My answer immediately popped into my head, but I set it aside to mull others. Why that book? Maybe I should pick something more... what? Feminist or something science fiction or fantasy. Some unusual book that would make me -- oh, right. I was falling into that trap of wanting to sound all smart in my choices.
So, here it is, and I don't care if it IS a princess book!
A LITTLE PRINCESS was one of the formative books of my early childhood. So many of my ideas about story and the true meaning of being a princess - a gracious behavior that comes from the heart and not from circumstance - were formed by this book. From looking it up, I see that it's discussed as a fairy tale derived allegory, so I suppose it's no surprise this book sang to me. And, in fact, clearly set the foundation for me to love Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters and so many more of that tradition.
In fact, I'm buying a copy for my granddaughter for Christmas.
