Name: ICHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-05T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-07T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Bourbonnais, IL

Tagged: Elsie Dinsmore

This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 5 months ago by lmbutler.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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June 19, 2010 at 2:53 am
trulyblessed26
Participant
Hi there, 🙂
I happened across some books called the Elsie Dinsmore Classics Collection. It was in a section for girls literature. Have any of you read these? Are they living books? Are they good? If so, what age is good for both read aloud and quiet reading? Thank you for any help!
June 19, 2010 at 3:03 am
Rachel White
Participant
The entire hardback set is on sale, half-price, at Vision Forum till midnight on the 19th, tomorrow. 12 Hardbacks for $90.00.
Rachel
June 19, 2010 at 4:52 am
trulyblessed26
Participant
Thank you for the sale tip. I read some reviews on Amazon and there are some really strong 1 star bad reviews. I am thinking I might want to pass on these now..
June 19, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Sonya Shafer
Moderator
We enjoyed the series (1-12) once we got past the first book. The first one is a bit intense before Elsie and her father reconcile.
June 19, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Rachel White
Participant
I also think that many modern people’s sensitivities get offended by time period language and attitudes that are apparently present in the book. Basicly, the book is just by today’s race standards instead of taking it within it’s context. For example, I bought an unabridged Jungle Book and there was a warning at the beginning of the book about the racial attittudes and sterotypes presented within do not reflect todays standards (I’m paraphrasing, but you get the point).
I suggest looking for the them used and buying them and reading them yourself or outloud with your dd to edit and/or discuss, but choose those from Vision Forum. I forget why, but there’s a reason I forgot long ago.
Rachel
June 19, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Betty Dickerson
Participant
We have only read the first two, but my daughter had a really hard time relating to Elsie because she was so perfect. Elsie never sinned in the book. Her conscience was so very sensitive that my daughter was discouraged because she was not like that.
I would like to have her read some of the later ones to see if that changes and if my daughter still feels the same way, like Sonya suggested. It’s so hard to find godly books for girls. Maybe my daughter’s reaction is not that common, but I hope you have a good experience with it.
June 20, 2010 at 12:59 am
Rachel White
Participant
Something I can definitely recommend are the ‘girl’ oriented Lamplighter books (actually all of them, but some veer more towards one sex or theother and sometimes it doesn’t matter) http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/departments.asp?dept=6
and these from Grace and Truth, assuming your dd is from 8-12: My dd enjoys-The Girls Heritage Series:http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/category/the-girls-heritage-series
and my son and dd read from the Charcter Building Collection:http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/product/the-childrens-character-building-collection-set-of-11-titles
Lastly, these that I haven’t read, but are familiar with some of the titles: http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/category/character-classics
All of these you can get individually.
Rachel
June 21, 2010 at 2:50 am
trulyblessed26
Participant
Thank you for all the tips and resources! You ladies are always so helpful and giving of your wisdom! 🙂
June 21, 2010 at 5:09 am
mjibben
Member
My daughter has read all 12 of the newer version and also we purchased the new/used set of the original books, because we found such a great deal on ebay. She really loved them and has probably reread them a couple of times. Funny thing was that through her reading she became familiar with geneologies and started making up her own for her stories. Have you ever noticed how much more you get out of a book, in terms of learning, when they are read together to discuss? There is so much richness that is easily brought out through the reading of these books. There is an endless supply of rabbit trails to go on together. I would agree with Rachel, who commented on reading these aloud together. It may be that some girls need to work through some things in their own little hearts and this could be a tool in your hands. I would also recommend, should anyone out there really enjoy these books, the newer Life of Faith series. They have a few series of books that are a take-off from Elsie. A couple that I can think of are “Millie” and “Violet”, etc. My daughter has equally enjoyed these as well.
October 29, 2010 at 2:00 am
Sanveann
Member
I have to admit, I started reading the first one and thought the writing was terribly overwrought … in fact, I am far from an expert, but I might even go so far as to deem it “twaddle” in my own humble opinion, lol! I’d much rather (if I had girls) have my daughters read the “Anne of Green Gables” or “Little House” books.

Also, some families may want to be aware that this series is known for containing some very anti-Catholic sentiments.
November 18, 2010 at 8:23 pm
masonsmommy
Member
I cannot excuse the racist elements and some of the archaic views but there are some updated/ cleaned up versions that are womderful. They are still living books in my opinion and change very little except what I wouldn’t want my children reading anyway.
This website has the elsie books along with tons of other historical fiction classics with female heroines who exhibit faith and a host of other virtues. I LOVE this material and have led clubs at church. http://www.alof.com/ ALOF stands for “A Life of Faith.”
For those who are skeptical about rewritings and revisions of older works, this site is worth your time to check out if you have daughters, or if you are a reader who loves a whimsical, real heroine like I do!
Heather <><
November 19, 2010 at 6:37 am
lmbutler
Member
We have read some of the books and have found them quite delightful. Yes the language used is far different than what is used today. However, we have done well with them. We read them together as a family and then we discuss them. The children have really enjoyed them.