What next?

[janeite]

DD 12 has just read and loved "I Capture The Castle". I suggested she tried "Little Women" next but she's finding it a bit wearing; a bit too sanctimonious I guess, although obviously that's not how she worded it! Does anybody have any suggestions for something similar-ish to I Capture The Castle that she might enjoy?

cold comfort farm?

Anne of green gables, a drowned maidens hair, a little princess.

Thanks. She's read The Little Princess (one of my faves). I've not read the other two - please could you tell me more about them; I hate having to admit to not knowing about books?!!

Any others?

Anne of Green Gables is a story about a red haired orphan who goes to live with an elderly brother and sister on Prince Edward Island in Canada. She is quite eccentric and gets into lots of trouble - it is not as sanctimonious as Little Women and much livelier. There is a series of five or six books that follow her right through her life until her own children are grown up. I totally recommend it.
On a modern note, has she read The Way I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. I think she would enjoy that if she liked I Capture the Castle.

What about:

What Katy Did

or

The Go-Between

well that'll teach me to be clever-clever (I was trying to do italics within links)

Well now you know what happens when you try to be all fancy-schmancy. Good suggestions Bink.

What Katy Did might now be a little childish. But there is What Katy Did at School - when she got sent off to boarding school and What Katy Did Next - when she did a tour of Europe. If DD loved "I Capture the Castle" she may also enjoy Nancy Mitford's "The Pursuit of Love".

Rosa- you're a genius! I've read "How I Live Now" and never even thought of it - she'd love it I think. I've also suggested the Katy books, which I love. Am going to get "Anne Of Green Gables" too, so long as I can read it first!

Bink - "The Go-Between" sounds interesting. I'm trying hard not to be put off by the comparison to "The Remains Of the Day" which I hated.

She's settled down with "Charlotte Sometimes" at the moment; another of my favourites; not least because I can sing along with all the words which Robert Smith used for lyrics in The Cure's song!

Thanks again - and bump for this evenings visitors?

Has she read Elizabeth Goudge's The Little White Horse? I read that at about her age - it's a gorgeous fairy-tale-like novel with a feisty heroine. And not forgetting all the Noel Streatfeild ones but they do seem dated now despite being classics - Ballet Shoes,A Painted Garden, White Boots, etc.

I agree with the assessment of anne of green gables. Fabulous book, anne is so full of life but seems to always get into scrapes, but you love her all the same. Here is the review for the review for A Drowned Maidens Hair;
"A feisty orphan is taken in by a band of phony spiritualists. Maud Flynn is known at the orphanage for her impertinence, so when the charming Miss Hyacinth and her sister choose Maud to take home with them, the girl is as baffled as anyone. It seems the sisters need Maud to help stage elaborate seances for bereaved, wealthy patrons. As Maud is drawn deeper into the deception, playing her role as a "secret child," she is torn between her need to please and her growing conscience ? until a shocking betrayal makes clear just how heartless her so-called guardians are. Filled with tantalizing details of turn-of-the-century spiritualism and page-turning suspense, this lively historical novel features a winning heroine whom readers will not soon forget.