I really enjoy Spyri`s writing style and the way she crafts adorable characters and conveys love for the country life. This book is about the attempt to make a civilized young woman out of Cornelli and that is were the problem start. Part of the book is extremely frustrating: the two women trying to improve Cornelli are terrible at their job, which is intentional, however seeing the young, formerly friendly girl suffer and none of the, normally loving, adults around her stand up for her does not make for a great reading experience. I just think Spyri went a bit to far with it. There is also the story of a friendship and a more competent attempt at raising Cornelli in the story and most of the characters I really liked, though how her life is almost ruined before leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, even if it does lead to a good moral.