Hi everyone, I'm trying to find a children's/middle-grade novel I read years ago. I read it as a translated book in my local library, likely published before or around the early 2010s. It was a rather thin chapter book with no illustrations. The setting felt like a Western country (US or UK) and took place during a very cold winter.
Hi everyone, I'm trying to find a children's/middle-grade novel I read years ago. I read it as a translated book in my local library, likely published before or around the early 2010s. It was a rather thin chapter book with no illustrations. The setting felt like a Western country (US or UK) and took place during a very cold winter.
Here are the specific plot details I remember:
• The protagonist is a young girl from a very loving, well-off family. She befriends a girl who is about 1 or 2 years older than her. The older girl has parents but is severely neglected and practically wanders the streets all the time.
• The younger girl's mother suffers a miscarriage. Following this tragic event, the family decides to invite the neglected older girl to move in and live with them "forever".
• There is a very specific, memorable scene where the older girl takes a warm bath in a tub at the new house. She is absolutely amazed and overwhelmed with happiness by the warmth and comfort of a real home.
• Despite being treated with love, the older girl gets scared and insecure (possibly feeling like a burden or overwhelmed by the affection she isn't used to). She ends up running away.
• The climax happens during a freezing winter. The younger girl goes out into the bitter cold to search for her older friend. She eventually finds her staying in a poorhouse, workhouse, or some sort of charity shelter.
Does this ring a bell for anyone? I appreciate any help!
u/ArtMiserable9713
Hi everyone, I'm trying to find a children's/middle-grade novel I read when i was so little. I read it as a translated book in my local library, likely published before or around the early 2010s. It was a rather thin chapter book with white cover and a girl illustration. The setting felt like a Western country (US or UK) and took place during a very cold winter.
Here are the specific plot details I remember:
• The protagonist is a young girl from a very loving, well-off family. She befriends a girl who is about 1 or 2 years older than her. The older girl has parents but is severely neglected and practically wanders the streets all the time.
• The younger girl's mother suffers a miscarriage. Following this tragic event, the family decides to invite the neglected older girl to move in and live with them "forever".
• There is a very specific, memorable scene where the older girl takes a warm bath in a tub at the new house. She is absolutely amazed and overwhelmed with happiness by the warmth and comfort of a real home.
• Despite being treated with love, the older girl gets scared and insecure (possibly feeling like a burden or overwhelmed by the affection she isn't used to). She ends up running away.
• The climax happens during a freezing winter. The younger girl goes out into the bitter cold to search for her older friend. She eventually finds her staying in a poorhouse, workhouse, or some sort of charity shelter.
That’s all I can recall. Does this ring a bell for anyone? I appreciate any help!