I listened to a 2005 audio version of this by Recorded Books--great narration by Virginia Leishman.

While Sarah Crewe teeters on the edge of being a Mary Sue, I felt like her pride and her near-despair at times still make her a well-rounded character whom the reader wants to like. I've read this story before, and it is always a heartbreaking window into British class warfare in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, as well as a testament to the value of imagination and faith in getting us through difficult times. Unlike Sarah, many people in the world never find a way out of those difficulties. This is a story for them too, though, for who can live without hope? ( )

This is probably the author's second most well-known book. It's not quite in the same class, as the poor children don't have as much agency as Dickon in The Secret Garden, also it's melodramatic, also, though Sara does work hard, the riches are inherited. But I loved it as a child and enjoyed it now.

The edition that I read has interesting back matter. And the illustrations, by [a:Peter Bailey|470769|Peter Bailey|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], recall the old master [a:Edward Ardizzone|23822|Edward Ardizzone|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1364807625p2/23822.jpg], and so are perfect for this minor classic.

A couple of book darts will illustrate why I loved this when I was a child, lo these many decades ago:

" ... when you will not fly into a passion people know you are stronger than they are, because you are strong enough to hold in your rage, and they are not, and they say stupid things they wish they hadn't said afterwards."

And I loved Miss Amelia when she finally stood up, if only for an afternoon, to her wicked sister. In fact, there are lots of minor characters that we know a bit better than we might expect to in a lesser work.

I'm giving this four stars and recommending it to folks who like a sweet rags-to-riches fairy tale.
[b:A Little Princess|45734841|A Little Princess (Alma Junior Classics, 1)|Frances Hodgson Burnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561636507l/45734841._SY75_.jpg|1313599] publ. by Alma Junior, Alma Classics, 2019 ( )

What can I say about this? This was my favorite book as a kid and continues to hold such a special place in my heart. I'm honestly convinced this book formed me into who I am today. ( )

Caveat: I've read this book about 500 times as a child, and I'm not able to review it without bias.

I will mention that it is problematic in how it attributes to some vague "Magic" what should be attributed to God (even in the story itself God is mentioned positively, so, I don't get the whole pre-New Agey vibe). Sara is an extreme Mary Sue, but on the other hand, it's so nice to read a book about a person who does so well at practicing virtue, so I'm torn on that. Ah well, I enjoyed it deeply once again, and I can't wait until my little ones are old enough to enjoy a readaloud :) ( )

Sara Crewe, an exceptionally intelligent and imaginative student at Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies, is devastated when her adored, indulgent father dies. Now penniless and banished to a room in the attic, Sara is demeaned, abused, and forced to work as a servant. How this resourceful girl's fortunes change again is at the center of A Little Princess , one of the best-loved stories in all of children's literature. ( )