A Little Princess

Sara Crew is a nineteenth-century little rich girl, who, left in the care of an unscrupulous boarding school mistress, is locked away in the attic to survive on crumbs while the headmistress steals her money. After much tribulation, valiant Sara is freed and the headmistress punished. Vanessa Maroney reads this classic tale with just the right moderate pacing--almost too slow for adults, perfect for the 8 to 12-years-olds for whom the book was written. Maroney should also be applauded for creating a wealth of believable little girl voices, not one of them squeaky or shrill. A few more pictures on the packaging would have been nice for a children's audiobook. Still, a fine production. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

When young Sara Crewe's world is spun akimbo, she remains true, unlike many of the rich girls at Miss Minchin's Seminary. The power of Sara's kindness and imagination steady her as her status changes from prized pupil to household drudge. "Things happen to people by accident," Sara believes, and serendipity plays a big part in Burnett's timeless story. Lucy Whybrow's performance is polished and provides a discreet British flavor. From the opening moments, Sara's goodness radiates and is juxtaposed with the falseness of the headmistress and her sister. As the "accidents" unfold, Whybrow invites listeners to partake of the magic. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin's boarding school in London with all the trappings of a little, rich girl. But after the tragic death of her father in India and the loss of her family fortune, we find her living in the school's attic, dressed in rags and serving as a scullery maid. Sara's intelligence, good nature and, most importantly, her ability to pretend sustain her until her happiness and fortune are justly restored. Johanna Ward has a slight British accent, which is easy to listen to. She gives a smooth, thoughtful reading and interprets the characters with ease. This is a delightful audio production of Burnett's classic. C.R.A. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Harris's cultured British articulation fits the story, but her characterizations may not suit listeners familiar with the story. D.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

A magical story mainly for girls about 8 and up, A LITTLE PRINCESS is 80 minutes of escape from reality. You are transported to the streets of London around a hundred years ago. Sarah Crewe, 7, a rich heiress, loses her fortune and then, after two years, gains it back again. The actresses portraying Sarah and the head mistress, Miss Minchen, are especially captivating. Some of the other students at the girls' academy are a bit of a stretch to understand, a little muffled and garbled. There are horses hooves clomping, footsteps on the stairs and even a monkey snickering. A delightful interlude for any cold or rainy afternoon. A.G.H. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine