Phoebe's Revolt

by Natalie Babbitt

Phoebe demands to wear her father's clothes instead of 19th century women's fashions

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Classics

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Natalie Zane Babbitt was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Her 1975 novel, Tuck Everlasting, was adapted into two feature films and a Broadway musical. She received the Newbery Honor and Christopher Award, and was the U.S. nominee for the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1982.

Reviews

[Yvensong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book for young children and adults with a young heart! This beautiful hardcover book explores passive resistance, how social expectations influence family expectations, familial love, and compromise. It does so with flowing prose and very nice drawings.

I wish I had read this when I was young, though I suspect if this book had made its into my house, it would have been one of the few books my father would have prevented me from reading, with my mother's approval. You see, I was very much caught up in that conundrum of what I was supposed to wear and be like in contrast to my more tomboyish and rebellious desires. Eventually my parents didn't so much as compromise as give up.

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A silly rhyming story about a girl named Phoebe who is determined not to wear frilly, formal clothing and pink bows. Instead, she wants to dress like her father.

For her revolt, she refuses to get out of the bathtub once her mom throws a special party in her honor (which includes a dancing bear!!!).

I couldn't help but laugh because the picture of her sitting grumpily in the tub looks exactly like MY Phoebe who doesn't like getting her hair washed. 😂

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phoebe's Revolt is a feminist kid's book whose feminism is somewhat short lived. Eight year old Phoebe refuses to wear a dress, which, this book being set in 1904, was a crime punishable by being outcast by high society. Phoebe is invited to a nice party complete with a dancing bear. (Groan!!!!) But Phoebe will not bow! Instead she adamantly sits in a full bathtub and refuses to leave...unless she wears DAD'S CLOTHES! Dad Brown decides to use trick psychology on his daughter by allowing her to wear his starchy ensemble. For seven days. Seven days later, she's fine with the woolen skirts....for now, but you never know.
Since this book came out in the 40s, girls nowadays are, by and large, looking great in men's wear, even, dare I say, kinda hot in a Marlene Dietrich sorta way. Phoebe's Revolt of 1904 was merely the first shot in a revolution that was waiting to take off. With the sound of a popgun, yes
...but even popguns are a beginning of something bigger!!!
Three stars
Phoebe was born to Revolt!!!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

And if you think a child can't understand concepts like passive resistance you've clearly never been a child nor had a child!

Phoebe, eight years old in 1904, is fed up ribbons, ruffles, sashes, curls and wants only to dress like her father.

Her mother's solution is to throw a party to show her how silly she is, but that backfires miserably when Phoebe simply refuses to get dressed. Her father solves the problem - first having her wear a spare outfit of his, then reminding her mother of her own misery in her own clothes at that age. And there's a happy ending - her mother concedes the point and has a few outfits made for her daughter that are more practical.

This is a lengthy book, with complicated words; and the cause of Phoebe's distress is likely to go right over the heads of the younger children. As well, the black-and-white drawings may not hold their attention. Phoebe is eight, and this book is definitely better suited for the older end of the 5-8 group.

[Jim Sibigtroth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good read-aloud book for third grade classes but might be challenging for them to read themselves because of the vocabulary used. The entire book as written in rhyme yet clearly tells an involved humorous tale of a young girl's rebellion against frilly girls clothing. I especially like the questions at the end of the book which can be used to get a good discussion started.

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every mother will recognize herself and her daughter in this charming short story about a little girl that has simply had enough of being someone other than who she is and is determined to try out new things, even when things don’t turn out exactly they way we thought they would.

[Rana Adham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book!

[c · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5)

[Suzanne Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl in 1904 doesn't want to wear dresses covered in lace, frills and bows.

A sweet little picture book by one of my favourite author's. The story didn't end as I expected (or hoped) but I loved the illustrations.

[Darlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this through bookcrossing (BCID 306-10301321)and will send it out with my blessings. But here are my thoughts:

'It itches! It hurts! Stop pulling my hair! Mom, I can't wear this!' My mom put up with so much of that from me. So I was put in sailor dresses or Annie Oakley clothes. I still hate dressing up. I hate scratchy materials. And now that I have been diagnosed, I know a lot of that has to do with my fibro. What was the point of putting people in clothing that was uncomfortable and inconvenient. I still feel that way.

And I hated the la ti da ti da rhyming. If I weren't squirming enough for the scratchy clothing, the story had to last longer for staying in the rhythm.

Sorry to be a party pooper but I would have stayed in the bath, too! And having her run around in a shirt and not see how comfortable the pants could be seemed equally wrong. I did wonder at one point if the father was going to make her see that the cravat and vests, starched collar and hat hair might show both sexes uncomfortable.

I was not a tomboy, wasn't allowed that freedom. But I knew I would NEVER put my daughter in uncomfortable clothing. She did wear soft dresses until she could crawl after that pants were better. And if I did try to have her dress like a girl she protested as well. Nowadays she loves wearing sundresses as much if not more than pants. But she's built for pretty feminine clothes. Still, they are soft materials. And she is an adult who makes up her own mind.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this several years ago and was delighted by its language and illustrations. However, it didn't always go over as well with the children at the school. That's why it's getting four stars. I'm guessing I read it in the early 90s.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story, told in rhyme, about a little girl who did not want to dress in all the frills and ruffles of the time (1904). Natalie Babbitt's stories are always beautifully written and fun to read.