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Anna and the Fighter
Anna is making her first trip alone by train, to visit her aunt. She is nervous and excited. The journey is long and tiring, and she falls asleep. She wakes up to find that she has missed her station and that she is sharing the train compartment with a dangerous-looking man.
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2005
About the author
Elizabeth Laird
214 books200 followersLaird was born in New Zealand in 1943, the fourth of five children. Her father was a ship's surgeon; both he and Laird's mother were Scottish. In 1945, Laird and her family returned to Britain and she grew up in South London, where she was educated at Croydon High School.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 1, 2025
1/10/2025
March 23, 2021
per passar el ratu, tu
December 3, 2012
time 45
7 words journey, train, passed, ugly, scare, kind, boxer
Q1 When is your first journey by bthe train?
A1 When I was 10 years old, I took a train for the first time.I went to watch movie with my friends. I was so excited and little nervous. Then I felt good and my world was expanded. Compared with other kids, I may be late to go out by the train.
Q2 Anna tought Sam must be a bad person, because his face was so ugly. however it was wrong. He was very good person.Do you often judge a person by his appearance?
A2 Recently, crimes are getting increase in Japan,so I am careful with strange persons. then I judge by appearance.
7 words journey, train, passed, ugly, scare, kind, boxer
Q1 When is your first journey by bthe train?
A1 When I was 10 years old, I took a train for the first time.I went to watch movie with my friends. I was so excited and little nervous. Then I felt good and my world was expanded. Compared with other kids, I may be late to go out by the train.
Q2 Anna tought Sam must be a bad person, because his face was so ugly. however it was wrong. He was very good person.Do you often judge a person by his appearance?
A2 Recently, crimes are getting increase in Japan,so I am careful with strange persons. then I judge by appearance.
November 11, 2012
MACMILLAN
11/5=30min,11/8=30min
7words
Anna,train,man,frighten,man's friend,boxing,kind
If you see strange person in the train, what would you do?
I would run away.
Have you ever watched boxing games?
No, I'm not interested in boxing.
11/5=30min,11/8=30min
7words
Anna,train,man,frighten,man's friend,boxing,kind
If you see strange person in the train, what would you do?
I would run away.
Have you ever watched boxing games?
No, I'm not interested in boxing.
March 4, 2015
nice story he give us an advice never judge a person by appearance
December 19, 2025
I read this book originally back in 5th grade during an English class where my teacher allowed me and my class to select a book to read for the duration of the period. Most of my classmates picked oliver twist or treasure island or many other great classical books as their reads, but I believe I was one of the few who picked this up, and I absolutely feel in love with it. Years later when I got back into reading, this book was always present in the back of my mind albeit the details were a bit hazy. I always wanted to pick it up again except for one tiny problem: I forgot the title of the book.
So that was the major reason why I got around to It almost 2 years after my rekindled reading journey, but I'm so glad to have been able to read it again. I love how this story discusses 'Never judge a book by its over' in such a sad beautiful way even though it is less than 20 pages.
The story follows a young girl Annie who was travelling by train to the town of naira to visit her aunt, but when she falls asleep during her long train ride she ends up missing her station and wakes up to a man with an ugly gash across his face. Anna was reluctant to trust him because of his looks, but she soon learns that looks aren't all there is to a person.
I believe all children should read this as it is relatively simple to read and as it also teaches them not to judge people based on how they look.
You just know I'll be reading it again soon!
So that was the major reason why I got around to It almost 2 years after my rekindled reading journey, but I'm so glad to have been able to read it again. I love how this story discusses 'Never judge a book by its over' in such a sad beautiful way even though it is less than 20 pages.
The story follows a young girl Annie who was travelling by train to the town of naira to visit her aunt, but when she falls asleep during her long train ride she ends up missing her station and wakes up to a man with an ugly gash across his face. Anna was reluctant to trust him because of his looks, but she soon learns that looks aren't all there is to a person.
I believe all children should read this as it is relatively simple to read and as it also teaches them not to judge people based on how they look.
You just know I'll be reading it again soon!
July 4, 2017
it is a nice story ,,
Want to Read
July 11, 2019Nice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2021
An excellent story to work with adjectives for begginers in the English language.
February 4, 2022
This book was a really easy one.I finished it in one day.
September 25, 2024
How a cute story it was!
I felt frightened and shocked at first, but it changed later.
I felt frightened and shocked at first, but it changed later.
March 25, 2021
Com molt bé ha dit la meva bona amiga abril, es per a passar una breu estona :) gràcies montull
January 23, 2025
Just for a English homework 🫡
August 11, 2019
I like the final. I like the happy ending 😬
March 9, 2021
I liked this story
March 30, 2025
A very short, sweet, simple and heart touching story. Must for children who are beginners. A very good book for small children to begin reading.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews