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WARNING! To follow is a highly illustrative review/plot summary of the book Daddy-Long-Legs.

As a kid, I totally loved the cartoon Judy. I actually miss it sometimes, but then thanks to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, I discovered that it all started with a book.


Jerusha Abbott is an orphan at the John Grier Homes. She always gets into trouble and has been overstaying for two years. She works her stay by taking care of the younger ones. She's actually scared that they might turn her out, but one day, Miss Lippet calls Jerusha to her office. On her way, she sees a man's shadow who appears to have extremely long legs.


As she enters Miss Lippet's office, Miss Lippet tells her that she is to be sent to college by an anonymous man, whom she could call Mr. John Smith, which is of course is an alias.

Jerusha is very thankful. She sends Mr. John Smith letters on almost about anything, ranging from her studies and silly exploits and how a foundling like her strives to keep the secret of her roots. The letters, some silly, some serious, some showing what she learns, but all are funny and touching.She calls him Daddy Long Legs since his shadow is all that she could tell of him.


She does very well at school, ends up being called "Judy" and gains friends, Sally Mc Bride (the one with glasses) and Julia Pendleton (blonde).


But despite the constant sending of Mr. John Smith of gifts, she can't help but be depressed writing to someone who never writes back. A girl couldn't help but cry.


Ah hah! Then she meets Jervis Pendleton, a rich uncle of her classmate Julia Pendleton. Jervis understands her, and in some way, they have the same flow of thinking.


But somehow along the way, she happens to fall in love with him, despite the 14 years age gap.


And ah, the ending is so refreshing. I remember feeling the same amount of lightheartedness, because the ending is so touching.

And now that it's over, I look wistfully like this:

Well not as cute as that, but teary eyed since my longing for the cartoon is somehow eased, but still there.

Daddy-Long-Legs is a sweet tale, not just of romance, but also how an orphan girl strives and blends in the normal world. Judy is a heroine that is very admirable and whom everyone must set an example of. She is strong and hardworking. And her roots never interfered with her dreams, and she somehow made it an inspiration to aim higher. And also, she is not perfect, and as she constantly points out, she is just a girl of whom all of us could relate to.

But somehow, I couldn't get enough of this, so, off to get a copy of the sequel Dear Enemy.

But who is Daddy-Long-Legs? Read to find out :D