Sara's father indulges her every whim but she is not spoiled by it. Her mother died when she was young and her father is worried about Sara catching "jungle fever" or malaria because cases have increased as of late in India. Seven-year-old precocious Sara Crewe, who has grown up in India with her wealthy father, has arrived at a boarding school in London. I think the story works because it is rooted in the "childhood experience" and Burnett captures that nostalgia through imaginative play, doll playing, making friends, dealing with classmates, and having the courage to stand up for what is right. In today's world of children's literature and realism that reflects more the "knowing child" versus the "innocent child" some might find this too sappy for their taste. The singular "A" in the title reflects that anyone can be a princess if they have a good and kind heart. Sara uses the model of a princess as a way to bear the meanness of those around her and rise above her desperate poverty having faith that everything will turn out right. When Sara's father dies suddenly and she falls out of favor with Miss Minchin, Sara uses her imagination to cope with the abuse of being overworked and starved. She sees right through her and respectfully disagrees with her in front of others. Sara knows Miss Minchin only likes her for her money. Burnett's character, Sara Crewe, celebrates individualism, does not listen to authority in the likes of Miss Minchin, and follows her own conscience. Written in 1905, A Little Princess, has the hallmarks of romanticism literature that produced children's books full of fantasy, adventure, fairy tales, and realism that are still popular today. This romantic view came at a time when children's literature was becoming its own separate field moving away from the didactic 18th century juvenile texts. Sara's childlike innocence is in stark contrast to the greedy and horrid Miss Minchin showing that a noble heart can overcome a cruel one. This reads like a fairy tale with a flawless protagonist and a happily-ever-after ending, and even though there is no magic, the wish-fulfillment theme in Sara Crew's rags-to-riches story is quite similar to Cinderella's.
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