Nancy and Plum [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Betty MacDonald (Author), Mary GrandPre (Illustrator), Jeanne Birdsall (Introduction)

Book Description

Release date: October 26, 2010 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 1020L (What's this?)

It was Christmas Eve. Big snowflakes fluttered slowly through the air like white feathers
and made all of Heavenly Valley smooth and white and quiet and beautiful.

So begins the story of two orphaned sisters at Mrs. Monday’s Boarding School. But nothing is heavenly for Nancy and Pamela (aka Plum): their parents died in a tragic accident years ago, they’re constantly punished by the cruel Mrs. Monday, and they’re all alone for the holidays.

Luckily, Nancy and Plum have each other, and though their prospects may be bleak, they’re determined to change their lot for the better. If their plan works, the spirited sisters will never spend Christmas at the cold, dark boarding school again. But what will they find on the other side of Mrs. Monday’s gate?

Adventure, warmth, unforgettable characters, and unexpected kindness abound in this classic story by Betty MacDonald, which was originally published in 1952. With illustrations by the acclaimed Mary GrandPré and an introduction by Jeanne Birdsall, National Book Award–winning author of The Penderwicks, this edition introduces the spunky, beloved heroines to a new generation of fans.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

If the name Betty MacDonald sounds familiar, it’s because she is the author of the beloved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books. This title, originally published in 1952, isn’t in that category, but it still has its own charm. Like characters in so many children’s books, Nancy and her sister, Plum, are orphans. Their only relative, Uncle John, doesn’t really know children, so he ships the girls off to Mrs. Monday’s Boarding Home for Children, a place where the girls get little to eat, nothing new to wear, and don’t even receive the few letters and gifts their uncle sends. But Nancy and Plum have spunk, and in the course of the story, they find a way to turn things around, though not without ruffling the feathers of Mrs. Monday and her annoying niece. Old-fashioned in the best sense of the word, this is a return to the stories of authors like Eleanor Estes and Elizabeth Enright. The plot sags in the middle, and there may be too much adult help for contemporary readers, but this has a sweetness to which kids will respond. Grades 3-5. --Ilene Cooper

About the Author

Betty MacDonald was born Anne Elizabeth Campbell Bard in Boulder, Colorado, in 1908. The daughter of a mining engineer, she spent her early years in some of the mining towns of Idaho, Montana, and Mexico. When she was nine, her father took the family—his wife and five children—to Seattle, where Betty lived until shortly after her marriage.

Among her books for children are Nancy and Plum, originally published in 1952, and the beloved classics Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Farm, and Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.
 
Mary GrandPré is perhaps best known for creating the jackets and illustrations for the Harry Potter books. She has also illustrated The Blue Shoe, a novel for young readers by Robert Townley, as well as many fine picture books, including Chin Yu Min and the Ginger Cat by Jennifer Armstrong and Lucia and the Light by Phyllis Root. You can read more about Mary GrandPré and her work at www.marygrandpre.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037586685X
• ISBN-13: 978-0375866852
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #639,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A longtime resident of Washington State, Betty MacDonald (1908-1958) authored four humorous, autobiographical bestsellers and several children's books, including the popular Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nancy and Plum LOVED BUT Bring Hildegard's drawings back!!! May 28, 2011

By Susan G. Beck

Format:Hardcover

My eight-year-old grandson and I just began reading the 1952 copyrighted Nancy and Plum together. It is a childhood favorite of my own. I read it several times when I was eight and nine. My grandson LOVES it. However, I was disappointed to see that, in the new edition, the illustrator was replaced. The new illustrations remind me of the Lemony Snicket books which are not what I consider good children's literature. Bring Hildegard Hopkins' drawings back to the book!!!

Susan Beck
Once and always a children's librarian
educated at Kutztown University and
the University of Illinois

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting fable March 3, 2011

By Jyotsna Sreenivasan

Format:Hardcover

My son (age 8) and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. We love the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, but I'd never heard of this one until recently. It is a kind of realistic fable. The girls live in the town of Heavenly Valley, which is a sort of generic American town. I'm not sure exactly when this story takes place -- there are both cars and horses used for transportation here. The details of the story sometimes seem quite old-fashioned, and sometimes quite modern. None of this bothered my son, who was just carried away by the story of the spunky orphans who are cruelly treated by Mrs. Monday,and who triumph in the end because of their own determination and courage, as well as the help of several adults. The mean characters are thoroughly mean, and the good characters are thoroughly sweet. The only character who is perhaps a bit of both is Old Tom, who is good and helpful but also too weak to oppose Mrs. Monday. Uncle John is also both good and bad -- he wants to help the girls, but doesn't want to spend the time and effort to make sure they are really well taken care of. This is a great read-aloud book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Found after 50 years February 16, 2012

By A. Snyder

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have been trying to find this book since I was a little girl when a 2nd grade teacher read it aloud to the class. It is finally in print again. The only copies I could find previously were collectors editions that were way out of my price range.Kudos to the seller who got this to me so fast it made my eyes blink! I didn't even have time to get worked up with anticipation because the book was on my doorstep so fast.The story is just as well written and engaging as I remembered it.Now I can read about the adventures of Nancy and Plum to my grandchildren. Thank you!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining Feel Good Read January 18, 2012

By Book Sake VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

The characters of Nancy and Plum are a bit extravagant, but so is their living situation. The story of children sent to live in a home that isn't their own, are looked over by a guardian that isn't quite nice, and are made to go without many basic needs is very familiar. MacDonald tells the tale in such a way that you can easily envision the characters, what their home looks like, feel their happiness over the small things, and have your heart break along with theirs at the sad moments. It's a fairly simple tale, sure to please many young readers. While there are a number of characters, each one is so different from any other that they are not easy to confuse. Overall it is an entertaining children's story with a feel good basis.

Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Betty MacDonald book - FOR CHILDREN September 22, 2011

By J. Hughes

Format:Hardcover

Well I'm not a child, but because Betty MacDonald's books are so excellent, I wanted to read the children's book she wrote that is also being republished. It, too, is excellent and as adult, I still really enjoyed it. Fun book, great story and I highly recommend it for reading to children or for them once they're learning to read.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all-time favorites! December 3, 2010

By B. Denton

Format:Hardcover

I'm so glad to see that this book is available - it has been a favorite since elementary school. I used to borrow it from the library over and over and over! I'm getting it for my niece for Christmas this year.

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite old book June 8, 2013

By Karen L. Norris

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was my very favorite book when I was young; my daughter put it on my Kindle app on my iPad, so I could have it while she re-read the book.It's just a great story, sweet, funny, the descriptions are so clear. I'll always read it.

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE This Book! May 18, 2013

By Debra Taylor

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is been my favorite children't book of all time. I have a treasured, battered old copy from when I was a little girl (and we used to play Nancy & Plum). I've been reading that copy to my students, and didn't realize they had finally reprinted it until one of my students showed me the copy she'd checked out of the library. I immediately downloaded it onto my Kindle :)
Debbie T.