The noise and crowded buildings of the city cut her off from the natural world that she had come to love and fill her with sadness. Heidi tries to make the best of her new situation, but pines away with homesickness for the Alps, her grandfather, and her friends. Her life takes a unexpected turn when her aunt suddenly arrives on the mountain and whisks her away to become a companion to a sickly, rich little girl living in Frankfurt. She makes fast friends with everyone she meets, including Grannie, Peter's blind and sickly grandmother, whom she cheers up with her innocent chatter and natural optimism. At home, she helps to keep her hut tidy and to make cheese from the milk that Daisy and Dusky, her grandfathers goats, provide. She runs about all day with Peter, a young goatherd, exploring the forests and playing with the animals.

Heidi spends a few years living with her grandfather in the mountains, enjoying the breathtaking scenery. It doesn't take long, however, for little Heidi, with her inquisitive nature and joyful spirit, to win his heart and soften his gruff exterior. His troubled past and grief over his son's death have made him quite reclusive, earning him the nickname 'Uncle Alp' among the people that live in Dörfli, the nearest village.

Heidi is only five years old when she joins her grandfather, who lives in an isolated little hut high up in the mountains. Heidi is the story of a little Swiss girl who is sent to live with her grandfather after her parents pass away.

When I saw that one of the Back to the Classics categories was to read a children's classic this year, I knew that I wanted to find another sweet novel to enjoy, so I chose Heidi by Johanna Spyri. Whatever the root of my fascination, I can't help but fall headfirst into these sorts of books. Maybe it's all the talking animals that tend to pop up. Maybe it's the depiction of goodhearted young heroes overcoming the odds, or maybe it's the simplicity of seeing kids being happy and kind to everyone. I don't know what it is about these innocent little stories that draw me in. The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, The Chronicles of Narnia, Black Beauty, and Little Women are just a handful of books like this that hold a special place in my heart. I happen to have a predilection for classic, squeaky-clean children's books.

Heidi by johanna