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Dec 16, 2009

Jenne rated it:

This is like totally some kind of Montessori school propaganda, those bastards!!
But it's also really sweet, it's kind of like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm or Anne of Green Gables or something, but it's all about how to be self-sufficient and be educated at your own level and have self-confidence and stuff.
Plus applesauce.

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Mar 10, 2008

Jay rated it:

My mother read this book as a girl, and I did too. Betsy was a role model for me, inspiring confidence and pragmatism. Now I am gathering copies of the book for my granddaughters.

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Nov 21, 2007

Theresa rated it:

This is a book about a young girl named Betsy who lives with her elderly aunts. When her parents died, they rushed to take care of her. They always are watching out for the least possible sign of any illness or distress of any kind, and quickly trying to make it better. But one day one of the aunts gets very sick and the girl is sent to another part of the family. This family is thought to be too rough and unsympathetic to raise such a sensitive child, but that's the way it has to be. So Be More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Kitty rated it:

A book written for 8-10 year old girls, but one I still enjoy rereading as an adult. I love the descriptions of Vermont and Vermonters, so much that on a vacation to Vermont, I made my family take a detour through Dorothy Canfield's hometown so I could find the farmhouse that she uses as a setting for Understood Betsy. The point she makes that children should be allowed to make their own decisions and learn to think for themselves wasn't lost on me - I only hope that I can do as good a job with More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 10, 2009

Nickie rated it:

Imagine you are nine years old, raised by an overly protective Aunt to the point that you have never accomplished anything on your own in your life. Then one day you are sent to the "horrible cousins" in Vermont. Immediately, without criticism, you are made to see that you can change, do things and think things for yourself. Betsy, as a nine year old discovers an amazing world of ability and excitement for living, learning, playing, eating, and actually having and being a friend.
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0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 08, 2011

Julie rated it:

This was a free Kindle book, and it had some good reviews, so I thought I would try it. One word: quaint! It is a little old-fashioned, but then, it was first published in 1916 (or 1917, depending on the source of the information). It was written for a younger audience (like, 8-11 year olds probably), but I still found it to be enjoyable. Besty, also known as Elizabeth Ann, was orphaned as an infant, and spent most of her life with her more well-to-do aunt and great-aunt in the city. They had se More...

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Nov 08, 2010

Elizabeth rated it:

I always wanted to read this when I was younger, since it had my name in the title, but I just couldn't get interested. Now, with Kindle + public domain, all things are possible!

I'm not sure what Ms. Fisher was wanting to do with this book, but it really isn't so much a kids' story as an extended scenario on how adults should behave towards children. All Betsy's inner feelings are documented so very densely, but she always seems to be reacting and discovering based on what some adult More...

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May 04, 2010

Treasa rated it:

Orphaned at a young age, Elizabeth Ann has been raised by her Aunt Frances to believe she is a delicate child. When Elizabeth Ann is 9, Aunt Frances's mother falls ill, so Elizabeth Ann must be sent to live with other relatives, her Putney cousins. Here she finds a life very different from the one she has known. Uncle Henry, Aunt Abigail, and Cousin Ann don't seem to realize that Elizabeth Ann is a very delicate child and expect her to be able to do things for herself. Thanks to these loving peo More...

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Jan 29, 2010

Shannon rated it:

After my ten year old read this book, she said to me, "Mom, this might be my favorite book EVER." This is high praise from a child who averages more than three books weekly, so I decided to see why she loved it. After finishing the book this morning, I asked her exactly what she loved about it and was told, "Oh... I love the way Betsy transforms from a weak girl to a strong one and the way she helps the little boy in the book and well, everything about it."

I hav More...

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Jan 18, 2010

Pumpkinbear rated it:

In a conversation with a friend in which I was raving about my girls' Montessori education and bemoaning my difficulty in finding appropriate chapter books to read aloud to two such very young children, she recommended this book to me, and I agree that it fits perfectly into that thematic nook of our conversation--this book is like Little House on the Prairie goes to Montessori School.

Little Betsy is a troubled child, a damaged child at the beginning of the book, and also a child tha More...

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Oct 10, 2009

Briana rated it:

Disclaimer: I'm sorry, my inept attempts at communication fail to do this book justice...

One of my favorite children's classics of all time. I'm rediscovering it as I read to my sisters...

A lot of times, children's authors cater to simple entertainment, which is not altogether bad...but of course, it remains mostly at a superficial level, with characters doing a lot, but not really evolving in personality. (Or doing neither *cough*ElsieDinsmore*cough*) The character devel More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 18, 2009

Rebecca rated it:

In the early part of the 20th century, nine-year-old Betsy has led a life ever-so-diligently sheltered by her nervous Aunt Frances, who always does her best to understand her little girl. When Aunt Frances must go care for her mother, though, Betsy is sent to the Vermont farm of some unknown relatives, the Putneys. These taciturn people don't seem to have the slightest notion of how to keep Betsy safe from all the perils of life, and blithely pitchfork her into situation after terrifying situati More...

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Aug 30, 2011

Longfellow rated it:

Read this because it is one of my girlfriend's all-time favorites, which she first read, I believe, when she was nine. I think I have an idea of why she likes it so much.

Elizabeth Ann (Betsy), the protagonist, turns ten years old during the novel, and during our time with her she learns several great self-truths: she can be independent, make decisions, and take care of herself; in thinking for herself as well as asking herself "what would Cousin Ann do?" she discovers her ca More...

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Jan 31, 2012

Poiema rated it:

While children will be delighted and engaged by Betsy's life adventures, as she moves from city to farm, parents will be tutored as they observe the contrast between two styles of child rearing. Betsy is launched from an overprotective, sheltered city life to a new home with distant relatives who live on a new England farm. Betsy's capabilities are developed and her self confidence soars as her elderly caretakers benignly allow her to "do for herself." Betsy faces challenge after chall More...

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Mar 29, 2011

Laura rated it:

Lindsey and I both loved and benefited from this classic about a nine-year-old girl who is timid and virtually helpless, largely because of the personalities of the grown-ups around her. Then she is sent to live with her awful Putney cousins--and everything changes. A great reminder of how good it feels to embrace our agency, think for ourselves, and teach our children to do the same.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 18, 2008

Carrie rated it:

This is a nice story about a girl who goes to live with some relatives on a farm. This girl "Betsy" ends up learning many new things through hands-on experiences. There is a pleasant message of learning and progressing in life through everyday experiences. Caution to Jamie - you may not like this because there were parts of it that reminded me of "Miracles on Maple Hill" : )

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 03, 2009

Misha rated it:

A sweet novel set in Vermont about an orphan girl who goes from being coddled with one pair of aunts to being given responsibility with another set of aunts/cousins. Fisher's parenting and education (montessori) beliefs are clearly illustrated in this nostalgic read. Good for Anne of Green Gables fans.

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 03, 2010

Consuela rated it:

Yes, this is a children's book but it doesn't talk down to children and is utterly charming. It's about a 9-year-old orphan girl, Elizabeth, who is being raised by her prim aunt in the city. Her aunt loves her very much, but to her love is shielding the child from anything even slightly alarming and in doing so the child is afraid of everything and doesn't do much thinking for herself. Because of an illness in the family she is shipped off temporarily to her cousins in Vermont. Her life changes More...

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Mar 12, 2011

elizabeth rated it:

Did you love Anne of Green Gables when you were younger? Did you read it when you were older and fine Anne to be almost insufferable? Do you wish "Teen Angel" from ABC's TGIF line-up had never been cancelled and was available on dvd? If you answered yes to all three- you are possibly me and I'm totally wigged out cuz I'm not sure how that's possible. If you answered yes to the first two, then you are merely like me. That's cool. But if you were wary of reading another novel about More...

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Nov 22, 2011

Denise rated it:

Clearly a children's book, Understood Betsy calls to mind the wholesome, charming books from my childhood. Betsy is a young girl being raised by her fluttery, sensitive, over-protective aunt, and as a result is becoming a fluttery, sensitive, coddled child. When circumstances force her aunt to send her to the Putneys, those dreadful cousins who live in the country and have no sensibility, Betsy is faced with putting on her own clothes (gasp!) and helping in the kitchen (they don't have a servant More...

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Mar 21, 2009

Lupine rated it:

I can't believe I had never read this book before! For those who love Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, Sara Crew, All-of-a-Kind Family etc A sweet story of orphaned Betsy who is raised by her nervous & anxious aunt in the city and then sent to live with her country cousins. The author's montessori background is quite obvious throughout the book which makes it an enjoyable read for the adult parent as well. A bit didadactic and wraps up neatly but it's a great read for those girls who More...

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May 02, 2008

Hilary rated it:

I absolutely loved this book as a child. What more can I say. Betsy is an adorable girl living with adorable relatives on an adorable farm who learns so much about herself in a short year.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 25, 2011

Kirei rated it:

I put off reading this because I heard it was a preachy book on how to raise a child. So finally I started it as a read-aloud to my son. I got so interested that I read the book silently to myself in one day!

It is a book on how to raise a child, a lot like "The Secret Garden". In the story, Elizabeth Ann lives with her nervous but loving aunts. She never does much for herself and is taught to be fearful. Then one aunt get sick so Elizabeth Ann moves to a farm where she More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jan 30, 2011

Bekah rated it:

This is one of many books my grandmother the librarian passed along to me over the years. I remember loving it as a child, which is why it got five stars from me.

I just re-read it on my phone last night. It is still a timeless slice of childhood for me, and reminds me of my grandmother and her fabulous brownies. As a "recovering" Montessori parent, I certainly appreciated the Montessori approach of the classroom and the Putney cousins. I also loved the treatment of overly-a More...

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Oct 13, 2010

Lisa rated it:

LOVED this book! I found it on a list of recommended classics for young girls and this was the only book that I hadn't read on that list. It's a wonderful story that I would liken unto Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. I was reading more about the author of the book and she is the one that introduced the Montessori way of teaching children to America and this book was written to showcase those principles. There are really great lessons taught in t More...

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Sep 27, 2011

Etherealfire rated it:

I inherited the Anne books and Understood Betsy from my mom. And like my mom, I read and re-read and still to this day re-read this book. This book, the Anne books and the Earth Children's series are the books I never get tired of reading and have become an intimate part of my life, like a tattoo, like family. I love this book for the simple life lessons, the sweetness and simplicity of the time and the locale and the unexpected pluckiness and inner strength of our young heroine Elizabeth Ann More...

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Mar 03, 2010

Sandy rated it:

A delightful kids' book, suitable for all ages. It holds up really well for having been first published in 1916, and is the story of a timid 9 y.o. girl who moves from the big city to live with her aunt in rural Vermont. It is a fairly short and simple story - a bit like "The Secret Garden" but without the suspense and the secret, and with butter-making and schoolwork instead of the gardening. Good description of growing independence, which was apparently influenced by Maria Montessori More...

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Apr 20, 2011

Heidi rated it:

Orphan Elizabeth Ann has spent her entire life being coddled and helped and "understood" by an overprotective aunt who does everything she can to protect Elizabeth Ann from the scary and challenging parts of life. But when Elizabeth Ann is 9, an illness in the family requires her to move out of the home she knows, all the way across the country to live on a farm with other relatives. This was a sweet tale about Elizabeth Ann's metamorphosis into Betsy, a spunky and self-reliant littl More...

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Jul 01, 2011

Meg rated it:

I remember reading this when I was really little and liking it....just got it for free on my kindle and reread it! Some of it came back to me as I was reading, but I'd forgotten most of it, which made it more fun. This is well-written and adorably old-fashioned. They make butter! And there's a one room schoolhouse! This stuff obsessed me as a child and I never really got over it. What can I say, I went to history camp and played way too much Oregon trail. Anyway...I really enjoyed reading More...

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Mar 31, 2008

Mary rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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