Philomena

(First, don't trust the misleading low rating of this book, or reviews of a book by Sixsmith that was made into a movie. Readers of that read a different book entirely. Hopefully things will get straightened out somehow someday.)

This is a funny and sunny children's story about an orphan with courage who is hard-working, kind, optimistic, and faithful... and is justly rewarded. Nowadays it can be enjoyed as historical fiction. A perfect book for a family who home-schools, a wonderful book for any of us who are nostalgic for believable, not overly-sweet stories about people who try to do right by their families, their communities, and themselves & God. (To clarify, though, it's not a Christian book per se, and I love it even though I am show more atheist.) I would have read this over and over when I was a child.

And the illustrations are, of course, marvelous. The end-papers, all yellow and pink, full of dancing people and pets, and a cheery baba yaga house, are vibrantly decorative as well as being amusing. The image of old Babushka playing a traditional guitar is a hoot, as is the image of the corrupt & snooty butler who appropriates most of Philomena's wages. My favorite picture, though, is probably the one in which country girl Philomena gets all wrathful on two bad boys and rescues a kitten from them.

Highly recommended. Check this out from your library; do not let them cull it for lack of circulation! If they don't have it, track it down somehow. show less

It has long been the custom for every 12-year-old girl from Philomena's village to go to the city to do service as housemaids before coming home to be married. But Philomena's aunt had gone and never returned. On her deathbed, Babushka instructs her little granddaughter to go to Prague and find her aunt, who must surely be rich now, and do service in her household. With the confidence that Babushka is still watching over her from heaven, Philomena travels to Prague, the city of a hundred spires.

Once there, she bounces from one adventure into another as doors open and close, and unconventional guidance from Babushka moves her in ever new directions. Though Philomena may grow slightly impatient with Babushka's methods, she is steadily show more gaining experience, friends and pets - until unexpectedly she is able to accomplish her goal. show less

We discovered this little gem years ago, after falling in love with two of the authors' other books: The Good Master and The Singing Tree. I was thrilled to recently discover that Bethlehem Books is bringing it back into print.

The story begins in a small village near Prague. In this village, young girls are expected to leave home and work as servants in the big city during their early teen years; returning home at the age of sixteen, with experience in all manner of household service and ready to start their own families.

Philomena is an orphaned young girl raised by her "Babushka" with the thoughtful wisdom and advice of the beloved parish priest of the village. She travels to Prague to seek employment in her aunt's household with show more complete confidence in her Babushka's guidance from Heaven - which comes through in surprising and often humorous ways (that generally require a LOT of patience). Her adventures and the journey to find her missing aunt make for a lovely and entertaining story for all ages.

The writing is deeply engaging, and is greatly enhanced by the author's vibrant, spirited illustrations. show less

Sweet!

Lovely illustrations & end papers