The story in one page
Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin's London boarding school as a privileged pupil. When her father dies, she is stripped of her belongings and forced into a life of servitude within the school's attic. Despite chronic hunger and harsh treatment, she maintains an elaborate mental reality of being a princess. Her fortune changes when a mysterious neighbor begins covertly providing for her needs, eventually reuniting her with a life of comfort and ensuring that a former fellow beggar finds steady work.
Who's who
- Sara Crewe
A girl who maintains her dignity despite changing fortunes.
- Miss Minchin
The school headmistress who prioritizes money over student welfare.
- Becky
A scullery maid who becomes Sara's unlikely companion.
- Ram Dass
The Indian gentleman's servant who facilitates Sara's secret recovery.
What it's really about
- Mental resilience
- Using imagination to survive material deprivation.
- Social hierarchy
- The precarious line between wealth and destitution.
Why it's memorable
- Sara sharing her bread with an equally starving stranger.
- A dark face peering through the attic skylight at night.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Sara ensures that the beggar girl who once shared her hunger is given a stable home and employment. She then drives away with her new benefactor.
For your book club
- Why does she choose to act like a princess when she is a servant?
- Does her optimism feel like a coping mechanism or a genuine trait?