Little Plum

"Belinda, what are you trying to do? Make Gem like Little Plum or make her hate you?"

Eight-year-old Belinda wants to make friends. When she is considered too rough to visit the new girl next door, she finds ways to punish her.

Rereading this as an adult, I found Belinda's characterization and the minutiae of Japanese doll life as absorbing as ever. That the dolls have feelings and converse with each other is convincingly handled. The family next door is too lightly sketched, too stereotyped, for this to rank with Godden's best work; but the ladder scene is still terrifying, and the girls' reconciliation is "most honorable."

When the large house next door is renovated and the Tiffany Jones move in, Belinda, who has made friends of nearly everyone is upset that she is unwelcome by Miss Tiffany Jones who runs the household and Gem the girl just her age. When Belinda spies a small Japanese doll sitting neglected on Gem's windowsill, she takes action. We get to learn even more about Japanese customs, including Hinamatsuri, the Girl's Day doll festival.

Don't know what happened to my review from before, but this is the second time I've read this since logging books online, and I don't know how many times I've read it before.  I've always loved the idea of one little girl being recklessly adventurous, one being quiet and thoughtful, and the new 'poor little rich girl' who is finally persuaded to be friends.  And the dolls!  Making the special Japanese-style house, clothing, tea set, even party invitations... I never had such talent, but I did spend many hours making things for the two cheap Barbie knockoffs I had.

This is a sequel to Miss Happiness and Miss Flower.

The illustrations, by Jean Primrose, consist of the same drawing before each chapter and one sketch of doll food on a tray. The cover picture is by Ati Forberg.