Thursday’s Child
by Noel Streatfeild
Pub Date 12 Oct 2021 | Archive Date 02 Nov 2021
Harper 360, HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks
Children's Fiction


I am reviewing a copy of Thursday’s Child through Harper360, HarperCollins Children’s Books and Netgalley:



Margaret Thursday was given her name after the day someone found her on the Church steps as baby. But she’s not really an Orphan every year someone leaves a bag of coins on the Church steps for her keep. But when she’s eleven the money stops leaving her guardians with no choice but to send her away to an orphanage.






Sadly the orphanage is worse than they could have imagined. The children are treated poorly and not fed enough, and soon Margaret who is fearless makes herself the enemy of the evil matron who runs it. Margaret is determined to protect her new friends, Peter and Horatio, Margaret plans their daring escape but she’s going to have to outsmart the evil Matron at every turn.





I give Thursday’s Child five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

Kind of a fun read, but I remember why I didn’t like it as much as I did Streatfeild’s “Ballet Shoes” when I read it as a child. The book follows a pretty linear plot-line through its first half, focusing on the adventures of the intrepid orphan Margaret Thursday and the three friends who become her side kicks. But then through a rather convoluted plot device everything takes off in entirely different directions following different characters in a way that felt both chaotic and rushed. Everything ties together a little too neatly at the end, but Margaret herself doesn’t have a clear resolution to her story.
There is a sequel however, which I don’t remember reading when young. So we shall see.

I loved this book.

At first this one reminded me a bit of Matilda by Raold Dahl at first, perhaps he read Straetfield.

I didn't care for it until about half way through and then it improved.

Margaret Thursday was named for the day she was discovered abandoned as a baby on the steps of a church. Mysteriously, a bag of money arrives each year to pay for her care, until she turns 11 and a note arrives saying there will be no more money. Her guardians are forced to send her to an orphanage. The orphanage turns out to be a dreadful place where the children are half starved and treated terribly. Margaret finds herself at odds with the horrible Matron who runs the place. With the help of her new friends, Peter and Horatio, Margaret plans to escape the orphanage and make her own way in the world. But she risks getting caught by the Matron.

This book was a classic rags to riches orphan story that had the feel of Annie but set in Victorian era England. It was first published in 1985 and this is a new edition published. Unfortunately, it reads as very old fashioned with lots of flowy prose that I think children will have a hard time keeping up with. It was an okay read, nothing special but something that children will enjoy if they like that kind of story. Margaret is a likeable enough character who is plucky, determined and independent. She also is caring and compassionate, wanting to help and care for others. It is a sweet book of friendship and adventure. Children will enjoy the parts about them escaping the orphanage and hiding on a boat. The book starts to explore the world of theater towards the end and it will continue on in the sequel. All in all, a fine book.

Watch out world! Margaret Thursday (found in a basket with three of everything, all of the very best quality) is going to go far. Our story begins with the bad news that Margaret will be moving to an orphanage. Her annual support (from her absent mother?) has stopped coming in and the rector who took her in as a baby can not afford to keep her in his household. At the orphanage Margaret meets her nemesis -- Matron. With her independent ways and pride in her origins, Margaret is a challenge and Matron is determined to break her. Fortunately, Margaret makes new friends and there are kind and loving adults who start to realize what is up. The three children who befriend Margaret are Lavinia, Peter, and Horace. Lavinia is too old to stay and is sent to a manor house not far away to be a scullery maid. Margaret promises to look after the boys for Lavinia and soon decides they must run away. There are other wonderful supporting characters like Lady Chokeberry, Jem the stable boy, the Captain, and Mrs. Smith (his wife). I loved the intricate twists and turns of the story to the happy ending with more to come in Far To Go.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I would say if you like Anne of Green Gables, Annie, Matilda, or just in general stories of young girls displaying qualities and attitudes of young women, you might like this one. For me it was slow going at first, not bad but after one or two chapters I was done. It wasn’t a narrative that had gripped me, but it definitely picks up pace the further on you read. While the story or series really, is centered on Margaret Thursday, I thought so much of the narrative was focused on the other children and I think their story was really what moved the book along. Because it is a series, I wouldn’t be surprised if the further on you read the books the more the mail Thursday really takes shape.

Overall, I enjoyed it and wouldn’t mind reading the next book in the series. However, I think really I’m just glad I finally read Noel Streatfield and really want to read more of her other books, particularly the shoe books.

3.5 Stars

Noel Streatfeild novels were middle grade comfort reads for me. Streatfeild kind of made you wish you were a British orphan with dance and theatrical talent. Back in junior high, I could only find Ballet Shoes, Dancing Shoes, and Theater Shoes. So many of her books were out of print and hard to find. I remember stumbling onto Family Shoes and just wanting to be part of a vicarage family. So now, when I find Streatfeild titles I didn't read as a child, I scoop them up. Of course, Thursday's Child features a spunky orphan and maybe I am no longer the demographic, I still associate Streatfeild with joy and comfort.

3.5

A bit ridiculous but very Dickensian.

Well, the Atmosphere of this book reminds me of plenty of others... it's a good tie-in to Burnett's books, so it's interesting to have her play be part of the story. Otherwise, though it would be closer to several other books, it makes me think much more of The Diddakoi.

My grandchildren are too young for this yet but when they're older I hope that they'll love it as much as I do. It's a wonderful lesson in determination, self belief and loyalty but without preaching or pushing it down the reader's throat. It's also a terrible indictment of orphanage life in late Victorian times - not all were like that I'm sure but it must have been fairly accurate.

Margaret Thursday is a very lucky girl... for an orphan. Found on the church steps as a baby, she's taken in by two elderly sisters and their housekeeper. Her life isn't perfect, but it's good. Until one day, the money that always appears for her upbringing stops. As her caretakers age, Margaret is sent to live at an orphanage. And it's a thousand times worse than she imagined.

After crossing the matron one too many times, and learning that her new friends are in danger as well, Margaret plans a reckless escape that takes them all on a daring adventure of secrets, travel, and new found family. But when the police start to close in, will Margaret be sent back to Matron?

I loved this book! I had heard of Noel Stretfield before, but never read anything by this author. Reminiscent of great childhood classics like The Secret Garden, Thursday's Child is full of adventure and mischief. The writing style is rich with beautiful language and character development. There are several characters introduced and each is developed well. Margaret herself is written as strong female lead full of whit, wisdom, and independence. The viewpoint changes often, but the author has a wonderful gift for making the story clear and interesting.

This re-released edition is part of a series that is sure to engage middle and early high school readers. Thursday's Child stands heads and shoulders above most books out there and I'm more than happy to look for more by this author.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.