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Nancy and Plum
"Nancy and Plum" is a delightful old fashioned Christmas story about two sisters, Nancy, 10 and Plum, 8, whose parents died in an accident. Their only surviving relative is Uncle John, a wealthy bachelor with little patience or time for children. He puts the girls in Mrs. Monday's Boarding School in Heavenly Valley, persuaded by Mrs. Monday's promises and unctuous manner.
But Mrs. Monday is an ogre who pampers her niece, Maribelle, and persecutes the other girls in her custody.
Of the two sisters, Plum is the spunky one, leading Nancy on forays for food and initiating their running away.
There are lovely characters who are sympathetic and help the girls: Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who find the girls on their farm and rescue them; Miss Waverly, the school teacher; Miss Appleby, the librarian, and Old Tom, the caretaker at the orphanage.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1952
67 people are currently reading
1251 people want to read
About the author
Betty MacDonald
60 books321 followersMacDonald was born Anne Elizabeth Campbell Bard in Boulder, Colorado. Her official birth date is given as March 26, 1908, although federal census returns seem to indicate 1907.
Her family moved to the north slope of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in 1918, moving to the Laurelhurst neighborhood a year later and finally settling in the Roosevelt neighborhood in 1922, where she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1924.
MacDonald married Robert Eugene Heskett (1895–1951) at age 20 in July 1927; they lived on a chicken farm in the Olympic Peninsula's Chimacum Valley, near Center and a few miles south of Port Townsend. She left Heskett in 1931 and returned to Seattle, where she worked at a variety of jobs to support their daughters Anne and Joan; after the divorce the ex-spouses had virtually no contact.
She spent nine months at Firland Sanatorium near Seattle in 1937–1938 for treatment of tuberculosis. On April 24, 1942 she married Donald C. MacDonald (1910–1975) and moved to Vashon Island, where she wrote most of her books. The MacDonalds moved to California's Carmel Valley in 1956.
MacDonald rose to fame when her first book, The Egg and I, was published in 1945. It was a bestseller and was translated into 20 languages. Based on her life on the Chimacum Valley chicken farm, the books introduced the characters Ma and Pa Kettle, who also were featured in the movie version of The Egg and I. The characters become so popular a series of nine more films were made featuring them. In the film of The Egg and I, made in 1947, MacDonald was played by Claudette Colbert. Her husband (simply called "Bob" in the book) was called "Bob MacDonald" in the film, as studio executives were keen not to raise the matter of MacDonald's divorce in the public consciousness. He was played by Fred MacMurray.
Although the book was a critical and popular success at publication, in the 1970s it was criticized for its stereotypical treatment of Native Americans. It had also been claimed that it "spawned a perception of Washington as a land of eccentric country bumpkins like Ma and Pa Kettle."
MacDonald's defenders point out that in the context of the 1940s such stereotyping was far more acceptable. MacDonald faced two lawsuits: by members of a family who claimed she had based the Kettles on them, and by a man who claimed he was the model for the Indian character Crowbar. One lawsuit was settled out of court, while the second went to trial in February 1951. The plaintiffs did not prevail, although the judge indicated he felt they had shown that some of the claims of defamation had merit.
MacDonald also published three other semi-autobiographical books: Anybody Can Do Anything, recounting her life in the Depression trying to find work; The Plague and I, describing her nine-month stay at the Firlands tuberculosis sanitarium; and Onions in the Stew, about her life on Vashon Island with her second husband and daughters during the war years. She also wrote the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series of children's books and another children's book, entitled Nancy and Plum. A posthumous collection of her writings, entitled Who Me?, was later released.[citation needed]
MacDonald died in Seattle of uterine cancer on February 7, 1958
Her family moved to the north slope of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in 1918, moving to the Laurelhurst neighborhood a year later and finally settling in the Roosevelt neighborhood in 1922, where she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1924.
MacDonald married Robert Eugene Heskett (1895–1951) at age 20 in July 1927; they lived on a chicken farm in the Olympic Peninsula's Chimacum Valley, near Center and a few miles south of Port Townsend. She left Heskett in 1931 and returned to Seattle, where she worked at a variety of jobs to support their daughters Anne and Joan; after the divorce the ex-spouses had virtually no contact.
She spent nine months at Firland Sanatorium near Seattle in 1937–1938 for treatment of tuberculosis. On April 24, 1942 she married Donald C. MacDonald (1910–1975) and moved to Vashon Island, where she wrote most of her books. The MacDonalds moved to California's Carmel Valley in 1956.
MacDonald rose to fame when her first book, The Egg and I, was published in 1945. It was a bestseller and was translated into 20 languages. Based on her life on the Chimacum Valley chicken farm, the books introduced the characters Ma and Pa Kettle, who also were featured in the movie version of The Egg and I. The characters become so popular a series of nine more films were made featuring them. In the film of The Egg and I, made in 1947, MacDonald was played by Claudette Colbert. Her husband (simply called "Bob" in the book) was called "Bob MacDonald" in the film, as studio executives were keen not to raise the matter of MacDonald's divorce in the public consciousness. He was played by Fred MacMurray.
Although the book was a critical and popular success at publication, in the 1970s it was criticized for its stereotypical treatment of Native Americans. It had also been claimed that it "spawned a perception of Washington as a land of eccentric country bumpkins like Ma and Pa Kettle."
MacDonald's defenders point out that in the context of the 1940s such stereotyping was far more acceptable. MacDonald faced two lawsuits: by members of a family who claimed she had based the Kettles on them, and by a man who claimed he was the model for the Indian character Crowbar. One lawsuit was settled out of court, while the second went to trial in February 1951. The plaintiffs did not prevail, although the judge indicated he felt they had shown that some of the claims of defamation had merit.
MacDonald also published three other semi-autobiographical books: Anybody Can Do Anything, recounting her life in the Depression trying to find work; The Plague and I, describing her nine-month stay at the Firlands tuberculosis sanitarium; and Onions in the Stew, about her life on Vashon Island with her second husband and daughters during the war years. She also wrote the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series of children's books and another children's book, entitled Nancy and Plum. A posthumous collection of her writings, entitled Who Me?, was later released.[citation needed]
MacDonald died in Seattle of uterine cancer on February 7, 1958
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February 2, 2022
"Night is funny. It's scary when you're inside but it's soft and beautiful and fun when you're out in it."
Wow re-reading this book brought back many childhood memories and I'm surprised to find out that my opinions about this book haven't changed one bit! I'm wondering if that's a good or bad thing. This was one of the first few books I read when I got into reading and I'm glad I picked this up. It makes me feel really nostalgic and I'm sure a person of any age can pick this book up and end up falling in love with it. It reminds me of Anne of Green Gables, at least some aspects of the book do. I read this multiple times when I was a kid and each time I read this, I found something new to laugh and be happy about.
INTRODUCTION
This book is about a group of children, particularly Nancy and Plum, who are living in Mrs. Monday's boarding house. Mrs. Monday is a terrible person. She makes all the children wear clothes that look more like rags and she makes them eat food that might have suited horses better, while she and an impudent child named Marybelle get to enjoy fried chicken and other delicacies. The children also had their meals taken away sometimes as punishment. The unfairness with which Mrs.Monday ran the boarding house was starting to grow on Nancy and Plum. They had been placed in her care by an uncle who never wrote them letters and never sent them presents. At least, they thought he didn't!
“All of life is a contest. The weak against the strong - the stupid against the clever - the honest against the dishonest.”
PLOT
The book starts on a cold and crisp Christmas night. Nancy and Plum are left all alone in the boarding house while the other children are taken out to enjoy Christmas. However, they don't complain about it and they soon find happiness in pretending that everything was going to be all right and they too soon would get to enjoy life. But how long can one go with just pretending that good things will happen soon. Nancy and Plum decided that they were going to run away and they never regretted doing so, because it changed their life completely!
“Well, whatever you and Nancy decide to be when you grow up, I know that you'll be happy because you have discovered the comfort and joy of reading.”
CHARACTERS
Nancy
Nancy is the older of the two sisters and is lady like. She tries to be strong and optimistic for her younger sister and is in charge of pretending that they are content with their life when in reality, they’re not. She’s good at cooking and is a very empathetic person.
Pamela A.K.A Plum
Her name is Pamela but she called herself Plum ever since she was little. She’s quite different from her older sister, Plum’s more boyish and impulsive. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and she doesn’t mind hurting people who deserve to be insulted. Her offhand comments sometimes got her in trouble. But Nancy is always there to refrain her from doing so.
“I never feel that the things I tell Mrs. Monday are lies. I think that lies are only when you want not to tell the truth. With Mrs. Monday I want to tell the truth but life is easier if I don't.”
I love the writing style and even though this is meant for children, I would highly recommend this to everyone out there!
Wow re-reading this book brought back many childhood memories and I'm surprised to find out that my opinions about this book haven't changed one bit! I'm wondering if that's a good or bad thing. This was one of the first few books I read when I got into reading and I'm glad I picked this up. It makes me feel really nostalgic and I'm sure a person of any age can pick this book up and end up falling in love with it. It reminds me of Anne of Green Gables, at least some aspects of the book do. I read this multiple times when I was a kid and each time I read this, I found something new to laugh and be happy about.
INTRODUCTION
This book is about a group of children, particularly Nancy and Plum, who are living in Mrs. Monday's boarding house. Mrs. Monday is a terrible person. She makes all the children wear clothes that look more like rags and she makes them eat food that might have suited horses better, while she and an impudent child named Marybelle get to enjoy fried chicken and other delicacies. The children also had their meals taken away sometimes as punishment. The unfairness with which Mrs.Monday ran the boarding house was starting to grow on Nancy and Plum. They had been placed in her care by an uncle who never wrote them letters and never sent them presents. At least, they thought he didn't!
“All of life is a contest. The weak against the strong - the stupid against the clever - the honest against the dishonest.”
PLOT
The book starts on a cold and crisp Christmas night. Nancy and Plum are left all alone in the boarding house while the other children are taken out to enjoy Christmas. However, they don't complain about it and they soon find happiness in pretending that everything was going to be all right and they too soon would get to enjoy life. But how long can one go with just pretending that good things will happen soon. Nancy and Plum decided that they were going to run away and they never regretted doing so, because it changed their life completely!
“Well, whatever you and Nancy decide to be when you grow up, I know that you'll be happy because you have discovered the comfort and joy of reading.”
CHARACTERS
Nancy
Nancy is the older of the two sisters and is lady like. She tries to be strong and optimistic for her younger sister and is in charge of pretending that they are content with their life when in reality, they’re not. She’s good at cooking and is a very empathetic person.
Pamela A.K.A Plum
Her name is Pamela but she called herself Plum ever since she was little. She’s quite different from her older sister, Plum’s more boyish and impulsive. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and she doesn’t mind hurting people who deserve to be insulted. Her offhand comments sometimes got her in trouble. But Nancy is always there to refrain her from doing so.
“I never feel that the things I tell Mrs. Monday are lies. I think that lies are only when you want not to tell the truth. With Mrs. Monday I want to tell the truth but life is easier if I don't.”
I love the writing style and even though this is meant for children, I would highly recommend this to everyone out there!
January 28, 2019
Absolutely loved this. It was recommended to me last January by a friend who knew I was looking for more Christmas books, so I put off reading it until now, and I'm both sad and glad. Sad that I'm just discovering it, and glad that I'm reading it at the start of the Christmas season.
The book covers a whole year in the lives of orphaned sisters Nancy and Plum, but it starts and ends with Christmas and has a sort of Christmassy spirit throughout. It's based on the stories about two plucky sisters that MacDonald used to tell her own sister when they were growing up, and was originally published in 1952. This edition has wonderful illustrations by Mary GrandPre which really made it special.
But it's still a very old-fashioned book, and that's a good thing.
I kept thinking about how this book couldn't be written today. I mean, the beginning, where you find out how two little girls came to live at the almost cartoonishly awful Mrs. Monday's Boarding House, that would work. But from there things would probably get more and more hyperbolically awful until the day was saved by the girls discovering magic powers or that everyone is a robot or that they are the heiresses to some Roald Dahl-esque candy factory. All the adults would be awful, and the kids would save themselves. But this book is very real. Sometimes the kids are hungry or dirty or have had to do awful chores all day. Sometimes grownups are mean, sometimes kind, sometimes ambiguous. You know, like real people. The girls are able to come up with some schemes and adventures on their own, and other times they are helped by adults. There's no magical elements, and yet the adventures the girls have are still exciting or funny or scary, and there is a magical quality to some of it. When you are hungry and lonely, being fed a delicious hot meal (described in glorious detail!) by a kindly farmwife does feel like magic, even if the farmwife doesn't turn out to be a good witch.
When I talk at schools, I talk about how I didn't really enjoy reading until I was in fifth grade, because there were no good books to read, but that's not 100% true. (It sure holds the kids' attention, though!) I think really the problem was that I didn't like the books that were being written for kids at the time. I have very fond memories of books like A LITTLE PRINCESS and THE SECRET GARDEN, THE ALL-OF-A-KIND FAMILY, and the works of Noel Streatfeild. I loved books that talked about Life. I liked descriptions of old-fashioned clothes, and how to build a fire, scrub a potato, and cook it in the coals. That was all very interesting to me, and still is. NANCY AND PLUM is that kind of book, the kind of book I would have been obsessed with as a child. So while I'm sad I'm just finding out about it now, the good news is: now I've read it, I've loved it, and I own a copy!
Read aloud 2019: The kids really got into this. At first they thought it was too sad, but they were fully invested anyway, and they loved the ending. My daughter (age 10) wanted to know if there was a sequel so that we could read it immediately.
The book covers a whole year in the lives of orphaned sisters Nancy and Plum, but it starts and ends with Christmas and has a sort of Christmassy spirit throughout. It's based on the stories about two plucky sisters that MacDonald used to tell her own sister when they were growing up, and was originally published in 1952. This edition has wonderful illustrations by Mary GrandPre which really made it special.
But it's still a very old-fashioned book, and that's a good thing.
I kept thinking about how this book couldn't be written today. I mean, the beginning, where you find out how two little girls came to live at the almost cartoonishly awful Mrs. Monday's Boarding House, that would work. But from there things would probably get more and more hyperbolically awful until the day was saved by the girls discovering magic powers or that everyone is a robot or that they are the heiresses to some Roald Dahl-esque candy factory. All the adults would be awful, and the kids would save themselves. But this book is very real. Sometimes the kids are hungry or dirty or have had to do awful chores all day. Sometimes grownups are mean, sometimes kind, sometimes ambiguous. You know, like real people. The girls are able to come up with some schemes and adventures on their own, and other times they are helped by adults. There's no magical elements, and yet the adventures the girls have are still exciting or funny or scary, and there is a magical quality to some of it. When you are hungry and lonely, being fed a delicious hot meal (described in glorious detail!) by a kindly farmwife does feel like magic, even if the farmwife doesn't turn out to be a good witch.
When I talk at schools, I talk about how I didn't really enjoy reading until I was in fifth grade, because there were no good books to read, but that's not 100% true. (It sure holds the kids' attention, though!) I think really the problem was that I didn't like the books that were being written for kids at the time. I have very fond memories of books like A LITTLE PRINCESS and THE SECRET GARDEN, THE ALL-OF-A-KIND FAMILY, and the works of Noel Streatfeild. I loved books that talked about Life. I liked descriptions of old-fashioned clothes, and how to build a fire, scrub a potato, and cook it in the coals. That was all very interesting to me, and still is. NANCY AND PLUM is that kind of book, the kind of book I would have been obsessed with as a child. So while I'm sad I'm just finding out about it now, the good news is: now I've read it, I've loved it, and I own a copy!
Read aloud 2019: The kids really got into this. At first they thought it was too sad, but they were fully invested anyway, and they loved the ending. My daughter (age 10) wanted to know if there was a sequel so that we could read it immediately.
August 27, 2017
A wonderful story that is still fresh after more than half a century. Glad to see it reprinted, although the additions (new illustrations and introduction) do not improve it.
Here are the titles mentioned over the course of the book:
Robinson Crusoe (1719)
Oliver Twist (1838)
David Copperfield (1850)
The Water Babies (1863)
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (1865)
Tom Sawyer (1876)
Black Beauty (1877)
Heidi (1881)
Toby Tyler (1881)
Pinocchio (1883)
The Adventures of Robin Hood [The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood] (1883)
Treasure Island (1883)
Huckleberry Finn (1884)
Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886)
Timothy's Quest (1890)
The Jungle Book (1894)
The Live Dolls [The Story of Live Dolls] (1901)
King Arthur [The Story of King Arthur and His Knights] (1903)
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1903)
Dandelion Cottage (1904)
Sara Crewe [A Little Princess] (1905)
Anne of Green Gables (1908)
The Secret Garden (1911)
and, of course, all of the fairy tales
Here are the titles mentioned over the course of the book:
Robinson Crusoe (1719)
Oliver Twist (1838)
David Copperfield (1850)
The Water Babies (1863)
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (1865)
Tom Sawyer (1876)
Black Beauty (1877)
Heidi (1881)
Toby Tyler (1881)
Pinocchio (1883)
The Adventures of Robin Hood [The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood] (1883)
Treasure Island (1883)
Huckleberry Finn (1884)
Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886)
Timothy's Quest (1890)
The Jungle Book (1894)
The Live Dolls [The Story of Live Dolls] (1901)
King Arthur [The Story of King Arthur and His Knights] (1903)
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1903)
Dandelion Cottage (1904)
Sara Crewe [A Little Princess] (1905)
Anne of Green Gables (1908)
The Secret Garden (1911)
and, of course, all of the fairy tales
December 11, 2017
“It was Christmas Eve. Big snowflakes fluttered slowly through the air like white feathers and made all of the Heavenly Valley smooth and white and quiet and beautiful.”
This was how young Betty MacDonald began the bedtime stories she shared with her sister about two orphans, Nancy (age 10) and Plum (age 8), who spent Christmas Eve in a barn (much like the baby Jesus). MacDonald never forgot those stories, and many years and books later, she wrote a version that is a delightful classic for children called Nancy and Plum.
The story has the right ingredients that make for a pleasing tale. There is a pair of orphaned sisters rejected by their only relative, a wealthy uncle who would not suffer children. They are starved and ill-treated by an evil matron (Mrs. Monday) of a Boarding House (ironically) in Happy Valley where they lodged. (The standard horrors reminiscent of those doled out by a wicked stepmother include: prunes and burnt oatmeal for food; clothes and shoes long outworn; no supper for imagined wrongdoing; no picnic or school program to guarantee a childhood as joyless as possible; a favored niece of Mrs. Monday who is a spiteful tattle-tale). However, Nancy and Plum are spunky and resourceful children who make the best of their appalling living conditions. They are subjected to gross injustice and unfairness, and our hearts bleed for them. Fortunately, kindly teachers (Miss Waverly and Miss Appleby) and compassionate neighbors (the Campbell couple and old Tom) root for the oppressed children. Of course, parts of Nancy and Plum’s flight from Happy Valley strain credulity. Yet this is a story where the implausible is permissible because there must be a brighter Christmas Eve for two children who deserve better. The story closes with the same lines that open this book but with a Christmas Eve for Nancy and Plum that will make your heart sing.
First published in 1952, Nancy and Plum is a comic, light-hearted and nostalgic children’s book. I love it that the girls found comfort, courage and hope in the books read to them on library visits. That they gained “wisdom, understanding and humor way beyond their years” from literature will endear this book to the Goodreads community.
This was how young Betty MacDonald began the bedtime stories she shared with her sister about two orphans, Nancy (age 10) and Plum (age 8), who spent Christmas Eve in a barn (much like the baby Jesus). MacDonald never forgot those stories, and many years and books later, she wrote a version that is a delightful classic for children called Nancy and Plum.
The story has the right ingredients that make for a pleasing tale. There is a pair of orphaned sisters rejected by their only relative, a wealthy uncle who would not suffer children. They are starved and ill-treated by an evil matron (Mrs. Monday) of a Boarding House (ironically) in Happy Valley where they lodged. (The standard horrors reminiscent of those doled out by a wicked stepmother include: prunes and burnt oatmeal for food; clothes and shoes long outworn; no supper for imagined wrongdoing; no picnic or school program to guarantee a childhood as joyless as possible; a favored niece of Mrs. Monday who is a spiteful tattle-tale). However, Nancy and Plum are spunky and resourceful children who make the best of their appalling living conditions. They are subjected to gross injustice and unfairness, and our hearts bleed for them. Fortunately, kindly teachers (Miss Waverly and Miss Appleby) and compassionate neighbors (the Campbell couple and old Tom) root for the oppressed children. Of course, parts of Nancy and Plum’s flight from Happy Valley strain credulity. Yet this is a story where the implausible is permissible because there must be a brighter Christmas Eve for two children who deserve better. The story closes with the same lines that open this book but with a Christmas Eve for Nancy and Plum that will make your heart sing.
First published in 1952, Nancy and Plum is a comic, light-hearted and nostalgic children’s book. I love it that the girls found comfort, courage and hope in the books read to them on library visits. That they gained “wisdom, understanding and humor way beyond their years” from literature will endear this book to the Goodreads community.
December 11, 2019
4.5 stars.
Ohh my gosh this was just beautiful. I absolutely love these old fashioned children's stories. This one has a similar feel to it like Pollyanna. It's such a comfort read and one to just take your time with. There is no need to rush it. It starts off rather sad when you learn about how Nancy and Plum are so poorly treated. But the ending is so happy and heartfelt making this a wonderful Christmas read. I found Plum to be rather hilarious. She's the younger sister and is so cheeky and has such a fire in her that is rather adorable. Nancy is a lovely little girl too. Reading about them playing just makes you remember what childhood is all about. It was so lovely to read and makes me wish that we still lived in a time where life was like that, the positive moments of how childhood use to be.
Much further along in the story we meet Mr and Mrs Campbell. While back then, Mr Campbell would be seen as nothing but very kind and friendly, these days he would be also seen as creepy, possibly a pedophile (which is absolutely disgusting word to add in this review for this book) and raise the 'stranger danger' alarm bells. Which is really quite sad.
I loved that even with all the years of mistreatment Nancy and Plum had been through, they still kept true to themselves and are very thoughtful, kind, caring, considerate little girls. It would be so understandable for them to be full of hate and anger about their situation, but no. They have such a beautiful soul, warm heart and are so loveable. I really liked this book and I'm sure to never forget it. I'm so glad to have my very own paperback copy. It's definitely going to be getting read a lot throughout my life.
Ohh my gosh this was just beautiful. I absolutely love these old fashioned children's stories. This one has a similar feel to it like Pollyanna. It's such a comfort read and one to just take your time with. There is no need to rush it. It starts off rather sad when you learn about how Nancy and Plum are so poorly treated. But the ending is so happy and heartfelt making this a wonderful Christmas read. I found Plum to be rather hilarious. She's the younger sister and is so cheeky and has such a fire in her that is rather adorable. Nancy is a lovely little girl too. Reading about them playing just makes you remember what childhood is all about. It was so lovely to read and makes me wish that we still lived in a time where life was like that, the positive moments of how childhood use to be.
Much further along in the story we meet Mr and Mrs Campbell. While back then, Mr Campbell would be seen as nothing but very kind and friendly, these days he would be also seen as creepy, possibly a pedophile (which is absolutely disgusting word to add in this review for this book) and raise the 'stranger danger' alarm bells. Which is really quite sad.
I loved that even with all the years of mistreatment Nancy and Plum had been through, they still kept true to themselves and are very thoughtful, kind, caring, considerate little girls. It would be so understandable for them to be full of hate and anger about their situation, but no. They have such a beautiful soul, warm heart and are so loveable. I really liked this book and I'm sure to never forget it. I'm so glad to have my very own paperback copy. It's definitely going to be getting read a lot throughout my life.
June 21, 2007
This is my absolute favorite childhood book. It deals with so many amazing issues, but the best part is having two very different protagonists who both find their own way in the world. Plus the whole bad-guys-get-it-in-the-end is extremely satisfying. :)
November 15, 2022
If you think of the book "A Little Princess" but with more fight-back spirit and light-hearted moments, you'll be close to spot on with this book. It's a charming Christmas story about two sisters, Nancy, 10, and Plum, 8, whose parents died in an accident and are left at a boarding house to be raised by Mrs. Monday.
But Mrs. Monday is a horrible, old meany (Mrs. "Monday" - isn't that hilarious! Everyone hates Mondays; haha!!) who pampers her niece, Maribelle, and persecutes the other girls in her custody. It's not long before Plum can't take the abuse any more and hatches a plan that will bring about the sisters's happily-ever-after.
With definite laugh-out-loud moments and truly touching scenes, this is a good family read-aloud at Christmas time.
Ages: 7+
Cleanliness: the words "gosh" "golly" etc. are used throughout the book. A man smokes a pipe. Nancy and Plum are treated very cruelly by the woman that runs the boarding house and sometimes "justly" retaliate, telling half-truths, running away or poking fun at (think Shirley Temple movies).
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But Mrs. Monday is a horrible, old meany (Mrs. "Monday" - isn't that hilarious! Everyone hates Mondays; haha!!) who pampers her niece, Maribelle, and persecutes the other girls in her custody. It's not long before Plum can't take the abuse any more and hatches a plan that will bring about the sisters's happily-ever-after.
With definite laugh-out-loud moments and truly touching scenes, this is a good family read-aloud at Christmas time.
Ages: 7+
Cleanliness: the words "gosh" "golly" etc. are used throughout the book. A man smokes a pipe. Nancy and Plum are treated very cruelly by the woman that runs the boarding house and sometimes "justly" retaliate, telling half-truths, running away or poking fun at (think Shirley Temple movies).
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
January 4, 2022
Nancy and Plum are orphaned sisters forced to live with the cruel Mrs. Monday at her boarding house by an indifferent uncle who knows or cares nothing about children and is fooled by Mrs. Monday's black-hearted lies! The situation would be unbearable if not for Nancy's imagination, Plum's pluck and a librarian who loans them classics about orphans in situations worse than theirs. After a Christmas spent in a barn, no matter how enjoyable the adventure, the girls realize the true depths of Mrs. Monday's perfidy and are determined to confront her. Life goes from bad to worse as Mrs. Monday tries to punish the sisters for their insolence. As soon as summer rolls around, Plum decides they're going to leave and find Uncle John and make him realize the truth. Running from Mrs. Monday won't be easy and it's up to the girls to figure out how to avoid returning to the boarding house and make a new life for themselves.
This is a cute, vintage classic orphan story. It's less fantastical than Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket or Harry Potter but along the same lines. It's more of a A Little Princess orphan tale based on the fantastic stories young Betty MacDonald told her sister when they were girls. The story is a little slow to start but the adventure picks up late in the story and I couldn't put it down. I mostly wanted to know if the awful Mrs. Monday would be punished. The story is charming in a vintage way, very innocent and light in spite of the child abuse. It had a predictable ending and is very heartwarming. This e-book version features illustrations by Mary GrandPré of Harry Potter fame and a forward by Jeanne Birdsall author of The Penderwicks series.
The two sisters are as different as can be. Plum is the more appealing sister by modern standards. She's brave, plucky, bold and resourceful. A tomboy, Plum thinks of ways to escape and things to do to make money. Plum's way of speaking her thoughts is so funny, even if it does get her into trouble. Plum's naive way of speaking also gets her out of trouble at times as it endears her to adults and tugs at their heartstrings. Nancy, I'm sad to say, is a bit of a wet blanket. She's older so less uninhibited than Plum. She's timid and more ladylike than her sister too but I really liked when she discovered her inner Plum and learned to have the courage to stand up for herself. The other children are pitiable. Poor Eunice is unloved even by her blood relative but at least she has a home to go to on vacations and it's the thought that counts. The way they attacked her doll was so rude and uncalled for. Laugh and gently make fun of the aunt's poor sewing skills but at least she tried. Nancy and Plum don't even get that much. Charlie Wentil's situation is heartbreaking for a young child but understandable I suppose. His father would just say envy is a sin. At least Tommy gets a checkerboard and they can use buttons or pebbles or something to play and David and Mary have recieved practical, if awful, gifts. Mary's is worse. Marybelle is also to be pitied. The other kids are HORRID bullies to her. She may be spoiled and bratty but they shouldn't attack her looks. Sure she's probably overweight from eating the good food paid for by the boarders while the others starve but making fun of her for it is not acceptable. I would probably lose my temper with Marybelle too. Kids aren't fully capable of rationalizing that her aunt treats her better than anyone else and spoils her and if Marybelle ever were to stand up for the other children, she would end up like them. Marybelle is a little more sympathatic than Dudley Dursley but rather a similar character. Some of Plum's behavior deserves to be punished though.
The adults are a mixed bag. Mrs. Monday is evil. She's greedy, stupid and mean. She has no kindness in her heart, no empathy, only selfishness. She lies, cheats, steals and does anything to trick adults into leaving their children - and money-with her. She feeds the children lumpy oatmeal and prunes while dining on waffles with her niece- at the expense of her boarders. She never spends a cent on clothes, shoes or other necessities and is severe in her punishments. Mrs. Monday is just smart enough to know how to effectively torture the children. She needs to be punished for her despicable behavior. Uncle John is also a horrid adult in a different way. He's a selfish old bachelor who can't and won't give up his own comfort for the sake of two orphaned nieces. He doesn't even bother to meet them, just sends them away. If he had met them, I'm sure he would have preferred Nancy and sent Plum away and the sisters would have been miserable anyway. He believes Mrs. Monday's lies even though the evidence is right there that she's lying. He only sees and hears what is beneficial to himself. Even at the end, his response is just to throw money at the situation. Katie the cook doesn't appear on page but she's aware of the situation and does nothing to help. Miss Gronk, the Sunday School teacher, is awful but I feel sorry for her. She is unaware of the situation at Miss Monday's and would probably side with the boarding house owner anyway
Old Tom is kind and helpful to Nancy and Plum. He tries to help them in ways he can within his domain of the barn and grounds but he doesn't go any farther than that. He's a sweet, kind man who doesn't have a lot of gumption.At first I was angry but later he explains his situation and I felt more sympathetic. Miss Waverly, the girls' teacher, is lovely. She helps the girls with kindness and her sewing skills but she doesn't go the extra mile to report the situation to the authorities. Mrs. Appleby, the librarian, at least tries to help make Nancy and Plum feel better by giving them stories about orphans in situations that will make their lives seem a little less awful but like Miss Waverly, she doesn't interfere. The Campbells are the best adults of all. Shining examples of exemplary human behavior, they're the only ones actively trying to help. Mr. Campbell is anyway. Mrs. Campbell is more likely to kill everyone with heart disease from her rich cooking. Mr. C and Plum at least will be working off the calories on the farm. She cooks from the heart and that's what matters in this story.
The second and last chapters take place at Chistmastime but I wouldn't label this a Christmas story but it is a good one to read at Christmas because of the reminders that other children aren't as fortunate, to have kindness in your heart, compassion for others and give what you can to help those less fortunate. I can see from the multiple editions this book is still popular but I'm not sure that's not from the nostalgia factor for the adults who read with them. I'd be hard pressed to get my nieces and nephews to read anything this saccharine. I would have liked it more when I was a girl reading all those classic orphan tales but probably also found it a bit too sweet and heavy-handed for my extreme enjoyment.
This is a cute, vintage classic orphan story. It's less fantastical than Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket or Harry Potter but along the same lines. It's more of a A Little Princess orphan tale based on the fantastic stories young Betty MacDonald told her sister when they were girls. The story is a little slow to start but the adventure picks up late in the story and I couldn't put it down. I mostly wanted to know if the awful Mrs. Monday would be punished. The story is charming in a vintage way, very innocent and light in spite of the child abuse. It had a predictable ending and is very heartwarming. This e-book version features illustrations by Mary GrandPré of Harry Potter fame and a forward by Jeanne Birdsall author of The Penderwicks series.
The two sisters are as different as can be. Plum is the more appealing sister by modern standards. She's brave, plucky, bold and resourceful. A tomboy, Plum thinks of ways to escape and things to do to make money. Plum's way of speaking her thoughts is so funny, even if it does get her into trouble. Plum's naive way of speaking also gets her out of trouble at times as it endears her to adults and tugs at their heartstrings. Nancy, I'm sad to say, is a bit of a wet blanket. She's older so less uninhibited than Plum. She's timid and more ladylike than her sister too but I really liked when she discovered her inner Plum and learned to have the courage to stand up for herself. The other children are pitiable. Poor Eunice is unloved even by her blood relative but at least she has a home to go to on vacations and it's the thought that counts. The way they attacked her doll was so rude and uncalled for. Laugh and gently make fun of the aunt's poor sewing skills but at least she tried. Nancy and Plum don't even get that much. Charlie Wentil's situation is heartbreaking for a young child but understandable I suppose. His father would just say envy is a sin. At least Tommy gets a checkerboard and they can use buttons or pebbles or something to play and David and Mary have recieved practical, if awful, gifts. Mary's is worse. Marybelle is also to be pitied. The other kids are HORRID bullies to her. She may be spoiled and bratty but they shouldn't attack her looks. Sure she's probably overweight from eating the good food paid for by the boarders while the others starve but making fun of her for it is not acceptable. I would probably lose my temper with Marybelle too. Kids aren't fully capable of rationalizing that her aunt treats her better than anyone else and spoils her and if Marybelle ever were to stand up for the other children, she would end up like them. Marybelle is a little more sympathatic than Dudley Dursley but rather a similar character. Some of Plum's behavior deserves to be punished though.
The adults are a mixed bag. Mrs. Monday is evil. She's greedy, stupid and mean. She has no kindness in her heart, no empathy, only selfishness. She lies, cheats, steals and does anything to trick adults into leaving their children - and money-with her. She feeds the children lumpy oatmeal and prunes while dining on waffles with her niece- at the expense of her boarders. She never spends a cent on clothes, shoes or other necessities and is severe in her punishments. Mrs. Monday is just smart enough to know how to effectively torture the children. She needs to be punished for her despicable behavior. Uncle John is also a horrid adult in a different way. He's a selfish old bachelor who can't and won't give up his own comfort for the sake of two orphaned nieces. He doesn't even bother to meet them, just sends them away. If he had met them, I'm sure he would have preferred Nancy and sent Plum away and the sisters would have been miserable anyway. He believes Mrs. Monday's lies even though the evidence is right there that she's lying. He only sees and hears what is beneficial to himself. Even at the end, his response is just to throw money at the situation. Katie the cook doesn't appear on page but she's aware of the situation and does nothing to help. Miss Gronk, the Sunday School teacher, is awful but I feel sorry for her. She is unaware of the situation at Miss Monday's and would probably side with the boarding house owner anyway
Old Tom is kind and helpful to Nancy and Plum. He tries to help them in ways he can within his domain of the barn and grounds but he doesn't go any farther than that. He's a sweet, kind man who doesn't have a lot of gumption.At first I was angry but later he explains his situation and I felt more sympathetic. Miss Waverly, the girls' teacher, is lovely. She helps the girls with kindness and her sewing skills but she doesn't go the extra mile to report the situation to the authorities. Mrs. Appleby, the librarian, at least tries to help make Nancy and Plum feel better by giving them stories about orphans in situations that will make their lives seem a little less awful but like Miss Waverly, she doesn't interfere. The Campbells are the best adults of all. Shining examples of exemplary human behavior, they're the only ones actively trying to help. Mr. Campbell is anyway. Mrs. Campbell is more likely to kill everyone with heart disease from her rich cooking. Mr. C and Plum at least will be working off the calories on the farm. She cooks from the heart and that's what matters in this story.
The second and last chapters take place at Chistmastime but I wouldn't label this a Christmas story but it is a good one to read at Christmas because of the reminders that other children aren't as fortunate, to have kindness in your heart, compassion for others and give what you can to help those less fortunate. I can see from the multiple editions this book is still popular but I'm not sure that's not from the nostalgia factor for the adults who read with them. I'd be hard pressed to get my nieces and nephews to read anything this saccharine. I would have liked it more when I was a girl reading all those classic orphan tales but probably also found it a bit too sweet and heavy-handed for my extreme enjoyment.
November 30, 2020
Pretty standard orphans-at-cruel-school fare, nothing too horrific. The introduction mentioned that originally Nancy and Plum represented the author and her sister in a series of adventurous stories she made up as a child. Here all the adventure is removed and a fairly realistic portrayal of rural school is left. I would have a preferred some wilder action, personally, which is I guess why I prefer The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.
December 19, 2018
This is such a great book! I highly recommend it. I read it aloud to my 5 & 7 year old boys and soon enough my 9 & 10 year old boys were listening too. Now my 10 year old is reading it on his own because he missed the first half of the book. The characters are funny, smart, kind, and full of joy despite their circumstances.
December 16, 2020
This is a delightful read aloud for Christmas! My son kept asking for one more chapter.
September 5, 2015
One of my very favorite books as a kid. Orphans at a boarding home run by the cruel Mrs. Monday, Nancy and Plum have to dress in worn clothes and eat oatmeal and prunes. They dream of escaping the boarding home and are helped by their teacher and the town librarian when they run away.
Great descriptions of baking potatoes in a fire, sleeping in a haystack, eating apples, and the joys of having a china doll with real hair, many dresses, a fur coat, and little white gloves.
Great descriptions of baking potatoes in a fire, sleeping in a haystack, eating apples, and the joys of having a china doll with real hair, many dresses, a fur coat, and little white gloves.
April 22, 2017
Before there was Lemony Snicket and his Series of Unfortunate Events, there was Betty McDonald's Nancy and Plum. A gem of comic storytelling, this is one of those books you show down on reading as you pass the halfway mark, because you just don't want it to end. A thorough delight!
January 14, 2022
3.5 stars. I'm docking half a star from an otherwise very sweet and fun book for the annoying speech cues. I read this aloud to my children, and I got so tired of reading "Nancy said... Plum said... Nancy said... Plum said." The dialogue was good, but the cues were tiresome.
December 24, 2022
Recommended by a friend. This is from the author of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle stories and is a delightful Christmas read (being that the story starts and ends at Christmastime). A thoroughly charming read. I highly recommend it!
July 6, 2017
Betty MacDonald’s Nancy and Plum has been republished as part of the Vintage Children’s Classics series, which features such titles as Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The novel includes an afterword by former children’s laureate Jacqueline Wilson, who says that it is her favourite work for younger readers, and charming new illustrations by Catharina Baltas.
Nancy and Plum, which was first published in 1952, begins on Christmas Eve. MacDonald sets the scene immediately: ‘Big snowflakes fluttered slowly through the air like white feathers and made all of Heavenly Valley smoth and white and quiet and beautiful. Tall fir trees stood up to their knees in the snow and their outstretched hands were heaped with it.’ The book’s young protagonists are ‘locked up in rotten Mrs Monday’s house, while all the other children have gone home’
Mrs Monday owns the ‘big brick Boarding Home for Children’, in which sisters Nancy and Pamela Remson – the latter who goes by the nickname of Plum – have been placed. The girls’ parents were killed in a train crash when they were only small, and their guardian, bachelor Uncle John, had no idea what to do with children. MacDonald exemplifies the differences between the sisters immediately; Nancy is filled with a ‘dreamy gentleness’, and Plum is daring, with a ‘quick humor’. Her young protagonists have been built so well that they seem to come to life, and one is soon immersed within their tale. Each child who meets Nancy and Plum is sure to fall in love with them.
The extra material in Vintage’s reprint is thoughtful, and makes a lovely addition to the story. It includes a biography of American author Betty MacDonald, a quiz, a recipe for Nancy’s dream meal, a glossary of words which may be unfamiliar to younger readers, and a recommended reading list with which to follow the book. Nancy and Plum is a heartwarming and entertaining novel, which is sure to delight children and parents alike. It is the perfect choice for a cosy festive read.
Nancy and Plum, which was first published in 1952, begins on Christmas Eve. MacDonald sets the scene immediately: ‘Big snowflakes fluttered slowly through the air like white feathers and made all of Heavenly Valley smoth and white and quiet and beautiful. Tall fir trees stood up to their knees in the snow and their outstretched hands were heaped with it.’ The book’s young protagonists are ‘locked up in rotten Mrs Monday’s house, while all the other children have gone home’
Mrs Monday owns the ‘big brick Boarding Home for Children’, in which sisters Nancy and Pamela Remson – the latter who goes by the nickname of Plum – have been placed. The girls’ parents were killed in a train crash when they were only small, and their guardian, bachelor Uncle John, had no idea what to do with children. MacDonald exemplifies the differences between the sisters immediately; Nancy is filled with a ‘dreamy gentleness’, and Plum is daring, with a ‘quick humor’. Her young protagonists have been built so well that they seem to come to life, and one is soon immersed within their tale. Each child who meets Nancy and Plum is sure to fall in love with them.
The extra material in Vintage’s reprint is thoughtful, and makes a lovely addition to the story. It includes a biography of American author Betty MacDonald, a quiz, a recipe for Nancy’s dream meal, a glossary of words which may be unfamiliar to younger readers, and a recommended reading list with which to follow the book. Nancy and Plum is a heartwarming and entertaining novel, which is sure to delight children and parents alike. It is the perfect choice for a cosy festive read.
May 26, 2023
This was a well written story that I think kids would enjoy. The characters were well developed and relatable. The kids seemed very real children. They had big dreams and ideas.
My biggest problem with the story was that when Mrs. Monday was shown to be a child abuser, the decision was made that it would be too upsetting for the children if anything was done to her. So they obviously left the majority of the children there to be abused while just rescuing our heroines. That seems to be what continues to happen today to the detriment of children and society.
The rescued children tried to make life better for those left in her house of torture. But that is not teaching children to trust that adults will take action to right wrongs or that they should. It is more an everybody should be out for themselves but have a heart to share with the less fortunate. I prefer a story where a rising tide lifts all boats and good triumphs over evil and wrongs are righted.
So I found that a big stumbling block. But the rest of the story was very appealing and there was a glimmer of hope and joyfulness in the children.
My biggest problem with the story was that when Mrs. Monday was shown to be a child abuser, the decision was made that it would be too upsetting for the children if anything was done to her. So they obviously left the majority of the children there to be abused while just rescuing our heroines. That seems to be what continues to happen today to the detriment of children and society.
The rescued children tried to make life better for those left in her house of torture. But that is not teaching children to trust that adults will take action to right wrongs or that they should. It is more an everybody should be out for themselves but have a heart to share with the less fortunate. I prefer a story where a rising tide lifts all boats and good triumphs over evil and wrongs are righted.
So I found that a big stumbling block. But the rest of the story was very appealing and there was a glimmer of hope and joyfulness in the children.
December 23, 2022
Read this to the kids because it was on Sarah MacKenzie’s list for chapter books to read aloud at Christmas. It was fine, but only the first and last chapters have to do with Christmas. The rest takes place over the course of the year. And that’s okay, but I was looking for a Christmas-feel book and this did not meet that expectation.
Also, I was very disturbed that when Nancy and Plum are discovered locked in a room for several days and are being starved by Mrs. Monday, the other adult characters specifically say they will not prosecute Mrs. Monday. Mrs. Monday had been abusing and neglecting the children in her care and continued to have children in her care even at the end of the book. She absolutely should have been prosecuted! It left me with a bad taste in my mouth that she was given a warning but will probably continue to abuse children. I know, I know… it’s a fictional book. I just didn’t like how the author handled that.
Otherwise, the book was fine, the kids liked it, but it’s not one I’d read again and again.
Also, I was very disturbed that when Nancy and Plum are discovered locked in a room for several days and are being starved by Mrs. Monday, the other adult characters specifically say they will not prosecute Mrs. Monday. Mrs. Monday had been abusing and neglecting the children in her care and continued to have children in her care even at the end of the book. She absolutely should have been prosecuted! It left me with a bad taste in my mouth that she was given a warning but will probably continue to abuse children. I know, I know… it’s a fictional book. I just didn’t like how the author handled that.
Otherwise, the book was fine, the kids liked it, but it’s not one I’d read again and again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2022
Nanyku a Málinku jsem jako dítě absolutně milovala a to především kvůli popisům. Betty MacDonald má cit pro jazyk a představivost a její popisy kabátků, šatů, panenek, rukávníků a já nevím čeho všeho ještě mi jako představy utkvěly v paměti dodnes. Až mě trochu překvapilo, jak málo času stráví holčičky u Zvoníčků, protože jejich Vánoce tam jsem si pamatovala ze všeho nejvíc. A ačkoliv se v knize popisují vlahé noci, zasněžená krajina, chlév nebo Nanynčino fantazírování, MacDonald vás přenese přesně tam, kam potřebuje. Nádhera.
Paní Pondělíčková je záporák toho nejodpornějšího ražení a její střety s Nanynkou a Málinkou jsou radost číst. Ty malé slečny mají páteř a Málinka i pěkně ostrý jazyk. Budete jim držet palce celou knihu.
Paní Pondělíčková je záporák toho nejodpornějšího ražení a její střety s Nanynkou a Málinkou jsou radost číst. Ty malé slečny mají páteř a Málinka i pěkně ostrý jazyk. Budete jim držet palce celou knihu.
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December 7, 2020This has been on my radar for awhile. It appears frequently on lists of Christmas children's novels. Unfortunately, it just didn't captivate me. The first few chapters center around Christmas then it seems like it moves on (correct me if I am wrong, dear readers?) past the holidays and is pretty standard orphans-at-a-terrible-boarding-house type story. Nothing wrong with it, entertaining enough, but I returned it to the library unfinished because there were holds and I wasn't invested in it enough to read it by the due date. Maybe I'll revisit it another time, just not for Christmas fare.
November 14, 2020
I couldn't wait to read this by one of my very very most favorite authors. This is a well-written story about two orphaned sisters who find themselves in an Annie-like setting with an unsavory warden. They are resourceful and imaginative and thus survive with their inherent goodness intact. Warm ending.
January 8, 2020
Very sweet, well written children's fiction. It's often found on Christmas book lists and it does have some Christmas scenes but it's a good book for any time of the year and doesn't feel like an exclusively Christmas book to me.
January 6, 2018
First finished read aloud of 2018!! Which is exciting! Even more exciting than the book was unfortunately. This book held the kids attention well enough I suppose but never got all that interesting.
January 17, 2019
One of my favorite young patrons gave this such an enthusiastic, glowing recommendation, I just had to read it for myself. I am so glad that I did because it's absolutely something I also would have loved and stayed up too late reading as a kid.
January 7, 2021
We read this over Christmas break since I saw it recommended as a good Christmas read. The kids enjoyed it, though they were very concerned for the girls for most of the book. I enjoyed the spunky nature of Plum and the generosity shown by the girls.
April 15, 2019
This took us about two months to get through, so it wasn't our fastest can't-put-down read, but it was charming and I really loved the last third.
January 6, 2023
A sweet and funny Christmas story. I only wish the little girls weren’t at all vengeful towards Marybelle (as understandable as it is that they would be) and that we got to see Mrs. Monday get her due.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2023
Loved this! Recommending to Raleigh next December.
February 16, 2024
The over-all storyline was good. However, I didn't like some of the themes, like revenge (both in word and deed). I also read it aloud and found myself changing "said so-and-so" to more creative descriptions of speech.
December 26, 2021
My mom read this book to me most every Christmas. Always a favorite to reread each year when I have a chance. Beautifully descriptive and a sweet story.
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