Eleven-year-old Rebecca Randall is quite a handful--and now she's leaving her beloved Sunnybrook Farm to live with her well-to-do elderly aunts and get an education. But they were expecting Rebecca's quiet, hard-working older sister instead. Can the bright-eyed and talkative girl win them over...especially her strict, rule-bound Aunt Miranda? Just as Rebecca's "grand spirit" charms everyone in the story, it will captivate readers, too.

I really loved reading this aloud to my 9 year old daughter. I was trying to inspire her as a reluctant reader to get beyond the very silly little novellas she was stuck at. It is such a lovely story and so many positive messages for little girls today it was a really a pleasure to share it with her. The language and vocabulary were quite difficult for her at times but I was able to explain it and also share my delight at some of the well written passages. I guess it is a little wordy and sentimental, but if that kind of book appeals you'll like it. ( )