Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Publisher: Puffin
Number of pages: 238
Summary:
Long ago, a young English nobleman married
a beautiful American girl, causing a rift between the man and
his father. Because of this rift, eight years later, in New
York we come across the offspring of this union, young Cedric
Errol. Ceddie is a beautiful boy both inside and out. Although
he is but seven years old, he is very wise for his years.
Shortly before his father’s death, Ceddie had made a promise
to take care of this mother. This he did with such loving
kindness, that he soon regarded his mother as his best friend
and she returned the sentiment. In fact, he treated all of
those around him with the same kindness he had shown his
mother, until he won the hearts of the local grocer, the
bootblack and all of the servants of his house as well as
almost anyone he met.
Soon, though, he learns that he has a
grandfather in England who is an earl, and that he must go and
learn to be an earl also. Though separated from his mother
because of the feud, his love of her and his natural virtues
win the heart of his grandfather. Although his grandfather
gives him anything he wants, Cedric uses it for the good of
others. Because of the example of this young boy, the old man
soon learns that money and good breeding do not necessarily
make one noble, but that nobility is defined by one’s actions.
Strong points:
- A little history is given to us in exposing the reader
to the English hierarchy in the early 1900’s.
- Cedric is a good example for any young child to emulate
in that he is good and kind and practices virtue.
- Family is defined by love and trust, not necessarily by
good bloodlines.
Cautions:
- There are paragraphs which may be difficult for the
student to read or understand because words are spelled
incorrectly (i.e., according to American spelling
practices), so as to get a proper pronunciation.
- Cedric may appear too much of a "sissy" to some readers,
certainly to boys in the 5th / 6th
grade. However, the majority of 3rd / 4th
graders seem to read the book without any problem
Conclusion:
Little Lord Fauntleroy is an enjoyable
story. The students will be captivated by young Ceddie and his
friends Mr. Hobbs, Dick and Bridget and their adventures. The
book also stresses the importance of values such as love,
loyalty, and kindness.
Children who have appreciated this classic
will want to later read two other works by the same author:
The Secret Garden is the wonderful story of a sickly girl
who finds a mysterious garden which brings a remarkable change
in her life. The Little Princess is a charming tale of
an orphan girl living in poverty who finds ways to remain
cheerful in spite of adversity. These two books are more
suitable for girls.
