Little Daisy

by Jean Ure

A rags to riches story of a young orphan who becomes a famous actress. Daisy is brought up in a foundling's hospital in Victorian times. At ten she is sent into service as a skivvy at the Dobell Academy, where she watches all the pupils learning how to be young ladies, wearing fine clothes and learning how to read, write and...dance. Daisy dreams of being like them one day and painstakingly teaches herself to read with the help of one kind teacher.  A wonderful unashamedly sentimental rags-to-riches story which young readers from 7 and upwards will adore.

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Prolific English children and young adult author.

Had her first book published while still in high school, then studied theater at Webber-Douglas in London. Her most well-known work is the Point Crime novel Dance with Death. Others include Plague 99, After the Plague (previously "Come Lucky April"), Big Tom, Family Fan Club and Shrinking Violet, as well as the fantasy The Wizard In the Woods.

Today, Ure is very popular with British female teenage readers with novels such as Shrinking Violet, Family Fan Club and Passion Flower.

Ure has also translated Danish writer Sven Hassel's WWII novels to English.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a LOOOOOONG time ago, and I have never touched it since, nor do I have the greatest memory, but I can honestly say that this book has never, EVER left my mind, ever.
I still remember the main character with utter clarity, and her story inspired me so incredibly. The ending was astounding, and I still remember the way I had actually sobbed when I reached the last page. The book was that good!
This is a story I will never forget, and I recommend every young reader to give this book a try and discover something truly endearing.

[Dana Salman · Rating 4 out of 5]

actually it's called Daisy May, and I would've liked to have seen how it ended. I mean, okay, she grows up as a famous actress like she wanted but I'd like to know how she accomplished that

[Hazel Went · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book, recommended for readers growing in confidence. A story of a young girl who spends the first years of her life in a Foundling Hospital, but who dreams of better. The vocabulary in the book is a good balance between common words and longer words, ideal for developing a child's confidence. A lovely story, worth a read.