When I read that Beverly Cleary (Ramona, Mouse and the Motorcycle) loved this book when she was a child, I had to find it. Fortunately it was in our ILL system, and fortunately it was worth reading. A little sexist about gender roles (after all it is over 100 years old), but the girls are plenty spunky. I really would have loved it when I was a child in the '60s. ( )

Very cute story about four poor girls who set out to refurbish a cottage to have a place to play in. There's very little tension, everyone is nice and I loved the details about housekeeping, decorating, cooking and gardening scattered throughout. Some funny passages too. The girls are so endearing. Heartwarming book, ideal if you're looking for something to coo over. ( )

It was okay. It didn't engage me particularly, with its focus on housekeeping and cleaning and tidying. The mystery at the heart of the book was profoundly unmysterious, but my eyes filled with tears at the denouement. The girls were likable enough, but 3 out of the 4 were interchangeable. It was sweet and cute and old-fashioned.

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This is one of those books I wish I had read as a child. The book was really sweet and while I am not fond of housekeeping I am fond of reading about other people doing it. Why I say I wish I had read it as a child is because then I would have fond childhood memories of it rather than having read it as a cynical adult for the first time.

I had just been reading along thinking that there was no antagonist and then the antagonist was introduced. It did seem a wee bit forced. On the other hand I am not sure one could have sustained the book without it.

This is a nice old-fashioned sort of book and I did like it. ( )

Excellent little book about some children who find a small cottage nobody is using and fix it up for a play house. They later use it to help a woman in need. Sweet, old-fashioned, domestic story, perfect for girls about 6-10.