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Daddy-Long-Legs (Puffin Classics) [Paperback]

Jean Webster
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (128 customer reviews)


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Book Description

July 1, 1995 11 and up Puffin Classics920L (What's this?)
This is the much-loved tale of Judy Abbott, a lively, endearing young girl growing up in an orphanage. Her dreams of college seem in vain until the unknown benefactor offers to pay for her tuition. The only requirements are that she must write to him every month, and that she can never know who he is. Judy's letters to him about life at college are full of her hopes and dreams, troubles, and a growing friendship with the handsome Jervis Pendleton. With so much going on in her life, Judy can scarcely stop writing, and when she discovers who daddy long-legs is, there is a happily-ever-after surprise.


Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Jerusha Abbott has grown up in the John Grier Home for orphans. As the oldest, she is in charge of the younger children. An anonymous benefactor on the Board, "Mr. Smith," decides to send her to college, as long as she writes to him faithfully detailing her education. Originally published in 1912, Jean Webster's coming-of-age tale continues to be relevant to young women today. Actress Kate Forges shares these months and years, from freshman to senior in college. Through a series of letters Jerusha writes to "Daddy-Long-Legs," a relationship filled with affection and respect develops, even though she is the only correspondent throughout the years. Although the narrative unfolds slowly, the language is sophisticated, highly descriptive, and witty. Jerusha's concern about social class standings may seem a bit dated to most listeners, as the reference to "Negro waiters" when she is riding the train may surprise and offend some listeners. Forbes gives an outstanding one-woman performance. Her crisp elucidation, varied intonations, and enthusiasm for this character provide a first-rate reading. This tale will appeal to listeners who revel in rich, detailed imagery to present a character wholly believable and likeable.-Tina Hudak, St. Bernard's School, Riverdale, MD

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Selected as a Notable Children's Recording in 1989 by the American Library Association. --American Library Association --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

  • Age Range: 11 and up
  • Paperback: 185 pages
  • Publisher: Puffin; Reissue edition (July 1, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140374558
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140374551
  • Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (128 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,156,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

I can only highly recommend this book to anyone beyond the age of 8. michel suissa  |  28 reviewers made a similar statement
The ending alone is enough to want to read the book. Laney  |  25 reviewers made a similar statement
It's a sweet story and I love the writing style. Lifeline  |  26 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 46 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet story with a twist November 7, 2001
By Gwenley
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Usually I absolutely hate novels that are supposed to be a collection of letters and/or diary entries for this simple reason, they are as transparent as saran wrap. Something along the lines of "I'm just jotting down a casual letter to inform you that I just had a terrible fight with so-and-so, here's what we said word for word complete with speaker attributes"

That's why I was so pleasantly suprised with this book. The writing is entertaining, intelligent and always realistic. That is EXACTLY how a person in their late teens, early twenties writes (I know, I'm a letter writer in that age group) and it is so refreshing to read an author who knows what she is talking about on the subject.

Judy Abbott is most certainly not a Pollyanna, she teases, gets angry and argues but she has a nice nature and always manages to patch things up. She is an orphan who writes to her mysterious benefactor whom she dubs "Daddy-Long-Legs". Because he is her fairy godmother for all purposes, she confides in him even though she knows he will never answer. The ending is marvelous with a great little twist. I think this book is great for girls 8-80 and am sorry I did not read it sooner

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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic You Can Read in a Day October 20, 2003
Format:Hardcover
I've read this book a few times, and every time I come back to it, I can't put it down. It's short (around 200 pages) & sweet. The book was published in 1912, and is one-of-a-kind, as it consists almost entirely of letters written by Judy. Judy is an orphan from the John Grier Home, an orphange she was raised in since she was a baby. Her future seems very bleak until one day she is unexpectedly offered the opportunity for a paid college education to become an author by one of the orphanage's trustees. In return, she has to write monthly letters to the unknown trustee who is known as Mr. John Smith. She calls him "Daddy-Long-Legs" because she saw his tall shadow as he left the building. Her letters are very entertaining, and often impertinent. That is really all I want to tell of the story, but here are a couple of quotes from the book that I loved:

"It isn't the big troubles in life that require character. Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty hazards of the day with a laugh -- I really think that requires spirit."

"I think the most necessary quality for any person to have is imagination. It makes people able to put themselves in other people's places. It makes them kind and sympathetic and understanding. It ought to be cultivated in children."

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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars still a classic September 11, 2001
Format:Paperback
Judy is a surprisingly modern heroine in this epistolary novel, an orphan rescued by a mysterious benefactor and sent to college at the turn of the last century. She's entertaining, has a sense of humor that the hardships of her past has not diminished, is a talented writer, and aspires to be a "useful citizen." This is a perfect girls' fantasy with a storybook ending, and has held up over time remarkably well. I've only seen the Fred Astaire version of the movie adaptation, which I cannot recommend...read the book instead, it's truly charming.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars very enjoyable
Very engaging. Wonderful use of the English language. Wished there was more to the ending. I wanted to know want happened after, why he chose her, why he remained anonymous.
Published 1 day ago by Melissa
4.0 out of 5 stars Great
I think it's is a very detailed book and a classic that everybody should read and I'm just a kid!!!
Published 2 days ago by Katie Tribble
4.0 out of 5 stars Daddy-long-legs
I read this on an airplane it was perfect. Written letters to "daddy" made the story seem fast paste. I loved getting a glimpse into her life through her letters. Read more
Published 4 days ago by J. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars A really good story.
A story about a young girl in a protected environment suddenly finding herself required to make her own decisions. Read more
Published 15 days ago by William J Bontrager
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a great read for a teenage girl
This is such a positive happy story of a young girl in unfortunate circumstances who is finally given a chance to make something of herself. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Aussiemum
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Classic
It's always refreshing to find a old book that is both clean and fun. It's been made into an old movie, but I love reading the book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Laurie
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!!!!!
I wish I could give great story more stars. It was so enjoyable and lovely to read. I enjoyed reading the development of Judy from a young lady to a woman through her letters. Read more
Published 1 month ago by L. Macdonald
4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Favorite
It is a 4 out of 5 for me because is still interesting to read today despite the fact that the setting was old. The storyline was clever and consider this as a classic. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Vanessa
5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Diary
Purchased at Hastings

A sweet, simple classic written in epistlery form that flows like honey from word to word and sentence to sentence. Read more
Published 1 month ago by H. Fenton
4.0 out of 5 stars Rags to Riches/Coming of Age- told in correspondence
The main character's voice is so whitty and smart - it was fun to read. I thought the ending was a little abrupt but I enjoyed the book none-the-less. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jill McCalmon
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