Wuthering Heights

by Betty Ren Wright (Adaptation), Emily Brontë

Set on the stormy moors of northern England, this classic novel is filled with the cruel and ecstatic love between the characters Heathcliff and Catherine. As they grow together as children and later as lovers, the conflicts of class and an all-consuming passion overwhelm the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights. The all-star cast of performers includes Claire Bloom and James Mason as the doomed lovers.

48 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1847

About the author

Betty Ren Wright was an award-winning author of children's fiction including The Dollhouse Murders, The Ghosts Of Mercy Manor and A Ghost in The House.

Known for her ghost stories and mysteries, Wright published 28 children's novels between 1981 and 2006, as well as picture books and short stories. Prior to pursuing her career as a full-time author in 1978, she worked as an editor of children's books.

Wright lived in Wisconsin with her husband, painter George A. Fredericksen, until her death in 2013.

Reviews

[Catherine in Space · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the story I would have chosen to adapt for early-chapter book readers, but it's a surprisingly good adaption, and the pictures are beautiful. The characters are captured relatively well, but the spirit of the moors and the foreboding atmosphere of the original text is missing.

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book club read for 2026. Going to see the movie when it comes out.
A short classic. Will need to get and read the actual, unabridged copy.

[Alexis Neal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a CHILDREN'S version--adapted by Betty Ren Wright. At first, I was horrified by the idea of telling this story to children, especially if Heathcliff and Catherine's relationship were portrayed as true love. "Love means destroying the person you care about most in the world and then ruining the lives of everyone around you. Now go and have a healthy attitude toward relationships." But the adapter does a decent job of showing the awfulness of Heathcliff. I'm still not sure it is appropriate for kids--pretty dark stuff, even in this glossed over version--but at least she gets the general point across.