Eleven-year-old Cornelia is the daughter of two world-famous pianists—a legacy that should feel fabulous, but instead feels just plain lonely...
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Mar 14, 2010
Janeen-san
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Cornelia Street Englehart is possibly the most lonely girl in the entire area of Greenwich village. Her mother, Lucy, is a famous pianist, and barely spends any time with her. She never knew her father.
Her legacy should feel wonderful, but instead Cornelia is miserable and lonely. Privacy is as rare as diamonds. Making a fortress of difficult words, Cornelia hides behind it often.
One day while running home from school, Cornelia sees something strange. Parked in the middle of the stre More...
Her legacy should feel wonderful, but instead Cornelia is miserable and lonely. Privacy is as rare as diamonds. Making a fortress of difficult words, Cornelia hides behind it often.
One day while running home from school, Cornelia sees something strange. Parked in the middle of the stre More...
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Jan 25, 2009
Avital
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I didn't get to the good part, but my mom says I'll like it.
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Dec 21, 2008
Barky
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Jan 24, 2011
Lesli
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This was another computerized suggestion for me. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the JF I've read this month. The other ones I thought had a broad appeal, while this one was really only for a 12 year old girl. Not to mention the dog on the cover was so ugly I almost returned it to the library without reading it so I wouldn't have look at it, but the font was cute enough I thought I'd give it a try. Yes, I always judge books by their covers. The book is about a lonely only child who has no f
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Sep 22, 2009
Libby
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The example of an amazing book! This tale was a wonderful story of heartbreak, adventure, and unexpected everlasting friendship. Cornelia S., an eleven year old who's parents are famous pianists and are hardly ever home to care for their only daughter, is alone almost al the time and as a result, has minor social problems and nothing to entertain herself with except a room full of books, particularly dictionaries. Then, a Miss Virginia Somerset moves in next door and an unexpected friendshi
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Nov 08, 2010
BookKids
rated it:
Cornelia is the very lonely daughter of a very famous pianist. All anyone ever wants to talk to her about is her mother and her mother’s concerts. Cornelia would just once liked to be recognized for herself. So, to keep the world away, Cornelia hides behind giant words — at least until she meets Virginia Somerset, her new eccentric, elderly neighbor. Virginia has lived all sorts of adventures with her sisters, which she shares with Cornelia, inspiring the girl to have adventures of her own.
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Dec 22, 2011
Gabby
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I gave this book 4 stars because this book is all about a a girl named Cornelia S.Englehart.She is a that kind of girl who is quiet all the time and does not like to talk to people especial new neighbors. When she gets new neighbors in the building she she says thinks it is no big deal. But when she came home from picking something up she finds a dog running out and then its owner than Cornelia thinks of an idea and says to the man i know how to get her back in the apartment .So she t
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Nov 11, 2010
Amy
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What a sweet, heartwarming book! "Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters" will definitely be remembered.
I felt like i was reading at least two stories at once when i was reading this book, because you get to read Cornelia's story, and the adventures of the Somerset Sisters. I really got attached to the Somerset sisters. They were gutsy and pretty darn fearless,and i loved reading about the adventures they had. Gladys' was very funny, and it was absolu More...
I felt like i was reading at least two stories at once when i was reading this book, because you get to read Cornelia's story, and the adventures of the Somerset Sisters. I really got attached to the Somerset sisters. They were gutsy and pretty darn fearless,and i loved reading about the adventures they had. Gladys' was very funny, and it was absolu More...
May 05, 2008
Melinda
rated it:
Okay novel about a lonely young girl who befriends the old lady next door who tells her wonderful stories about the escapades of the traveling Somerset sisters. That's about it. The dog on the cover, supposedly owned by the author, is cute, and I did like Cornelia's penchant for words, but the novel itself seemed forced and flat. It will probably be made into an okay film. Look for it at theaters near you!
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Jun 21, 2009
Helen
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This book would be for more ten to twelve year olds. But I really enjoyed it and have given it as a gift to several young girls I know. Cornelia is the daughter of world famous pianists and this doesn't sit well with her. Even at a very young age she realizes that most people have no desire to know her as an individual. Rather they want to know her as a means of getting to know her famous parents or info on them at the very least. Added to this is the loneliness she feels from a distanced,
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May 14, 2008
Dana
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This is a great book for a pre-teen girl that loves words. The story is engrossing and is a tear-jerker with a happy ending. I really enjoyed it and have recommended it to random people in the store.
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Apr 30, 2008
Rebekah
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this book was so good that i was sad when i finished it cause i didnt want the book to end... and the end of the book was sad and happy...and on the sad part of the end i cried.............
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Feb 03, 2012
706selena
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one of the best books i've read this year! Cornelia is shy and lonely, and barricades herself against the world with strings of long complicated words. i thought that she was an excellent dynamic character, and i loved seeing New York City through her eyes. all of the characters, from her distant and famous mother lucy to the lively French bulldog Mister Kinyatta, the story is brought to life. my favorite character was Virginia. her stories were both beautiful and exiting, and i loved them More...
Feb 27, 2010
Kate
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Cornelia is the daughter of a famous piano player who never seems to be around. She herself prefers words (the fancier the better) to music, and loathes other people as a general rule. That all changes when someone new moves in across the hall - an old lady with a chien bizarre who tells Cornelia stories about being one of the audacious Somerset sisters on adventures throughout the world.
Entertaining and sweet, along the lines of The Penderwicks. More...
Entertaining and sweet, along the lines of The Penderwicks. More...
Jan 15, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
It was okay. At first, I was really enjoying it. Cornelia is kind of annoying, but it's easy to understand where she's coming from. The friendship with Virginia came a little too easily. I enjoyed the "extra-credit" words that kids can learn throughout the book (similar to "A Series of Unfortunate Events" though these words seem a trifle more difficult). However, I was a bit put off by the book's change of tone. It presents itself as a breezy story about an old woman and a so
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Oct 20, 2011
Susan
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This is an incredibly sweet book. I adored little Cornelia, and the "audacious escapades" Virginia shared were both hilarious and endearing. This story is the perfect sort for reading aloud--Virginia's tales in particular are well-suited to a dramatic read.
I have to say that it read a bit younger than I was looking for, so I had a harder time getting into it than I expected. But once I was fully attached to Cornelia (and those wild Somerset sisters), I no longer noticed the " More...
I have to say that it read a bit younger than I was looking for, so I had a harder time getting into it than I expected. But once I was fully attached to Cornelia (and those wild Somerset sisters), I no longer noticed the " More...
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Jan 14, 2012
Faith 11-12
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Cornelia is the daughter of two world famous pianists. She never met her father and her mother is barely ever at home. Cornelia never had a friend, until now. The new next door neighbors are Virgina Somerset, a man named Patel and a French bulldog named Mister Kinyatta are Cornelia's new friends. She hopes her mother will never discover her new friends.
Reasons I like this book-
Reason 1- The book is very entertaining.
Reason 2- I couldn't stop reading.
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Reasons I like this book-
Reason 1- The book is very entertaining.
Reason 2- I couldn't stop reading.
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Sep 26, 2010
Olivia
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I would reccomend this book to anyone who loves strange words and stories about adventure. It's about a girl named Cornelia S. Englehart who lives in an apartment in New York. Her parents are both world-famous pianists and she should feel proud, but instead she is just lonely. Then, everything changes when Virgina Somerset moves next door. Cornelia goes over to vist and finds out that Virgina has the same love for long words like she does and other similarities. To find out more about Corne
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Mar 09, 2009
Nora
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Another book about a girl who loves words. I wished the author didn't define every single word Cornelia used- sometimes I felt like I was reading a dictionary with a plot instead of a novel. But, I liked the book! I liked that Virginia was the true heroine. Virginia is Cornelia's 70-something neighbor who shares stories of her travels in the 50s. It was great to think of Cornelia, 11, learning about what it was like to be a girl in the 50s (not allowed into certain hotels or clubs, constantly es
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Nov 29, 2011
Amy
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This is honestly one of the best books I have read in a long, long time! I loved every minute. It reminded me of some of the Madeline L'Engle books that I devoured over and over again when I was younger. This book explores the powerful medium of storytelling and its ability to enrich our lives in so many wonderful ways! It made me want to curl up with a good story, go out into the world for a grand adventure, and call each of my sisters. Wonderful book, incredible, charming characters, and fabul
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Jul 08, 2009
Meleah
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If you have ever felt alone and bored to death you will totally connect with Corneilia. A girl who lives in New York with her Famous Piano player single mother and her house nanny. She hides herself in her room and tells people big words in her sentences so they will leave her alone. All of this changes when an old lady, a dog and an indian man move in next door to her. Corneilia meets these people and finds out that Patil is the Indian and Virginia is the lady. Virginia tells Corneilia alot of
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Oct 08, 2011
Makayla
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What im about to tell you is the most exciting yet saddest story you will ever know.The book I read is titled Cornelia And The Audacious Escapades Of The Summerset Sisters by Lesley M.M.Blume.My opionon of this book is that anyone could read it and enjoy it as much as I did.My reaction to this book is that from the moment I picked the book up and started reading I couldn't put it down.This book is the most interesting book I have ever read.The plot of this is that an eleven year old girl named C
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Aug 11, 2010
Christy
rated it:
I loved this book and it may be one of my new favs in children's lit. It was so refreshing to read such a tale. Cornelia Street Englehart is a wonderful young girl who loves books and dictionaries and would rather curl up in a chair and read than do anything else. Shy and in the shadow of her famous mother, Cornelia puts up walls around herself and finds comfort in solitude and stories.....until one day a new neighbour moves in and Cornelia meets a kindred spirit and finds adventure outside of h
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Jul 08, 2008
Don
rated it:
This is an okay young reader's book about a young girl who retreats into the world of long and complicated words to keep people at arms' length to deal with the seemingly strained relationship with her mother, a famous pianist, who always seems to overshadow Cornelia. Cornelia meets Virginia Somerset, an older lady, and the two embark on a friendship in which Virginia tells Cornelia the stories of her and her three sisters as they travelled around the world, gradually drawing Cornelia out of her
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May 26, 2008
Broche
rated it:
What a surprisingly fabulous read! I picked up this book off the returns cart at my store and mainly read it based on the fascinating title and the cover art (which is actually different than the jacket goodreads has). I was pleasantly surprised to find that the content reflected both the title and the art! This books is reminiscent of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, but shorter, updated, and the storyline is a little different. Cornelia is the only child of two famous pianist pare
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Jun 08, 2008
Danielle
rated it:
Try saying this title ten times fast :)
I loved this book. It was everything I ever dreamed a proper book worm should be. How they should act, feel, and exist. Cornelia is a rather peculiar child. She has a great capacity for knowledge and knows words that would send you running. In fact, that's one of the main reasons she knows so many words. She thinks that people just don't want to be her friends, so eventually she stops trying to be a friend. She hides herself behind a fortress of More...
I loved this book. It was everything I ever dreamed a proper book worm should be. How they should act, feel, and exist. Cornelia is a rather peculiar child. She has a great capacity for knowledge and knows words that would send you running. In fact, that's one of the main reasons she knows so many words. She thinks that people just don't want to be her friends, so eventually she stops trying to be a friend. She hides herself behind a fortress of More...
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May 01, 2008
Jackie
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Cornelia S. Englehart is eleven years old, but probably around 40 years in maturity and intelligence. She lives with her mother, who is a world famous pianist. Her mother constantly travels the globe to perform in concerts, making Cornelia a very lonely little girl. Cornelia has a love-hate relationship with her guardian, Madame Desjardins. Cornelia does her best to confuse and rattle Madame Desjardins with her eloquent and ever-expanding vocabulary. Above all else, Cornelia loves words! She lov
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Dec 23, 2010
Dox
rated it:
This is great juvenile fiction. The protagonist is likable and understandably drawn. The stories within the story are fun and often funny. The ending is a bit sad, but it is a good ending. The writing is done at an appropriate level for the intended age-group. I am also happy to note that the adventures happen to a set of four sisters, and one of them is plump, and she's perhaps the bravest of them all. So, you have great female characters and they have some very bold personalities.
Jun 28, 2010
Madeline
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Cornelia is the very lonely daughter of a very famous pianist. All anyone ever wants to talk to her about is her mother and her mother’s concerts. Cornelia would just once liked to be recognized for herself. So, to keep the world away, Cornelia hides behind giant words — at least until she meets Virginia Somerset, her new eccentric, elderly neighbor. Virginia has lived all sorts of adventures with her sisters, which she shares with Cornelia, inspiring the girl to have adventures of her own.
More...
Dec 15, 2009
Danie
rated it:
I would recommend this book to anyone and EVERYONE. I love the theme of friendship and adventure. Cornelia Street is lonely for her mothers affection. Her mother fill her days with travelling to play piano concertos in exotic locales while Cornelia stays at home with her french nanny in New York City. When new neighbors move in Cornelia begins to make friends with the exciting woman who has travelled all over the globe, is a writer and has the best stories.
