Paperback Castles

There is no doubt in my mind that "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a perfect classic. It's even in the title, as this story is clearly dedicated to every little girl who ever dreamt of being a princess.

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren’t pretty, or smart, or young. They’re still princesses."

If I had read this book when I was younger, it would probably have been my favorite book of all-time, as it combines all the elements of my dearest childhood fantasies. The long and detailed descriptions of pretty lace dresses and endearing porcelain dolls would have made me sigh deeply with longing, and the numerous imaginative wonders such as befriending rats and pretending to be a prisoner in the Bastille would have won me over in a heartbeat.
And then as the cherry on top, there's the grand finale; a sugary sweet miracle with a fairytale-like happy ending, almost equal to the fate of my beloved Cinderella.