Sara Crewe: or, What Happened at Miss Minchin’s Boarding School is the 1888 serialized story Frances Hodgson Burnett eventually turned into the popular novel A Little Princess, which was published in 1905. Much of the plot is the samea little girl with a wealthy father is left at a boarding school in London, while he goes abroad. Sara is a charming and popular girl who’s fortunes reverse when her father dies, apparently without money. Sarah is treated cruelly by the headmistress of the school, but her fortunes take another turn when a watchful neighbor takes an interest in her.
Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924) was an English-born author of romances and books for children. After moving to America in 1865, she established a popular reputation with the publication of That Lass o’ Lowrie’s in 1877. She is best known for such novels as Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess, and The Secret Garden.
Bobbie Frohman, a third generation Californian, was raised in a large extended family, the niece of cowboys. Early on she developed a deep love of animals, training her dogs to perform with her at dog shows, and as a competitive barrel racer with her beloved horse, Lucky.