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Odd
Betty Stuart is the middle child of five and is always feeling left out. With two elder siblings and twins after her, she doesn't have anyone to "couple" with, so she's always alone on games that need pairs. Perhaps when the children spend a summer in the countryside, she will figure out how to be good and find some way of not being the odd one out anymore.
- GenresChristian Fiction
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1897
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Amy Le Feuvre
162 books53 followersAmelia Sophia Le Feuvre (1861-1929) was born in Blackheath, London, England in 1861.
She grew up in a large family which employed a governess for the children's education. Her father worked as a Surveyor at H. M. Customs. Her grandfather, James Mainguy, was a reverend in Guernsey.
She dedicated her life to writing and wrote many books and stories that are filled with Biblical principles and her popularity began in the 1890s and continued for over three decades. She also wrote for magazines like 'Sunday at Home' and 'The Quiver'. Her writing was typical of the new approach of the evangelical writers to the young reader and, like many of the writers of the period she was particularly fond of the "quaint" child, "old fashioned" with delicate health, a type modelled on Paul Dombey. She also wrote of family life, specialising in the outwardly naughty child, the odd one out, whose motives are consistently misunderstood by the adults.
Her publishers included Revell in Chicago, Dodd Mead in New York, the Religious Tract Society in London, and Hodder and Stoughton in London and latterly the Lutterworth Press kept her works in print.
She died at Exeter, Devon, on 29 April 1929 after 68 fruitful years.
Her first book, 'Eric's Good News', was published in 1894 and her last, 'A Strange Courtship' was published posthumously in 1931. She wrote more than 65 books in her career, including at least one, 'Laddie's Choice' (1912), using the pseudonym Mary Thurston Dodge.
Note: Her exact date of birth is not known, she was born in the first quarter of 1861 so the date of 1 March has been used for convenience.
She grew up in a large family which employed a governess for the children's education. Her father worked as a Surveyor at H. M. Customs. Her grandfather, James Mainguy, was a reverend in Guernsey.
She dedicated her life to writing and wrote many books and stories that are filled with Biblical principles and her popularity began in the 1890s and continued for over three decades. She also wrote for magazines like 'Sunday at Home' and 'The Quiver'. Her writing was typical of the new approach of the evangelical writers to the young reader and, like many of the writers of the period she was particularly fond of the "quaint" child, "old fashioned" with delicate health, a type modelled on Paul Dombey. She also wrote of family life, specialising in the outwardly naughty child, the odd one out, whose motives are consistently misunderstood by the adults.
Her publishers included Revell in Chicago, Dodd Mead in New York, the Religious Tract Society in London, and Hodder and Stoughton in London and latterly the Lutterworth Press kept her works in print.
She died at Exeter, Devon, on 29 April 1929 after 68 fruitful years.
Her first book, 'Eric's Good News', was published in 1894 and her last, 'A Strange Courtship' was published posthumously in 1931. She wrote more than 65 books in her career, including at least one, 'Laddie's Choice' (1912), using the pseudonym Mary Thurston Dodge.
Note: Her exact date of birth is not known, she was born in the first quarter of 1861 so the date of 1 March has been used for convenience.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 23, 2018
The story of a young girl in late 1800s Britain. It was on its way to hitting my favorites list because of the story and Betty's engaging character, but something sad happened and then the story ended pretty abruptly after that. I wanted to know what happened to her afterward.
One thing I love seeing in Amy Le Feuvre's books is how she can take one verse out of the Bible, then have a child take it overly literally (as in, sometimes entirely out of context) and then have adults explain the meaning kindly over the course of the story. This focuses on "Those who have come through tribulation."
I loved Betty's innocent assumption that no one could possibly wish to reject God and how her innocent comments made a difference in the people around her. Betty is learning more about God even while going about her daily life and being a normal, flawed, exuberant child.
I did cringe over Nurse's punishment techniques and over how the parents were so absent from their children's lives.
One thing I love seeing in Amy Le Feuvre's books is how she can take one verse out of the Bible, then have a child take it overly literally (as in, sometimes entirely out of context) and then have adults explain the meaning kindly over the course of the story. This focuses on "Those who have come through tribulation."
I loved Betty's innocent assumption that no one could possibly wish to reject God and how her innocent comments made a difference in the people around her. Betty is learning more about God even while going about her daily life and being a normal, flawed, exuberant child.
I did cringe over Nurse's punishment techniques and over how the parents were so absent from their children's lives.
August 3, 2018
Probably would have given this three stars except for the fact that I ended the book crying. I can handle books that make me cry--not so much books that end by making me cry. Just a personal preference, obviously, but still...
As usual, Amy Le Feuvre crafts a main character who is unique, engaging, and real and whose profound effect on the adults around her is more a result of her childish frankness and blissful unconsciousness than any specific desire of doing them good. While I love parts of her unique approach, I sometimes have trouble with the fact that her books are so much more descriptive than prescriptive. I know that sounds terrible after everything that's been said against heavy-handed didactic fiction, but it does bother me a bit. As an adult, it's fairly simple to parse out the children's odd plays, strange fancies, and misunderstandings, but many of these are never explicitly corrected or fully cleared up (to the children in the book or the readers), and I'd be a little hesitant to give the book to a child without careful oversight to make sure they came away with the right message.
2.5 stars
As usual, Amy Le Feuvre crafts a main character who is unique, engaging, and real and whose profound effect on the adults around her is more a result of her childish frankness and blissful unconsciousness than any specific desire of doing them good. While I love parts of her unique approach, I sometimes have trouble with the fact that her books are so much more descriptive than prescriptive. I know that sounds terrible after everything that's been said against heavy-handed didactic fiction, but it does bother me a bit. As an adult, it's fairly simple to parse out the children's odd plays, strange fancies, and misunderstandings, but many of these are never explicitly corrected or fully cleared up (to the children in the book or the readers), and I'd be a little hesitant to give the book to a child without careful oversight to make sure they came away with the right message.
2.5 stars
April 26, 2024
În limba română, cartea are ca titlu "Fetița care vrea să ajungă în Rai". Mi se pare un titlu foarte bine adaptat.
Betty este un copil sensibil și mereu lăsată deoparte din jocurile fraților ei mai mici sau mai mari până când primește un cățel pentru a avea și ea "o pereche".
Inocența lui Betty urmărește un verset din Biblie pe care îl consideră reprezentativ pentru cei ce doresc să intre în rai. Pasajul biblic se referă la cei care au necazuri în viață și drept urmare vor merge în rai. Ceea ce nu-și dă seama Betty este că tocmai prin cățelul ei mult iubit va avea și ea parte de primul necaz din viață.
O carte tare simpatică despre inocența copilăriei și dorința de a urma lui Dumnezeu.
Betty este un copil sensibil și mereu lăsată deoparte din jocurile fraților ei mai mici sau mai mari până când primește un cățel pentru a avea și ea "o pereche".
Inocența lui Betty urmărește un verset din Biblie pe care îl consideră reprezentativ pentru cei ce doresc să intre în rai. Pasajul biblic se referă la cei care au necazuri în viață și drept urmare vor merge în rai. Ceea ce nu-și dă seama Betty este că tocmai prin cățelul ei mult iubit va avea și ea parte de primul necaz din viață.
O carte tare simpatică despre inocența copilăriei și dorința de a urma lui Dumnezeu.
July 28, 2024
A sweet children's book about a girl ~6 years old.
February 20, 2017
Great fun. The children were entertaining and not too pi and although there were the usual tropes of accidental adult conversion and tragic back stories leading to separated lovers and embittered parents these were incidental. The author knew what was expected and gave it but fell short of filling all the stereotypes. We found it today in a charity shop and have enjoyed it very much!
October 15, 2014
"Really liked it" for the way it spoke to me right now. There are some deep truths caught up in this children's story that many an author would shy away from. (and some untruths too. . .) But for me, just now, it was just right.
August 10, 2012
I really enjoy these classic books.
January 3, 2017
I read an old, American edition, titled 'The Odd One', beautifully illustrated by Mary Lathbury. About the escapades of a little girl, half angel, half tomboy, who feels she does not belong.
July 4, 2023
Odd is a story told from the perspective of a young child, Betty, but through the lens of her experiences actually tells the story of the adults around her. Without giving away too much, Betty is used by God to help others as she works through the very deep subject of her “text” from Rev 7:14. Betty must also go through her own personal tribulation by the end of the story.
To address the concerns raised by others, I would say that end is not overly sad or abrupt. It was appropriate given the heavy nature of the book’s subject.
To address the concerns raised by others, I would say that end is not overly sad or abrupt. It was appropriate given the heavy nature of the book’s subject.
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November 25, 2021Touching!
Nice story with likable charters. The plot was great for this crazy holiday season. It was very simple and kind
Nice story with likable charters. The plot was great for this crazy holiday season. It was very simple and kind
April 6, 2022
Great book!
I picked this at random from a list of my books. I truly believe that this was sent to me by the One Who sends us what we are in desperate need of!
I picked this at random from a list of my books. I truly believe that this was sent to me by the One Who sends us what we are in desperate need of!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews