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Understood Betsy  By  cover art

Understood Betsy

By: Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Narrated by: Anne Hancock
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Publisher's summary

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

What listeners say about Understood Betsy

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Understood Betsy:

I love this book! So fun! It’s VERY interesting, and being a girl myself I can relate to it!

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Understood Betsy

Loved this sweet nostalgic story! The narrator did a fantastic job with voice changes and inflections. Truly delightful!

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Charming

Love this book! It is full of charm and wisdom. I have thoroughly enjoyed it

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Just as i remembered

I remember how much I loved this story- the world was certainly a simpler place

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Sweet classic

The sweetest book! Such a heartwarming classic. My kids and I all really enjoyed it!!

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  • Jo
  • 11-15-16

Like a picnic on a warm spring day

I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the countryside and the people who decorated it were warm and fuzzy - in a good way. Yes, it might have been a little predictable and pollyannish but those aren't always bad things. I watch my comfort movies over and over and know they aren't going to change and that's what I like about them. Sometimes I need a little sunshine and 'sometimes things do turn out alright' in my life and this fit the bill. I would say it 'was a simpler time' but I don't know that and suspect every time has its challenges and beauty. It was without cell phones, computers and sports cars and it appealed to my inner tween.
I was gifted this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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6 people found this helpful

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wonderful

it brought back wonders of growing up as a young girl. loved it so much.

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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.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • NK
  • 10-07-19

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.

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Sweet Story and Good Message

Such a sweet story of a little girl who finds that she is quite capable and brave in an environment that allows her to use her mind and her will to try things and not be afraid of making mistakes.

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