I’ve been reading through a list of classic books I found on a Charlotte Mason website (1), and one that I particularly enjoyed was Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. I’d never heard of the author before and had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised! It’s geared toward younger readers, though because it was first published in 1917, some of the language may be difficult for children to understand. But that’s one of the reasons they should read it; children benefit from reading material that challenges them.
The biggest reason I think everyone should read this book, however, is that it shows how over-protection makes children incapable of solving problems and figuring things out for themselves. In the story, Betsy goes from being cosseted and babied to having to learn to do things for herself. She realizes that she can figure things out for herself when given the chance, and that it’s not bad for her to have to struggle a little bit.
Understood Betsy is just a delightful little book that I really enjoyed reading, and I recommend it to everyone of every age. It’s a great read-aloud!
Leave a Reply