Brief Description: City based orphan goes to live with her country relatives, depicts farm life at beginning of 20th century
Geographical Setting: Arlington, North America, United States, Virginia
Historical Era: 20th Century
Date Range: 1916
Keywords: county fair, farm life, Montessori method, one room school house, orphan
Original Publication: 1917
Suitable for Grades: 3-7th
Target Audience: Middle Grade
Librarian's Review
Elizabeth Ann (“Betsy”) is a nine-year-old orphan when she reluctantly goes to live with her country relatives. This delightful novel depicts turn of the (last) century farm life, as Betsy learns to sew, cook, drive horses and raise kittens. In the process, she grows to love her rough hewn relatives in a world of country fairs, no mirrors, and a one room school house. The author was instrumental in introducing the Montessori teaching method to America, and this story is an illustration of that method.