Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm facts for kids
| Author | Kate Douglas Wiggin |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
|
Publication date
|
1903 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback |
| OCLC | 4738229 |
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a classic children's book written in 1903 by Kate Douglas Wiggin. It tells the story of a young girl named Rebecca Rowena Randall. She goes to live with her two aunts, Miranda and Jane, in the small town of Riverboro, Maine. One aunt is strict, and the other is kind.
Rebecca's happy spirit helps her aunts, but she also faces many challenges. Through these experiences, she learns important lessons and grows wiser. The author, Kate Douglas Wiggin, also wrote a sequel called New Chronicles of Rebecca. The story was later made into a play and filmed three times. Famous child star Shirley Temple played Rebecca in one of the movies.
Contents
Rebecca's Journey to Riverboro
The story begins with Rebecca traveling from her family's farm to Riverboro. She is going to live with her mother's older sisters, Aunt Miranda and Aunt Jane Sawyer. Rebecca is the second oldest of seven children. Her family is quite poor.
Rebecca's father, Lorenzo DeMedici Randall, loved art but found it hard to keep a job. This made life tough for the family, especially after he passed away. Rebecca's stay with her aunts is a chance for her to have better opportunities. It also helps her family by easing their money problems.
Meet the Randall Family
Most of Rebecca's siblings have unusual names. These names, like Marquis and Jenny Lind, show their father's artistic side. Rebecca herself is named after two brave characters from the book Ivanhoe.
Even though her family is poor, Rebecca is full of imagination and charm. She often writes little poems and songs. She uses them to share her feelings or to make her brothers and sisters laugh. It was Rebecca who gave their home the cheerful name "Sunnybrook Farm."
Life with Her Aunts
Aunt Miranda and Aunt Jane had actually wanted Rebecca's older sister, Hannah. Hannah was good at housework and very practical. But Rebecca's mother needed Hannah at home for the same reasons. So, she sent Rebecca instead.
Aunt Miranda was not impressed by Rebecca. She didn't like Rebecca's imagination, her talkative nature, or her darker skin. Miranda thought Rebecca looked too much like her father. She decided to teach Rebecca to be a proper young lady. Miranda wanted Rebecca to behave in a way that would not shame the Sawyer family name.
Rebecca's New Home and Challenges
Aunt Jane became Rebecca's protector. She often helped Rebecca when Miranda was too strict. Jane taught Rebecca how to sew, cook, and manage a home. Rebecca's lively spirit and curiosity made Jane's life much brighter.
Rebecca tried hard to make Aunt Miranda happy. But she found it difficult to meet Miranda's strict rules. Miranda often felt that Rebecca was "all Randall and no Sawyer." This meant Miranda thought Rebecca had too much of her father's free spirit and not enough of the Sawyer family's serious nature.
Friends and School in Riverboro
The middle part of the book describes daily life in Riverboro. It also introduces the people who live there. Jeremiah and Sarah Cobb are important characters. They are among the first to see Rebecca's charm.
Rebecca's best friend at school is Emma Jane Perkins. Another important person is Adam Ladd, a young businessman. He becomes interested in Rebecca's education. Adam meets Rebecca when she and Emma Jane are selling soap. They are trying to help a poor family get a lamp as a prize. Rebecca gives him the nickname "Mr. Aladdin."
Rebecca turns out to be a very good student. She is especially talented in English. She later goes on to attend high school in Wareham.
Rebecca's Future
In the last part of the book, Rebecca has grown into a young lady. She still has her high spirits and a special talent for writing. She plans to become a teacher in Augusta. However, her mother has an accident. Rebecca must go home to take care of her and the farm.
While Rebecca is away, Aunt Miranda passes away. She leaves her house and land to Rebecca. A railway company also plans to buy Sunnybrook Farm. This will give the Randall family enough money to live comfortably. Aunt Miranda's will also gives Rebecca enough money to be independent. She can now help her brothers and sisters. The book ends with Rebecca happily saying, "God bless Aunt Miranda! God bless the brick house that was! God bless the brick house that is to be!"
Adaptations of the Story
The popular story of Rebecca has been brought to life in different ways.
The Play
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm was turned into a play in 1909. Kate Douglas Wiggin, the author, helped write the play with Charlotte Thompson. It was shown on Broadway in 1909. Before reaching Broadway, the play was performed in Boston and New England. Audiences there loved it.
The Movies
The story has been made into a movie three times. The most famous version is from 1938. In this movie, Shirley Temple played Rebecca. This film changed some parts of the original book.
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917 film)
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1932 film)
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938 film)
