and sometimes gay, kind laughter is the best help of all.n

The book ends with a great message that all things (good and bad) must come to an end and if you stay true to yourself and don’t lose hope, you’ll get rewarded in the end. Sarah is a perfect role model. Even though I loved this book, I enjoyed the anime version more as it has some interesting addition of different characters and situations, and the struggles of Sarah are portrayed in much more detail which creates more emotional conflict.

To sum it all up, this was a beautiful book with a good message and I recommend it to anyone who loves a nice classic.

Read On Blog!

《هو الحق》
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4/5

UPDATE 24/02/19

Dòng văn học kinh điển dành cho thiếu nhi đã hấp dẫn tớ khoảng thời gian gần đây, trong đó có cuốn Công Chúa Nhỏ này thích lâu rồi mà mãi đến bây giờ mới có cơ hội diện kiến chính thức. Tác giả Frances Hodgson Burnett cũng là người chắp bút viết Khu Vườn Bí Mật mà tớ rất thích luôn cho hẳn 5 sao lận, đã có bài review rồi nhen.

Công Chúa Nhỏ là câu chuyện về cô bé 7 tuổi Sara Crewe, con gái của Đại tá Crewe nên từ nhỏ bé luôn được nuông chiều, yêu thương và sống trong sự giàu có. Một ngày kia, Sara Crewe được cha đưa đi học tại một trường nữ tư thục. Vốn do là một đứa trẻ đã ngậm trong miệng chiếc thìa bạc từ khi mới lọt lòng, Sara Crewe nhanh chóng trở thành "học sinh bày tủ kính" - một cô công chúa nhỏ trong trường.

Tuy vậy đau lòng thay một ngày kia, cha của Sara qua đời, tài sản đồ sộ của ông tiêu tán, Sara trở thành một đứa trẻ mồ côi và hoàn toàn trắng tay. Từ một học sinh bày tủ kính, cô bé trở thành chân chạy việc vặt ở trường, bị ghẻ lạnh, bị bỏ đói và bị ngược đãi bởi chính những con người từng cưng nựng cô vì đống của cải nay đã mất trắng.

Đọc Công Chúa Nhỏ tớ cứ liên tưởng tới một phần câu chuyện Cinderella, một cô gái không cha không mẹ và suốt ngày bị đày đọa bởi mẹ con mụ dì ghẻ. Nhưng dẫu sống trong hoàn cảnh đau khổ tột cùng ấy Sara vẫn luôn tự an ủi bản thân, cố gắng vượt qua khó khăn và dù có bị đối xử tàn nhẫn như thế nào, Sara vẫn luôn xử sự lịch sự và cung cách hệt như một cô công chúa nhỏ kiên cường. Một trong những "vũ khí tinh thần" của Sara đó là trí tưởng tượng của cô bé, dường như sự "giả định" chính là sức mạnh để giúp Sara vượt lên trên cả thực tại khốn cùng ấy và đưa trái tim cô bé chu du vào thế giới của Phép Màu.

Mặt khác, Công Chúa Nhỏ không chỉ là câu chuyện về một cô tiểu thư thất thế mà trên cả, câu chuyện đã ca ngợi lòng tốt, lòng hướng thiện và niềm tin vững chắc vào điều ở hiền thì gặp lành. Đó là hình ảnh của cô bé Sara dù đói lả người nhưng vẫn dùng số tiền nhặt được để mua bánh mì cho một đứa trẻ ăn xin vất vưởng. Đó là hình ảnh của cô bé Ermengarde dù ngốc nghếch nhưng sẵn sàng ở bên Sara bầu bạn. Là cô bé giúp việc Becky rách rưới nhưng lại luôn dành tình cảm thương mến chân thành nhất dành cho cô tiểu thư thất thế nhỏ tuổi.

Không chỉ vậy, câu chuyện còn phê phán những kẻ hám của, tham lam, giả nhân giả nghĩa qua hình tượng bà Minchin - một cô giáo trường nữ sinh - khi biết Sara giàu có thì dịu dàng hiền lành, nhưng khi cô bé trở thành trẻ mồ côi vô sản thì sự dịu dàng ấy đã biến thành sự ghẻ lạnh rẻ rúng đến hèn hạ.

Có thể mới đầu đọc nhiều người cho rằng sự đối nhân xử thế của Sara đôi với mọi người như là một vị thánh nhân, tuy nhiên Công Chúa Nhỏ vẫn là một tác phẩm mang hơi hướng thần tiên nhằm nhấn mạnh vào lòng tốt và ở hiền gặp lành. Và rằng đôi khi Phép Màu vẫn hiện hữu đâu đó ở trên cuộc đời này. Phép Màu chẳng phải là bà tiên, chẳng phải là từ trên trời rơi xuống mà đôi khi Phép Màu lại chính là tình yêu thương giữa người với người, là lòng trắc ẩn khi biết cho đi và là sự lương thiện hiện hữu trong tâm hồn mỗi người.

Công Chúa Nhỏ đã hội tụ đủ những Phép Màu như thế, và chắc chắn đây là một câu chuyện hay không chỉ dành cho thiếu nhi mà còn dành cho cả người lớn nữa. Highly recommend!

“Whatever comes," she said, "cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess



Sigh. Magic, pure magic.


I always loved the story of "Princess" Sara and her father, the students and the evil Miss Minchin. My mom and I watched the movie together which was also wonderful.

Growing up, I read this and reread it. It was one of my favorites. I loved the Princess Sara and still do She is just enchanting and such a beautifully drawn character. It remains a precious book from my past.

I do think it is a wonderful tale that parents and their kids can enjoy together. But I will also say there are some very sad moments and for very sensitive children or children who have a tough time with any story that has moments of deep sadness and loss, it maybe best to wait in my humble opinion. As enchanting and luscious as the story is, there are some really dark moments.

But the image of the wonderful Princess Sarah, is the image of true grace and kindness. I remain a huge fan of this lovely tale.

THIS WAS THE CUTEST SWEETEST THING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!! EVERYONE READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT!!!!! *throws hearts and sparkles everywhere*

Seriously, I recommend this whether you are old or young. Sarah was a wonderful, admirable, heroine and I adored how she held on to her identity and showed kindness and love to others no matter how bad her own situation was. She even continued to be generous when she herself had almost nothing to give. Even when she got mad, or scared, she didn’t let it make her bitter, or make her lash out at people, not even at those who were the ones treating her badly. Such an attitude is one we could all learn from, especially in this day and age. It’s an excellent story, and I loved every moment of it.

Content Advisory: None. This is a great read for all ages.

Have you ever read any children's novel and felt it so heart throbbing that by the time you flipped the last page, you felt like crying your heart out, out of happiness?
Well, A Little Princess is one such book for me.
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Sara Crewe's sad, yet, hopeful story gives a really good lesson in this narative. It teaches to be Kind, Sober, Hopeful & Pateint, no matter what the circumstances might be. If you be kind to someone who is being rough to you, it eventually will lead that person to be kind towards you through your behavior. There are people who loses hope quite early in the period of life, unlike Sara Crewe. She has been hopeful till the very last page. She was kind when she had everything, and more kinder when she lost almost everything. May be her behavior from the very first day, till she lost things, has brought back her fortune of being a princess again. No situation of her life could change her kindness into harshness. I am in love with this little girl and obviously the book. Frances Hodgson Burnett has stolen all my attention.
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Ps: I also watched the movie adaption of the book, and even though it wasn't exactly like the book, I still adored it. The ending was not at all like the book, but both the conclusions brought happy tears in my eyes. This book has all my heart now. ❤️

One of my favorite books in the world. Such a great movie, too. I miss being 8 years old.

I am a princess
all girls are
even if they live in tiny old attics
even if they dress in rags
even if they aren't pretty or smart or young
they still princesses all of us
didn't your father ever tell you that ?
didn't he ??
* I think I loved this book more than the secret garden *

Oh. my. dear. Shirley Temple deceived me!

I'm not sure how I made it through my youth without having read this book. Surely with some big, gaping Little-Princess-sized hole. But it was through no fault of my own. I was deceived. By Shirley Temple. Or the director of the movie. Or whoever wrote the screenplay that seemed to leave out all of the goodness of the book and make Sara Crew seem like a goody two shoes mannequin.

At least the error has been rectified; though the jury is still out on the damage done. It's probably irreparable.

I know I would have read this many, many times. Read of Sara and her father's tender relationship. Poured over the many colorful and descriptive scenes of Sara in her attic room and it's wondrous transformation. Smiled at Sara's strong character and bravery, and stuck my tongue out at mean old Miss Minchin for being ever so cruel.

Yes, I was deceived and cheated. So learn from the terrible victimization incurred upon my dear, sweet youth. Get the book and start reading it now, for it's a book that should be read several times in your life.

Cleanliness:

Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 1 Incident: stupid (used a few times)
Name Calling - 3 Incidents: brat, cry baby, goose
Religious Profanity - 11 Incidents:Good God, goodness knows, oh goodness, oh laws (slang for Oh Lord), my word, God knows

Religious & Supernatural - 4 Incidents: A paragraph on heaven where it is said that the deceased can perhaps see the children in the room and are perhaps in the room. Imagination is referred to as a kind of magic. A girl make-believes that her doll is a kind of "good witch" who protects her. There is a statue of Buddha and a conversation about having an idol though not worshipping it.

Violence - 1 Incident: The girls read of the French Revolution for school: "You know they put her head on a pike and danced round it .. and she had beautiful floating blonde hair; and when I think of her, I never see her head on her body, but always on a pike, with those furious people dancing and howling."

Conversation Topics - 1 Incident: Wine is mentioned.

Romance Related - 1 Incident: The word "breast" is used a few times, indicating "chest."

Parent Takeaway
An incredibly well mannered girl is put through a fiery trial and comes out with a character shining as pure as gold. A great, warm-hearted book to show an exemplary display of character!

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I��m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!

My favourite book of all time.

I borrowed this from a friend and I almost stole it from her.

Hold up, I'm putting my tears in a bucket, so I can die in my own stunning stupor.
This was extraordinary.

A story that still has the power to enchant me today. A story about both fantasy and strength, both grounded in ugly realism and sustained by flights of fancy. I remember being able to hear the rustle of little girls' skirts, feel Sara's hunger at the sight of her feast, see the shine of the candles out her attic window, join in her humiliation at her new lot in life. Yes, it does indulge in father hero-worship, but I refuse to let a little Freudian fact like that get in the way of how much I love this book.