Nancy and Plum

by Betty MacDonald

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375859861
• ISBN13: 9780375859861
• Release Date: October 2011
• Publisher: Yearling Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

From Vashon Island

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

Continuing the Tradition

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.

after 30 years i found it!

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!

A memorable and heartwarming book from my childhood

I've been searching for this book for years, and am so happy it has been re-published! Nancy and Plum really captured my imagination when my teacher read it to my fourth-grade class in the mid-1960's. Later I checked it out of the school library to read again and again. The book has a magical quality. It's a little bit Orphan Annie, Little Princess, and all those Shirley Temple movies about beleaguered orphan girls with sunny attitudes rolled into one. This was one of my favorite books, and I can't wait to share it with my two girls!

NANCY & PLUM TAKES ME BACK

My fourth grade teacher, Miss Morris, read this book to our class in 1960. We were all mesmerized and couldn't wait for reading time everyday to find out what adventure Nancy & Plum were in for this day. They were truly inspirational children. No matter what happened to them, they could find humor and gratitude in all things. I found this book again in 1990, when I called the publisher and they gave me the number of Betty MacDonald's daughter. We chatted and she sent me her personal copy. I was thrilled. My daughter, now 22, has cherished this book, as well, since she first read it. Nancy & Plum takes me back to a time when life was innocent and uncomplicated, times were good and fourth grade was the best place to be!