Nancy and Plum (Library Binding)

by Betty MacDonald (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A third juvenile by the author of The Egg and I but a story far afield from her Mrs. Pigglewiggle tales. Here she plays on a popular theme - in a story about orphans, those perennially popular unfortunates of juvenile fiction. Nancy, who is ten, and Plum, eight, live in a small country boarding home, run by an ogreish Mrs. Marybelle Monday. The orphans suffer endless indignities, such as watching Mrs. Monday and her niece and namesake eating chicken pie, while the orphans are on the prune and oatmeal circuit. There are no presents for them at Christmas. They stay behind while Mrs. Monday goes to town, and so on. But in Old Tom, the stable man, they find a friend. And their essential optimism helps them maintain high levels of gaiety in the face of misfortune. When it all gets too grim they run away and take refuge in a nearby farm of Angus and Mary Ann Campbell where they get their chance to pay off the two Marybelles and help their fellow sufferers still at the Orphanage. Betty MacDonald has a gift of story telling and a gift of laughter- and both combine here in a story that reveals the philosophical phases of children's thinking. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
"Nancy and Plum" is a children's book written by the world famous author Betty McDonald, who wrote four popular "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" children's books, and also the adult books, "The Egg & I", "Anybody Can Do Anything" and "Onion in the Stew".

"Nancy and Plum" was first published in 1952. It is a story Betty told her daughters, Joan and Anne, each night at bedtime, making it up as she went along. It is a delightful old fashioned Christmas story about two sisters, Nancy, 10 and Plum, 8, whose parents died in an accident. Their 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. Plum like that more famous orphan, ,Annie, is brave, innovative and energetic.

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 librarianl and Old Tom, the caretaker at the orphanage. For contrast their is Miss Gronk the Sunday school teacher, who shares the role of villianess with Mrs. Monday.

"Nancy and Plum" and "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" were made into plays by the Seattle Children's Theater which were done exactly the way Betty would have wanted. They appealed to adults as well as children and are now being performed by other children's theaters throughout the United States. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Buccaneer Books (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568490178
• ISBN-13: 978-1568490175
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,445,685 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Vashon Island, November 19, 2002

By	Charon Kendrick (Vashon Island, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nancy and Plum (Paperback)

In 1981 my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Frohning, also read "Nancy and Plum" to our class. I'm not from Ohio. I lived on Vashon Island. Just like the author, Betty MacDonald! I'm sure Mrs. Frohning read it to all her third grade classes. The old hardback copy she had was well worn. It is such a well-told story, a whole class of 8-9 year olds were anxious for the time of day that Mrs. Frohning turned the lights down and read to us. Each of us could relate to the distinct personalities of Nancy and/or Plum. At a time in our adolescence when everything seemed to be exaggerated we loved their antics and the exaggerated personalities of all the characters. My kindergartener and 2nd grader are now at the age that they can appreciate it, so I was delighted when my mother put a copy in my Christmas stocking. After 20 years mom remembered that I loved the book

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Continuing the Tradition, September 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Nancy and Plum (Paperback)

Nancy and Plum has been part of my family's reading tradition since I found the book at a library sale for 5 cents in the early 1960s. The story captivates and transports the reader into Nancy and Plum's world. Girls who are tomboys will cheer on Plum's bravery, and those who read books and are more gentle will love Nancy's imagination and kindness towards the other children in the orphanage. This is an engaging book that I still read to my daughter when she is sick, although she has read the book several times herself. It may not be as well known as Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, but it is our favorite book by Betty MacDonald.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars after 30 years i found it!, December 13, 1999

By	"jennifire7" (kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nancy and Plum (Paperback)

nancy and plum was written in 1952 the year i was born i read it in junior high school and was transported by ms macdonalds warming story and prose she was definitely a "word painter" i slept with this book and delayed finishing it by re- reading the previous chapter befor starting the next i have checked every library i have entered in the last 20 years searching for a copy of this story of the two orphaned sisters (i had only brothers) reading nancy and plum was like finding a sister now i will have her again my plum ( i was nancy) i cant wait to get my hands on this book now at 47 years old i will read it to all the little girls in my life and the boys too thanks to the macdonalds for the timely reprint! i have created and lived on a beautiful farm for 22 years and would welcome nancy and plum if they came along!