Little Girl With Seven Names

by Mabel Leigh Hunt, Grace Paull (Illustrator)

A little Quaker girl who finally found a way to shed two of the names with which she had been endowed for peace in the family.

Genres: Childrens, Juvenile

Hardcover

First published September 17, 1936

About the author

Born into a prominent Quaker family, Ms. Hunt wrote stories as a child and was influenced by her father, a doctor who loved word games and books. After his death she attended DePauw University, in Greencastle, Indiana, for two years (1910-1912) and received a year of library training at Western University Library School in Cleveland, Ohio (1923). She worked as a librarian at the Indianapolis Public Library from 1926-1938, when she resigned to write books full time. She wrote her first book Lucinda, A Little Girl of 1860 (1934) based on her mother's experiences as a Quaker girl living in Indiana. Ms. Hunt had written over 30 books and short stories at her death.

Reviews

[Majenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book in elementary school, was thrilled to find and enjoy it again. I love the names, I love the flow of the names and the reason for each one, and the whole sweet story. Also recommended: what probably came up while I was looking for this: Hyeonseo Lee's "The Girl With Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story".

[LauraW · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book from a by-gone era, where pregnancy wasn't talked about and babies just appear under the covers, after the older child has been whisked off for the night to a friend's family. A mother who is pregnant with twins and is in her second pregnancy most certainly wouldn't have as slim of a waist as is depicted in one of the pictures.

Nevertheless, it is nice to see the sensitive manner in which the girl goes about thinking about her names. And gives me a feeling of nostalgia to read about young children working hard to be good.

[Teri-K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa-Louisa-Amanda-Miranda-Cynthia-Jane Farlow is a little Quaker girl who lives with her mother and father on a farm. She's named after both grandmothers and her four aunts - so that no one will feel left out. She's proud of her name, and each woman plays a special role in her life. Plus, they only call her by the name she shares with them. :) Melissa Louisa is happy until the first day of school, when the children make fun of her for having so many names. She decides the best thing to do would be to give away two of her names, but which ones? And who should she give them to?

I enjoyed this book when I was a small girl growing up on a farm with only cats and dolls for company, just like Melissa Louisa. And I enjoyed rereading this sweet tale, thanks to openlibrary.org, where it can be read for free. Suggested for fans of All-of-a-Kind Family and the Five Little Peppers.

[kvon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journey back to a childhood that never was...
I look at this with 21st century eyes, that see how Hunt encouraged the womanly arts of sewing, babysitting, mothering, and being obedient. She's not a passive girl, but with few acceptable ways to express herself.
Still something stuck in my memory from this book for over thirty years.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy chapter book about a little Quaker girl who finds that she has too many names. It is a simple, sweet story. Not a lot happens, but it is interesting enough, and all very pleasant, in an old-fashioned way.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been trying to remember the title and author of this childhood book for years--amazingly, I still remember all the names! A sweet story about a very loved little girl with a very memorable, and very long, name!