CHILDREN'S CLASSICS:READING ABOUT rich New York girls such as Blair Waldorf or youthful superspies such as Alex Rider is all very well when times are good, but sometimes something more down to earth is needed for those who are worried about their family's finances or feel the recession will never end. These classic novels tell the stories of children who experience dramatic changes and economic hardship but come out smiling. And, as Oswald says in E Nesbit's The Treasure Seekers, "real life is often something like books."
The Story of the Treasure Seekersby E Nesbit (1899): Mr Bastable has lost all his money, so his six children decide to restore the family finances: they dig for treasure, sell wine and even become bandits. Nesbit basically invented the modern children's novel; the well-meaning Bastables are still as real, and as funny, as they were when this book was first published, 110 years ago. And Oswald Bastable remains one of literature's greatest narrators.
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild(1936): Money, or the lack of it, features prominently in almost all of Streatfeild's books. The three Fossil sisters in Ballet Shoesattend Madame Fidiola's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training out of financial necessity, and, like most of Streatfeild's theatrical child characters, they begin professional work as soon as it's legally possible. Streatfeild's characters always adopt a sensible and imaginative approach to their financial problems, making her books inspiring comfort reads.
The Silver Sword by Ian Serrallier(1956): Their house has been destroyed and their parents taken by the Nazis, but Ruth, Edek and Bronia keep themselves alive in occupied Warsaw through their bravery and ingenuity. When the war is over they join a street kid named Jan on a journey to Switzerland to find their parents. A gritty and moving story that puts most of today's problems into perspective.
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett(1904): Is there any more noble heroine in children's literature than Sara Crewe? When her father dies and leaves her a penniless orphan, Sara, the prize pupil at Miss Minchin's school, becomes a lowly skivvy. But although she's lost her money Sara hasn't lost her spirit or her imagination, and her determination to carry herself like a little princess keeps her going until her fortune is restored. The scene in which Sara's bleak garret is transformed into a cosy haven by a mysterious visitor is one of the most satisfying in fiction.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole(1982) and The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole(1984) by Sue Townsend: Being an angst-ridden, bad-poetry-writing teenager is bad enough, but Adrian Mole also has to contend with the harsh financial realities of Margaret Thatcher's Britain. This causes hardship when his dad loses his job, and bills go unpaid, but also inspires some of Adrian's greatest poetry ( Waiting for the Giro, Mrs Thatcher). There is real pathos in the Mole books, and that's what makes them so great. That and finding out just what you can get for 50p and a bunch of grapes.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens(1861): Young orphan Pip has always lived with his bad-tempered older sister and her kindly blacksmith husband, Joe. But when he visits the mysterious (and rich) Miss Havisham he becomes ashamed of his humble roots. And when an anonymous benefactor grants him a fortune, so that he can finally become a "gentleman", he turns his back on his old friends. Spooky, thrilling and funny, Great Expectationsis a perfect introduction to Dickens and a timely reminder that there are more important things in life than money and status.
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith(1948): Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain may live in a castle, but her family is anything but rich; her eccentric father is an acclaimed author who hasn't written a word – or earned any money – in years. I Capture the Castleis Cassandra's witty and unsentimental account of how the Mortmains' lives are slowly transformed by the arrival of two charismatic Americans. It's a book for anyone who is young, poor, fed up and yearning for something exciting to happen.
Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson(1957): Moomins usually hibernate, but one year young Moomintroll wakes up too early and finds himself in an unfamiliar, lonely world of snow and ice. Jansson's writing is often melancholy, and she doesn't shy from depicting Moomintroll's isolation and fear. But he gradually learns to adapt to his new circumstances – and spring returns in the end.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl(1964): Charlie Bucket's family are so poor that all four of his grandparents have to share one bed. When Charlie finds a golden ticket in a chocolate Wonka Bar he gets the chance to visit Willy Wonka's sweet factory, along with four more wealthy, and much less pleasant, children. But they all come to sticky ends – except Charlie. Dahl's sweetly nasty classic provides plenty of Schadenfreude and a poor but plucky hero.
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder(1940): Laura Ingalls and her family have settled near the Dakota town of De Smet. But when the worst winter in decades hits, the residents of the tiny township are snowed in for months, without access to fresh food supplies. Based on the author's childhood experiences during the winter of 1880, this is both a thrilling story and a fascinating glimpse into the realities of life on the American frontier.
Anna Carey is a freelance journalist
