Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Deservedly a classic June 16, 2008
Limberlost (Scotland)
I first read this wonderful book at the age of 10 and have reread it many times since. This moving and humorous story, relating the progression of Judy from unloved orphan in a children's home to eager young college student discovering the wider world, is accessible to people of all ages. Judy's naivety, imaginativeness, and bravery are communicated eloquently through the series of letters she writes to her benefactor, "Daddy Long Legs". A wonderful evocation of life in early twentiesth century America.
The charm of this book never fades April 18, 2008
L O'connor (richmond, surrey United Kingdom)
Jerusha Abbot has lived all her life in the John Grier orphanage, and has seen nothing of the outside world. Then one day she is summoned to the matron's office, to be told to her astonishment that one of the trustees of the orphanage has decided to send her to college, because he thinks she has a talent for writing. He wishes to remain anonymous, but wants her to write to him once a month in order to develop her literary style. She has just glimpsed his shadow on the wall, a tall, thin man. so the amazed Jerusha is packed off to a prestigious girls' college.
The rest of the book is written in the form of Jerusha's letters to her anonymous benefactor. She decides to call him Daddy Long-Legs because the only thing she knows about him is that he is tall and thin. She decides to call herself 'Judy' as she has always hated the name Jerusha. Her letters vividly describe her life at college, her lessons, the fun she has with the other girls, her thoughts about everything. Each new experience is relished by her, and almost feel as if you are at college with her.
I have read this book frequently over the last forty years, and it seems just as fresh and funny to me now as it did the first time I read it, and as it must have done to the readers in 1912. Judy's charms are undiminished.
 Rag-to-riches story of an orphan February 26, 2007
Mum of the animals (UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Pity the adopted or fostered child nowadays. Whenever refered to in the media, they are either criminals or overcome by mental health problems. It was not the case a hundered years ago! Jean Webster had a privleged upbringing but through her charity visits to the poor becomes convinced less well-off children could succeed in life. Heady stuff in 1912 so to illlustrate her point she writes Daddy-Long-Legs about Judy,a young orphan sent to college by a kindly but anonymous benefactor she calls Daddy-Long-Legs. Her letters to him are funny, moving and a great testimony both to a child's and a foundling's mind. It never wallows in self pity. As a mother of two adopted children, I don't really relate to the central message on how you can change the child's environment and if the child is bright enough it will flourish. The mental scars are too deep. I find myself incredulous (does Judy, such a friendly soul, really miss no-one from the orphanage after seventeen years). Nevertheless, I happily suspend disbelief because I personally love Judy (and the author's) optimism. It comes from the days when radical thinkers were confident that money alone could change things. It is the perfect book for an adopted or fostered adolescent as positive role models in the media nowadays are hard to find.
Daddy Longlegs September 23, 2006
Jenifer J (Cumbria, UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It is sheer brilliance to be able to convey such depth of insight and feeing in such a simple - yet compelling - style. Although my own upbringing in a children's home in the 50 - 60's was later and more comfortable than it was at the John Grier Home, there were many poignant passages. For example,in her first days at college she does not experience homesickness as the other girls do - I can remember feeling exactly the same. Jean Webster is a wonderful writer.
good enough for adult readers September 26, 2004
Elena (Russia, Moscow)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
It's a good book in very Bronte style but of course it's not for children at all. First pages are funny easy-going parts of a diary of young girl who was sent to a college by a rich man who knows her only as a not bad young writer. Then it's a typical story of 19 th century "how to fall in love a rich man". I like humor of this book but i think it's getting too naiv in the end. I really recommend if u are looking for a good book for children Heaven to Betsy books. It conteins love, friendship, humor, college adventures and etc.
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