An Old-Fashioned Girl

Louisa May Alcott is best known for her classic coming-of-age novel "Little Women." But she tackles an entirely different part of growing up in "An Old Fashioned Girl," the story of a country mouse living with a wealthy urban family in late 19th-century America.
Polly Milton travels to stay with her aunt and uncle in the city, for the first time, but she immediately sticks out because of her outdated clothing and lack of fussiness. Her cousin Fan Shaw (also about fourteen) is already dressed like a young woman, and hangs out with a gang of shallow, trendy girls. Polly befriends old ladies, sings Scottish airs, and reads books on history. Can she fit in? What's more... does she really want to?
Fast forward about five or six years: The Shaw family learns that Polly is returning to the city, intending to give music lessons to help support her brother. Time hasn't really changed Polly -- she's still sweet-natured, moral and pleasant to everyone. But the Shaw family is in serious financial trouble -- and Polly will help out the only way she knows how.
In the late 1800s, "Girl" was written in two separate halves, which might explain why the second half is so much better than the first. The first isn't bad, but it suffers from a sort of prissiness. Virtually every story centers on Polly's moral struggles, with no break. Her story is far more engaging when she learns confidence and strength, not when she's wavering about peer pressure.
As in "Little Women," Alcott's writing is still pretty readable for modern readers, although most people will not know what a "pannier" is. She also writes a good understated love story, in Polly's gradual interest in her cousin Tom. You'll know that these two really need to get together, but it's going to take them awhile. So sit back and enjoy the ride.
Polly may put you off at first with her air of vague goody-two-shoes-ness, but she improves over the course of the book. Somewhat more realistic are the spoiled little brat Maud, the grumpy Tom, and the pretty but air-headed Fan. Grandmother isn't quite so engaging; she seems like an idealized older person who exists just to dispense wisdom. How about some personal quirks for the old lady?
Louisa May Alcott managed to wrap a lesson about peer pressure around a real story. Fans of her work will love "An Old Fashioned Girl," even with its few moralistic flaws.

This book started off a bit slow, but if you read more than a page or two at a time, I think you will like it. This story is about a girl from the country who goes to visit her cousins in New York. Polly's cousin, Fanny, and her friends find Polly "coutrified" and "old fashioned". Everyone falls in love with her because of her quiet manner along with the fact that she dresses and acts her age. Although their are multiple hardships along the way, you couldn't have wanted the book to end any other way. I recomend that you don't read the book until you are at least 11 or 12 because some of the wording is odd because it was writtedn so long ago. Happy Reading!

"An Old fashioned Girl" is about a girl named Mary(nicknamed Polly)Milton. She is invited to live with a rich friend, Fanny Shaw. While she is there,she goes through many hardships and is rewarded for them afterward.

Six years later, Polly comes back to the city to give music lessons independently and to support her brother Will in college. During thes time she undergoes romance, heartache, happiness, and realization of what's good in the world. This is a great story. My favorite characters were Tom, Will, Polly's mother, Fanny, Mr. Shaw, Grandma Shaw, Arthor Sydney, little Jenny, Maud, and of course, Polly

I'm glad to find that other reviewers of this fabulous book were as impressed as I was with the ludicrous statement that "9-12" is the proper reading age for An Old Fashioned Girl! Being quite a bit older than twelve myself, and having just read An Old Fashioned Girl for the first time, I was a bit put out by that. . .
I've loved Louisa May Alcott's books since I first read Little Women at age eight. As I delved into all of them- Jo's Boys, Little Men, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, Jack in Jill, Under the Lilacs, etc., and then more recently her short story "thrillers", The Inheritance, and A Long Fatal Love Chase, I have had a nearly insatiable desire for "More, more"! Imagine my surprise when I was told that Louisa HAD written another book which didn't appear on my bookshelf! I searched high and low for An Old Fashioned Girl, and discovered that none of my local bookstores (including Border's and Barnes and Noble) carried it. Hightailing my way to the store, it brought me great joy to find the book and order it right away!
From the moment I began to read, I knew I should love the story. Even Polly's "goodness" drew me in, contrary to previous experiences. I generally shy away from characters who are Elsie-Dinsmorish and act like "goodey-two-shoes", but Polly Milton is sketched so well that her goodness spurs me onto greater goodness, and leaves me feeling that striving to better myself is always a good thing. I loved how Polly stood up to her morals and values and would not allow herself to be swayed by more "fashionable" people. What a wonderful example she set for me-- years later, in amazingly similar circumstances.
Being a "city girl" myself, I could often emphathize more with Fanny than with Polly, yet I also WANTED to be like Polly. To make the world a better and brighter place just by living and loving in it-- what an aspiration!
The story is charming, bringing one through a range of emotions. I laughed, cried, and became so intensely involved with the characters that I snuck away to a back room during a party on New Year's Eve 2000, just so that I could finish the last few pages (I KNEW Tom was about to propose!)!
As someone who is a sucker for a good romance, I was not disappointed by the love story of this book. Tom was both bad enough and good enough to make me fall head over heels in love with him, too! I know from past effort that it's hard to create a man who appeals to both the wicked side of girls, as well as the side that screams for a "Knight in Shining Armor".
But she did it! Louisa May Alcott did it again- a fabulous book to read at any age, over and over again!

I first met An Old Fashioned Girl when browsing my Grandmother's dusty book shelf when I was in 4rth Grade.
It was an old blue hardback, and throughout my childhood, I read it again and again. I think I loved it because Polly, the heroine, made a difference in the Shaw family; in a most inspiring way, she remained unswayed from her values in spite of the hardships she had to face. And it had a wonderfully happy ending, which I loved.
When I grew up, I became a 4th grade teacher, and I read this book to all my classes. They always loved it, were always eager for the next installment.
I gave An Old Fashioned Girl to my own daughter when she was in 3rd grade. True to form, it became one of her favorites too, along with about 50 others, of course!
Everyone knows and loves Little Women, but I think this book remains an undiscovered gem.

I am thrilled that this wonderful book is available on the store.com! I have been looking for a copy for many years and now I can purchase it! I bought this book in my teens, and loved the story! My mother gave it away along with some other books written in the early 1900's that I discovered in the 1960's, and I was crushed! It is such a good story that will delight girls of ALL ages. It is a good companion to other well-witten books by Louisa May Alcott.

As an african american woman in her fourties, I was given this book when I was 10 years old. I longed for a life of riches and a different place in life. Polly's story touched me in ways you can never imagine. Made me appreciate the best of my own life and what being "an old-fashioned girl" had to offer in terms of family, friends and values. I re-read it every year to center my thoughts and my view of mankind. All girls should read it. Polly's story runs circles around Jo's story for me!

I've always loved Little Women, the only book I've read by Ms. Alcott, and so I was very excited to dive into "An Old Fashioned Girl." Until I met Polly. When the story begins, Polly is fourteen and going to visit her wealthy friends, the Shaws. She really has no experience in real "society" and the only life she's known is one of poverty.

Now I have many problems with Polly and the plot in general.

First, the story was very predictable. No plot twists at all, no moments where I'm at the edge of my seat wondering what's going to happen next. Now obviously, this is not a murder mystery so it won't be filled with suspense BUT all stories, I believe, must have some level unpredictability. On a scale from 1-10, this had -5. I won't list specific examples of this because some people may choose to read this book, even after this review.

Secondly, Polly herself. I could probably write a whole paper on Pollys faults or more like her LACK of faults. The most scandalous thing she does is buy some gloves and are you ready for this...even a HAT!! She feels guilty over giving into this temptation. And let's not forget to mention how much poverty is glamorized. Poverty is made out to be wonderful and to bring people closer. Which I'm not saying it CAN'T, I'm just saying that none of the reality (like daily expenses, etc) are brought up. I don't want a chapter on her grocery struggles or anything but please, can we get slightly more real?

This view on poverty also makes it seem like rich(er) people simply can't be happy. They sit and mope and really do nothing. I didn't realize that happiness=no money. *sigh* I have nothing against living more simply but having NO fun, spending NO money in anything other than necessities, and feeling guilty over every time you spend any amount of money....wow what a joyous life.

Thirdly, Pollys happiness, at least towards the end of the book, relies solely on whether or not a man loves her. She pines away, becoming pale and thin because she feels sure that he is interested in another woman. Really Polly? Yes, feel sad for a little while. But don't waste MONTHS of your life wishing for his love. And she doesn't even feel angry towards his supposed "girlfriend." Because Polly is perfect....*another huge sigh*

And lastly, Polly is just boring. The characters in general are not relatable. I will say that it was written in a completely different time period but I feel like good literature continues to be relatable even as time passes. I'm not against classic books, just boring ones.

All in all, if your looking for another book as good as "Little Women", in my opinion, you won't find it here. Ms. Alcotts writing greatly improved and I'd like to think that this book helped her to become a better writer in the long run. So if you enjoy embellished views on poverty, a young girl wasting her life pining after a man, and a perfect heroine, then please, read on. Otherwise, steer clear.

It isn't surprising that Louisa May Alcott is known for writing stories with domestic backgrounds. "An Old Fashioned Girl" is one such story. Polly is a country girl swept into the rich living of her relatives, and she is content with knowing she isn't rich. Years later, Polly finds that her family is in an economic decline. She tries her hardest to help them with the abilities of, what she calls herself, an old-fashioned girl. It is a good book, but it has some slow spots. If you enjoyed "Little Women", I highly recommend it.

I would like to say that I'm a big fan of Louisa May Alcott's books, but "An Old-Fashioned Girl" far surpasses them all. Alcott vividly captures the feelings and emotions of a young, innocent girl, and even though there are trials and struggles along the way, in the end Polly is happy doing what she does best: helping people. This story is corny in some parts, but thats what I love most about it.
The first half of the book is about Polly's first visit to the city, and to her friend Fanny. She is a little angel who struggles with the death of her beloved brother, Jimmy. She brings comfort to everyone she meets, but she doesn't fit in with Fanny's friends because of her simple country ways.
The second half of the book shows us Polly's adulthood, where she moves to the city to earn money to keep her brother Will in college. She finds that Fanny's brother, Tom, has changed for the worse, and Polly works to be a good friend, sister, and music teacher. I won't tell the ending of the book, but this is an incredible story for girls and women of all ages.

I have owned all her works and this is my favorite. Even though it was written in the 1800's, it still has sound judgements. Riches can come and go, but how you live your life and how you influence others with your care, love and concern mean the most. Polly has her own struggles with life's lessons but with help from older women and remembering what her parents, especially her mother, taught her, she struggles through.
The beginning of the book finds her a young teenage friend of Fan Shaw who had come down to the country the year before visiting some friends of the family. There is Fan, 2yrs older, Tom who is Polly's age, Maude the little sister of about 6, Mrs. Shaw an invailid and Mr. Shaw a man of wealth, plus Madame who is Mr. Shaw's Mother. At the end, Polly and her friends are all adults except Maud who is a teenager. Fan learns a lot from Polly and Polly learns from all who come into her life. It is a Must read in my opinion for any girl or woman.

An Old Fashioned Girl begins with a teenage girl, Polly who visits her cousins in the city. There, she realises that they are exactly the opposite of the old fashioned girl that she is, and this causes some distress on both sides. Being a modern woman, I expected that this book would be a wonderful read but the initial chapters where Polly was a teenager were hard to take in. Alcott created what she felt to be the "perfect" teenage model in Polly, but I found myself wishing that this "perfect teenage model" would loosen up a bit and do something for herself instead of serving everybody else, which was the "proper thing to do." Ironically, Alcott herself wrote in the book "excessive virtue doesn't last long ...except with little prigs in the goody storybooks." She should have taken herself more seriously because her main character came very close to becoming exactly that! Compared to other classics like Tom Sawyer, The Secret Garden and The Railway Children, the teenagers in the book were very unrealistic, I dare say even for that time. Alcott wrote too much of what she wanted children or teenagers to be, opposed what they actually were, which can get exasperating. However, that is less than half the book, which follows into young adulthood. In here the characters become more realistic, and Polly begins to be truly affected by her poverty and to long to be different. To avoid spoilers, it morphed from an exasperating read into a very good read. Overall, the valuable lessons in the book make it good addition to any collection, especially for children.

I own a copy of the book that was published in 1911 and as an eighteen year old girl, I still find it very enjoyable to read over and over again. I do not think the book is unrealistic because I think children do grow up too fast today, and a sixteen year old really truely is a little girl. As I look back upon my childhood now, I really do realize what a child I was.

The book really reflects upon high society life as it was (and pretty much still is) in those times. Rich people seem to always look down upon the poor and think that they deserve to be there while they sit in their finery and only think of themselves. Until a girl like Polly comes along to show them that their life is full of just meaningless possessions that do not love them back. Life is really about loving the people around you.

I think I will continue to enjoy this book over and over again, and I hope that other girls get to read it, because I'm tired of seeing little girls grow up way too fast. I like old fashioned things.

Although I think it may be a bit advanced for my 9 yr. old, I'm still glad I purchased this book for my most recent book club choice. A gentle book that flows easily, and the characters change for the better in wonderful ways. The one thing that bugged me was Mrs. Shaw and her smelling salts. It almost seemed to me that Polly Milton was the better 'mother' to the Shaw family. All in all, this is truly a memorable classic.

What touches me about this book is its timelessness. Fanny's crushes and other young adolescent activities were just as true 100 years ago as they are now. And, like Polly, what 13-year-old has not felt old-fashioned or awkward compared to a cooler and richer cousin or friend? I remember feeling plain at that age, too. As a young adult, I, like Polly, have realized that being yourself is best.

I love this book. Alcott is one of my favorite writers. In An Old Fashioned Girl it talks about a country girl who go's to the big city, but does not change. She keeps the same inocence that she had when she left home. Tom is spoiled in the begining of the book, but in the end, (because of Polly) he becomes a wonderful person. I would encourage anyone to read this book.

I absolutely loved this book! It is set in Boston in the mid 1800's. Polly comes from a poor but loving family in the country, and finds it hard to keep her own standards while visiting her friend Fan for the summer. Through working hard and holding strong to her morals, she wins the hearts of the people she loves most. The reaon that I call this an excellent lesson book is because there is so much for modern young girls (like myself) to learn from Polly's mannerism, diligence, and respect. You cannot read this book just once. The more it is read, the more can be learned from it. I would suggest this book to anyone and everyone who is looking for something with excellent substance to read.

This is a great book. Louisa May Alcott is GIFTED. I am one of the biggest fan of Alcott. This book, as others have said, about this girl named Polly, and how she comes to city from a country, and never changes. Tom is my fav't character, and then Mr. Sydney. All the characters are so nice and feels so real. This is a great book; if you liked Little Women, you surley would like this book!!! Give it a try.

This is my favorite Louisa May Alcott book. And that is really saying something considering how wonderful her books are and that I have read nearly all of them, including recently discovered manuscripts. Polly is a wonderful character and a good role model for young women. She teaches them to never forget who they are and that it is OK to follow their own dreams. She also teaches about loyalty (her reply to her first marriage proposal) and independence. I am so glad to see this book available for a new generation. I read it about 40 years ago for the first time and have re-read it regularly since.

This is a great book. Louisa May Alcott is GIFTED. I am one of the biggest fan of Alcott. This book, as others have said, about this girl named Polly, and how she comes to city from a country, and never changes. Tom is my fav't character, and then Mr. Sydney. All the characters are so nice and feels so real. This is a great book; if you liked Little Women, you surley would like this book!!! Give it a try.

This is my favorite Louisa May Alcott book. And that is really saying something considering how wonderful her books are and that I have read nearly all of them, including recently discovered manuscripts. Polly is a wonderful character and a good role model for young women. She teaches them to never forget who they are and that it is OK to follow their own dreams. She also teaches about loyalty (her reply to her first marriage proposal) and independence. I am so glad to see this book available for a new generation. I read it about 40 years ago for the first time and have re-read it regularly since.

I'm 15 and you can call me a little bit old fashioned in my ways. I read an old fashioned girl for the first time when i was 11 and since then ive been reading the book at least 4 times a year.My copy of an old fashioned girl is sacred to me. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about a girl living in totally different times but who is really similar to us nowadays even is she is a little old fashioned! This book is good for any one of any age anywhere who wants to have someone to admire and someone to look up to. Polly is indeed, the perfect girl. As to Fanny and Tom they make the book livelier and funner to read, you'll never get bored with this book in your reach!

I'm 17 years old. When I was about 5 or 6 my mom read An Old Fashioned Girl to me for the first time. From that point on that book was like a guide book for my life. I admired Polly's simple ways, and longed to be like her. When I was younger I would pretend that I was Polly, dressing up and play acting with my dolls. As I grew older though, she became more and more of a "kindred spirit". Polly's character has really helped in molding the person I am today. I have read the book probably 10-12 times since I was 10. My paper back copy is missing pages and well loved. I recomend this wonderful book to anyone (including boys-my brothers loved Tom!). And hope that they will enjoy it as much as I have.

I love all Louisa May Alcott's books. I already read Little Women, Little Men, Jo's boys and I mean to read all the other books by Louisa May Alcott. Her books are so charming. An Old Fashioned Girl is about this girl named Polly who gives joy to everybody around her. She is so sensible and hopeful. It seems like the sun is fallowing her wherever she goes. Wherever she goes, she brightens up the place and brings joy, hope and love to everyone. I love Polly for it and I would like to be like her. Everybody knows Little Women, but not many people know Polly. But I think An Old Fashioned Girl is just as good and will bring happiness to everyone who reads it. I would recommend this book to every girls.

This is a review of the audio book. Not Louisa May Alcott's best book: it is a little preachy. a rose in Bloom covers the same territory with a lighter hand. But I remember loving it when I was 13 or 14 and it is a nice little romantic confection. That said, the narration is horrific. Why oh why does she give everyone Southern accents (and I think not well done Southern accents) when it is noted several times that the characters live outside of Boston? It, along with her overpronounciation, is so jarring it quite spoils the sweet story.

This book is great for any Louisa May Alcott Fan. Even today, some of the situations that Polly goes through are valid and interesting. Though 130 years old, the characters and themes are still applicable with a slight stretch of the imagination and some thought. The plot is not thrilling, but bounces along at a steady pace and is enjoyable. As always with older books, the language is sometime a little difficult to decode when they talk about things from the period. I throughly enjoyed this book. It's another Louisa May Alcott great!

An Old-Fashioned Girl is a good book. It's descriptive and well-written, but Louisa May Alcott was extremely inaccurate about teenagers. I know it was written 130 years ago and all that, but still. How could she call a 16-year-old a little girl? And as for Polly, she's a very very nice person, but a little too saintly to be real. Even after 'temptation' (flirting a little) she just shrugs it off and goes la-di-da back to being a 'good little girl'. Bah humbug!

Polly, the main character in An Old Fashioned Girl, goes to live with her cousins in the big city, but always stays true to herself. A great lesson for many of us teenage girls who forget what is important. I'm 14 and it is my favorite book. A MUST READ! <3 Tom and Polly 4ever

This is one of the gratest books of all time in my opinion,and the masterpiece of her collection.The characters are so nice and I can recall instances in my own childhood much like theirs.The charaters don't act perfect,but try to be good.

This is on my favorite book list! I read it in less than 2 days and could not put it down! I really enjoyed reading An Old Fashioned Girl and I want to read it again. It's a wonderful book and I highly recommend it for other girls.