A Little Princess Book Review

A Little Princess
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Published by Barnes & Noble Children's Classics
243 pages

One of the books I loved when I first started reading was A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It's a very sad tale of what a servant's life is like and how someone could be so cruel. It shows that sometimes changes come dramatically, not just slowly. Sara goes from being the richest girl in the school, to the lowest servant girl, back to being even richer than before. Mrs. Burnet also wrote The Secret Garden, but I have not read that one yet. :)

The time era of this book is set in the 1800's, when girls' and women's education was just coming out. Sara Crewe is sent to a boarding school in England, while her father goes back to India to resume his home there. There is a period of about 7-8 years that Sara is in England at this school.

When Sara first comes to the school with her father, she dislikes Miss Minchin greatly because of her cruel way of treating the servants, and because she is treated as the 'show-pupil'. Miss Minchin hates Sara because she is so smart but also creative, much more than she is. This all contributes to the way that Sara is treated when her father tragically died and the loss of her fortune.

Sara's character inspired me to act better: like a princess, as Sara would say. Even though she is treated with ridicule by everyone in the school except Becky, (the other scullery maid), and Lottie and Ermengarde, (two pupils), Sara says to herself that she is a princess, and if she would only make them see that is can act like one even if she is treated so cruelly. That is what gets her by day after weary day.

I always get excited when she gets so close to finding that the one who is searching for her is just next door. It makes me want to cry knowing how she is treated by Miss Minchin when she loses her fortune in the middle of the book.

I personally feel that the reading level of this book would be in the 9-11 year-old range of reading. This would make a good book for a girls' group reading. I do think that 7-9-year-olds would be able to understand this book if you read it aloud to them. It's such a fun but sad book. I'm sure that some moms' would also enjoy reading this book.

There were also two movies made of this book. One is older and stars Shirley Temple as Sara, The Little Princess. There is a newer one too, starring Liesel Matthews as Sara, entitled, A Little Princess. I have seen both of them. Neither of them is like the book in the instance of finding her father's friend. They bring her father back from the war, which he is not in. If you read the book, then watch either one of the movies, and you will see the difference. The newer movie does have a little bit of a magic part in it. Not really magic, but since Sara's imagination is so big, she pretends it's magic that brings her gifts and lovely dainty-foods. You may need to fast-forward through that part of the movie.

I hope you will read this book, and even watch the movies. I think you will greatly enjoy it. :)

With much adieu,

Other books by this author: A Little Princess The Secret Garden Little Lord Fauntleroy
and many more smaller stories that went into magazines.

About the Author:

Frances Hodgson Burnett was born in Manchester, England in the year of 1849. Her maiden name is Frances Eliza Hodgson. Her father died when she was just three years olds. When she was just sixteen, her family emigrated to Knoxville, TN. The move, which they made at the request of an uncle, made no difference to the family's poverty, but at least they were now living in a better environment.

Following the death of her mother in 1867, an 18-year-old Frances was now the head of a family of four younger siblings. She turned to writing to support them all, with a first story published in Godey's Lady's Book in 1868. Soon after she was being published regularly in Godey's, Scribner's Monthly, Peterson's Ladies' Magazine and Harper's Bazaar. Her main writing talent was combining realistic detail of working-class life with a romantic plot. Her writing talent was recognized early on by some of America's most prestigious magazines, and her first novel, That Lass O'Lowrie's, was a success on both sides of the Atlantic.

She married Dr. Swan Burnett of Washington, D.C. in 1873. Mrs. Burnett invented stories to amuse her two sons. This led to the book Little Lord Fauntleroy and a long career as a popular author of works for children. She d her time between America and her manor in Kent, England. She died in 1924 at her Long Island home, where in 1909, while laying out a new garden, she had conceived the story of her most celebrated book, The Secret Garden.

Snuggling Up with Lamplighter: The Shepherd of Bethlehem

I was greatly saddened when this book ended, because it was a such great book. I hope from reading this review, that you will go and read it as well.

A bit about the author of this wonderful book, from the Lamplighter website:

"Charlotte Maria Tucker was an English author. She wrote under the pseudonym (or pen-name) A.L.O.E. which meant A Lady of England. Charlotte was born on May 8, 821. She was the daughter of Henry St George Tucker, a distinguished official of the East India Company. Charlotte was educated at home, and it was not until her father's death in 1851 that she engaged in her literary career. Until her death, Charlotte wrote many books for children and dedicated the proceeds to charity. Most of her stories were allegories with clear moral teaching. She seriously fell ill for a second time and was soon buried on December 5, 1893 . There is an inscription to her memory which states that she was a women of much energy and determination."

The Shepherd of Bethlehem
by A.L.O.E
Published by Lamplighter Publishing
354 pages

What I think I liked most about this book is the way that it is written. It is written in old English, which I think is beautiful. It was sort of hard to understand all the words because they are not as commonly used today. The time setting was much to my liking. A lot of the Lamplighter books you will find being set in the 1800's period, when it was a very hard life for the poor and very comfortable for the wealthy. This is a period I enjoy reading about a lot. If I read a book about a wealthy family, then I'd like to know about the servants' and slaves' lives, and what they did each day in one of those wealthy families' houses, how they are treated by the family and the higher up slaves, as it were.

Nonetheless I love reading the Lamplighter books. Besides the time era, it makes one think to read all about the morals and Godly characters you read about. It makes you want to open up your Bible and see for yourself if what they say is true. I know that I have been greatly encouraged by reading the Lamplighter books.

As I was looking through the chapters, before I started reading it, I saw there were lectures between most chapters. I thought to myself, "Oh, so it will talk about the book, and it will help me to write my review for GGM." Well, that was true. They aren't lectures about the chapters before it, though, they are lectures given by the curate who is ill, and cannot do much else. They are about the Shepherd-King of Bethlehem, the youth David the shepherd-boy, until he is grown old and calls his son to his side to be anointed of the Lord. I was not much interested in reading this book. I had not looked it up on Lamplighter to see what it was about... But I was very wrong to think I would not like this book!

Psalm 34:1

1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Though at first, it kind of confused me, as I read on, it became a clear storyline of what was going on. I very much liked reading Mr. Eardley's (he is the young curate who comes to the town of Axe in the opening page,) lectures. He is such a kind and generous person, and you can't help but like him. He knows the Word and acts on it, helping whomever he can. It makes you want to follow his example and try to do the things that he does. He has an honest and Godly character. Edwin, his younger brother, is the perfect example of brotherly love. He loves his brother more than anything in whole world. Through staying at the lodging house where they must stay because of Mr. Eardley's fall and illness, two brothers are drawn together.

Psalm 133

1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

These two brothers are Richard and Julious Maxwell. They aren't actual brother, they are half brothers. Richard mother died shortly after his birth. His father then married again to a rich lady. This is Julious' mother. Julious is favoured moreso than Richard is, and so he feels it is his duty to keep his brother in line when he thinks he needs it. It usually happens that they get into blows and one ends up with a black eye or a bruised lip. Through the lectures Mr. Eardley gives and by watching the young curate and his brother, you will find in the end, they are much different from the beginning. I was overjoyed at this!

From the lectures given by the young curate of Axe, five people at least I know come to know the Lord. It makes me so happy when I hear people come to the Lord, by any means. A blogger family who is a friend of ours lost their daddy not too long ago in a truck accident. 10 people came to the Lord through their father's death. They said that it was a hard price to pay for them to lose their daddy, but it was not an unfruitful death. God used it for His greater good, and brought more people who we will see in heaven when we go.

The reading level of this book I think would be in the 13-14 range as the youngest. It could be read to younger children as a group book, but on one's own, it should be read at 13-14 to have a better understanding of it. I sometimes had to go back a page and read something over, because I did not understand what it was talking about. There is nothing in it that should not be read. I just think that it would be harder for younger children to read. My 10-year-old brother has read all of the Lamplighter books we have. Some of the Lamplighters, from what I have read of the ones we have, are easier to understand than others. The way in which the words are written is like Olde English. I am just trying to give you an idea of who I think should read it. It is a great book nonetheless, and I am sure a lot of adults would enjoy reading it too.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

You will find from reading this book, as I did, that it will make you think about the way you treat your siblings and family members. I am encouraged to read more of the Word and learn more of how Christ would want me to treat others. I am sure after reading this book, you will be greatly encouraged also.
With much adieu,

Other books by this author, which you can also get from Lamplighter:
The Giant Killer by A.L.O.E.
The Robbers Cave by A.L.O.E.
Exiles in Babylon (2nd in series Faith Pictures S

Snuggle Up With A Good Book - Elsie's Endless Wait

Elsie's Endless Wait Book One of the Life of Faith: Elsie Dinsmore Series
by Martha Finley
Published by Mission City Press, Inc
199 pages

This book is based on the bestselling literary classic, Elsie Dinsmore. Written by Martha Finley.

Here is a little about the history of Martha Finley. Martha Finley was born on April 26, in Chillicothe, Ohio. Her mother died when she was young, and her father was a doctor and devout Christian. He soon remarried, Martha's stepmother, Mary Finley. Mary Finley was a kind and caring woman and helped to start Martha's career as a writer. After her father's death in 1851, Martha began her teaching career in Indiana. She later lived in New York City with an elder sister, where she continued teaching and began writing stories for Sunday school children. Martha also lived in Philadelphia, where her early stories were published by the Presbyterian Publication Board. Though she sold several stories, her early efforts at novel-writing were not successful. Three years after she began writing the Elsie Dinsmore Series, the story of the little Southern girl was accepted by the New York firm of Dodd Mead. Released in 1868, Elsie Dinsmore became the publisher's best-selling book that year.

The Elsie stories eventually expanded to 28 volumes, and included the lives of Elsie's children and grandchildren. Martha published her final Elsie Dinsmore book in 1905. Four years later, she died less than three months before her 82nd birthday. She is buried in Elkton, Maryland, where she lived for more than 30 years in the house she built with the proceeds from her writing career. Matha Finley was a remarkable woman who lived a simple Christian life; yet through her many writings, she effected the lives of several generations. She never married, never had children, yet she left behind a legacy.

Elsie's Endless Wait is a Christian fiction book set in early America. Elsie lives on a cotton plantation called Roselands, near a coastal city in the Old South during the early 1840's, some years prior to the American Civil War, and the abolition of slavery. A girl of 7 or 8, knowing how to read, would probably really enjoy this book. I greatly liked it, and I am 14, so I think it would be well-liked by a girl of any age. It could also be used as a mother-daughter read together, a read-aloud or for a group of girls reading it together. It is a wonderful story, and has lots of good, character-building traits in it.

1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

There are good morals and values that will build character, not destroy it, throughout the story. Anyone who reads it will see that. I loved all the Scripture that was used in the book. Sin is confronted in the book as sin. I have found many places in the books that people realize they have sinned and many have turned from it. The sinful nature of the 'bad guys' in this book, would be the other Dinsmore children, who often taunt and tease little Elsie. A child who is old enough to understand what good and bad morals are can easily recognize sin. If you are reading it as a mother-daughter book, then you can point out where someone is being sinful or mean.

Ephesians 4:25-27 25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil.

I was very convicted of some of the sins I commit everyday to my siblings. The way the other Dinsmore children acted was so mean and hateful. I realized that I often act the same way. I encourage you to not just brush off a feeling you have when you read some of this book. Do something about it.

Another thing I loved was the names of the characters. Elsie is such a cute name, don't you think? I thought it was a cute name for a little girl when I first started reading. Some other names I like are Adelaide, Enna, Travilla, and Miss Rose Allison. Aren't they just elegant? I think they are. I hope you enjoy the names in the book as I did.

Elsie's faith in God made me think about my own walk with God. I surely wasn't as strong as Elsie was in her faith. She never gave a snarky remark back to her mean-spirited aunts and uncles. She will not sin and hide something, as Arthur, her uncle, does a lot. I think you will be a bit convicted of your own sins when you read this book. I can't wait until I am able to get the second book in the series, Elsie's Impossible Choice. I can't wait to find out what happens! Can you?

You can find more books like this one at A Life of Faith.


Life of Faith Books has graciously donated their Collection book as a free giveaway! GGM can ship this collection to a US Resident. Simply reply below to be entered for the drawing.
If you post about this article and giveaway on your site, and bring us the link, we'll enter your name TWICE!

Here's what you can win!

The Life of Faith Collection
Which includes:
Elsie's Endless Wait
Millie's Unsettled Season
Violet's Hidden Doubts
Laylie's Daring Quest

Snuggle Up With A Good Book: Kingdom's Dawn

Get a hot cup of tea and sit down in your favourite reading chair with one of my favourite book series, which I will tell you a little bit about the first book, Kingdom's Dawn.

With this review, I am hoping to get your interest trapped so that you will want to read it more.
This book series was such a thriller for me. I loved it. I love the era it is set in: almost medieval. Like most stories of that era, there are knights in shining armour and evil lords to conquer. I just love reading about gallant knights who save people from being killed by vicious evil lords. This series was just the right one for me since I love reading about them. I am sure you will agree after you finish reading the first book that you won't be able to keep yourself from reading the next one. It has become one of my favourite series. Enjoy!






First, the basics:

1. Basic info...
Author: Chuck Black
Series Title: Kingdom Series
Book Title: The Kingdom's Dawn
Pages: 160
Volume #: Volume 1 out of 6

2. About the author?
Chuck Black is a Christian, homeschool father of 6. He enjoys writing fiction stories. You can tell this from reading his books that is a Christian author, because he uses stories from the Bible. He copies them in a sense, but you can tell they are from the Bible.

3. What reading level/age are these books for?
I think these books would be great for any age. Older kids can read to the younger, or even younger can read to the older. In my opinion, these are books for every age.

4. What is the storyline?
The book is set in the medieval, knights and maidens era. It has evil lords and gallant knight who come to rescue the people from the evil lords. This book is like an allegory of different stories of the Bible. It has many of the same stories, with his characters and world. I really liked the theme of the book.

5. Is this a series/book that teaches good morals and values?
Yes, I would say there is. It has good morals and values that will build character, not destroy it. Anyone who reads it will see that.

6. What are they [above]?
Keep notes while reading this book and see what different morals, good and bad, these characters have.

7. Is sin confronted in the book as sin?
Yes. I have found many places in the books that people realize they have sinned and many have turned from it. The sinful nature of the 'bad guys' of the book will, I am sure, ensure that the kids who read it, will not want to be the 'bad guys' and be sinful.

8. Will it teach me to realize my sin?
Yes, when kids read about these sinful, wicked "bad guys", they will take it as a lesson that needs learning. Like Leinad did with his training. To be a Knight of the Prince, you must be willing to learn the lessons he has for you, not rebuke them.

9. What is the time span on this book?
The story is the length of about a year I would say. I do not know the exact time that it was. They might have a different way of telling time in Arrethtrae! :)

10. Genre and time period?
The genre of the book is Christian, fantasy fiction. It is a medieval-type setting.







I was a bit confused by the way this book started: a sixteen-year-old boy fighting in a field with a man. As it progressed, it was much less confusing. The opponent turns out to be his father. Leinad is a tall boy for his age, and a strong one too. When I first starting reading the book, I thought the first chapter was sort of boring. But I held on because I wanted to know what happened. The book turned out to be an action-packed, sword fighting adventure! I was thrilled about all the sword fighting. Leinad is growing stronger with the training his father gives him. He is training him with the sword, even though he is a simple farmer.


Peyton has a long history with why the Kingdom needs restoring. I will enlighten you a little bit on this subject, but I do not want to give away too much of the story. If you’d like to know more, then you’ll have to read the book. :)







Peyton and Dinan, were once like Adam and Eve, charged with the order of the Kingdom (which is kind of like the Garden of Eden). Well, you know what happened with them: Eve was tricked and then they both sinned and were driven out of the Garden. The “devil” character in the book is a mighty knight named Lucious. He is just like Satan. He is working his way through the Kingdom to get enough people to follow him to rebel against the King. He was cast out of the Kingdom Across the Sea because he rebelled just like Satan. He wanted to rule the entire Kingdom, be the King.

In Genesis 3, it tells the same thing happened with Adam and Eve,

6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

This story is a very good depicton of The Fall. Peyton allowed the Dark Knight, Lucious, to be a guest at the palace the King had given them.
Lucious acts as a merchant bringing exotic gifts and Dinan pressed Peyton to allow him to stay. So you see the connection he made with Adam and Eve? Sound like what happened with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? Eve was deceived, but Adam wasn't. Do you think that statement is true? I think Adam was the first one to sin because he walked into sin knowingly, but Eve was deceived. Lucious is always trying to thwart the King's plans for the new kingdom, just like satan.
He tells them that one day, someone will have to restore the Kingdom and set things right again. A Saviour of sorts.

There was a little history to get you interested.







I love the names of the characters. Names like Deliverance, Leinid, Lucius. They are names that are like the Bible characters they represent.
I love the way the story is written and the character plots. It holds your interest to the point that it is hard to put it down.
Like I said, it might seem like this book is for boys, but it is not. It is for all ages and boys and girls. I love the series. My ten year old brother loves it so much he re-read the same book because he couldn't get it from the library, and my eight year old sister loves them too. Oh, and Amanda read them, and Jocelyn has just started.






What the Word says about loving one another and being Christ-like:

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Ephesians 4:2 & 3 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Will Leinad be able to free the slaves of Fairos? Will he fail the Prince or will he overcome evil with good? Read the second book, Kingdom’s Edge to find what happens after Kingdom’s Dawn!