Book source ~ Purchased at Chirp

In the early 1900s, Jerusha “Judy” Abbot grew up in a home for orphans. When she is 18, she is sent to college by one of the trustees who chose to remain anonymous. As part of his agreement to pay for her tuition, room and board, she is to address him as Mr. Smith and write to him monthly when she received her allowance. She does so and this is a collection of her letters to him.

Ok, this is just as delightful as I remember it being when I read it as a kid several decades *cough*four to be precise*cough* ago. I actually only vaguely recalled it, but remembered that I enjoyed it, so when I saw it on sale at Chirp I jumped at the chance to revisit it. Also, the narrator is fantastic! ( )

3.5 stars. A cute, short epistolary novel. ( )

This is a hot take because so many people love this book! I enjoyed this book overall, but I wish that it was written in a different style. The beginning of the novel is a third-person narration, following Judy at the orphanage and being allowed to go to college by a secret benefactor, she has to write to him every week and she will only ever receive responses from his secretary. The rest of the novel is epistolary, which works until the very end.

I am going to do my best to not spoil this part, but I wish that the revelation of Daddy-Long-Legs was changed back to third-person, I wish we got to see Judy realize who her benefactor is through this narration rather than in letters to him. I was a little disappointed, but it was an enjoyable read. ( )

Read Teddy's 1912 edition. ( )

I'm not sure how I came across this classic epistolary book and I had never heard of the author Jean Webster before. Since it was an easy reading YA novel, I read a few chapters each evening. Even given odd title, which finally makes sense mid-way through the book, I actually liked this story. The main character is 'Judy' who lives in an orphanage. She catches the attention of a trustee who decides she has potential as a writer and pays her way to attend college. As part of the agreement, Judy must describe her progress in a letter to the benefactor, but no return correspondence will be offered and the benefactor's identity must remain secret. In some ways this story reminded me a little of Anne of Green Gables, not just due to the orphan theme but also because of the main character's habit of speaking her mind and sometimes later regretting the outburst. ( )