Understood Betsy

By: Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Narrated by: Anne Hancock

Elizabeth Ann is being carefully brought up by her Aunt Frances. Aunt Frances shares in all Elizabeth Ann's fears and slights, walks her to and from school each day, and conscientiously follows the most modern theories on child-rearing. She is the original helicopter parent. Not surprisingly, at nine years old Elizabeth Ann is timid and shy, friendless, and completely dependent on her doting aunt.

Then an emergency occurs, and the fearful little girl is temporarily sent to other relatives who live on a farm in Vermont. When her uncle Henry nonchalantly hands her the buggy reins for the ride from the train station, the newly named Betsy realizes that that this new family expects her to think for herself.

Dorothy Canfield Fisher was an early advocate of Maria Montessori's educational theory of learning by doing, and her heroine flourishes as she becomes aware of and interested in the world around her and discovers how truly capable she is.

Public Domain (P)2015 Anne Hancock

Ultimately, she experienced a sense of being understood.

I appreciated her opportunity to remaining with the Putneys forever with Molly and that Aunt Francis was happy too.😀

Heartwarming story. Helicopter parents: take note!

Interesting story telling. The human spirit does find a way to succeed! I loved each character for different reasons. Great listen.

What?

The title is Understood Betsy, BUT her name is Elizabeth Ann? This makes no sense

my childhood fovorite

I have always loved this book! It was so well read by the narrator.

So enjoyed this!

I loved this book as a child decades ago and reread it countless times. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it now. The underlying message here is still relevant tho it was written in 1916. The narration is also superb.