Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

By Kate Douglas Wiggin (a New England Native)

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a delighful tale about a charming little girl who grows up in a very dull house with two aunts that take her in after her mother has her nth child. Rebecca is an intelligent child who wins the heart of anyone that she meets, except for her Aunt Miranda. Aunt Miranda is a spiteful old goat who clearly does not like children, or her brother in law, who is Rebecca's father. While Rebecca stayed in the Aunts house she endures her aunts meanness and SCHOOL. Back in her hometown of what Rebecca likes to call Sunnybrook, school is only open two months out of the year, and for a smart girl like Rebecca, that is not enough time to read, write and learn 'rithmitic.

In Riverboro, where Rebecca is staying, Rebecca finds friends in classmates and have a marvelous time helping each other in classes and with selling enough soap to buy a lamp for friend. She meets a strong character Adam Ladd, who invests in Rebecca's education and strives to keep Rebecca at the top of her game. Then there is Mr. Cobb who is the first person to introduce Rebecca to the life at Riverboro, and again helps her when she needs advice about running away from her aunts watchful eye. Spunky and heroic, she has caught my eye as a up coming teacher.

Over the years Rebecca has recieved a harsh word or two from Aunt Miranda, comforting words from Aunt Jane, help from her mother back on the farm and support from friends and more family. She also learned about friendship, trust and earning rewards through hard work in education.  Graduating from the top of her class Rebecca moved her way up to help her family by hopefully reciving a better job than she and her friends could dream of, and more. Unfortunetly we don't know what happens to Rebecca in the end, but we can hope that is the best.