I loved Heidi as a child - she was one of my favourite protagonists in the 'little orphan girl done good' sub genre of YA literature from the 1800s. However, I don't think I would have picked it up again if I hadn't fallen in love with the Puffin in Bloom collection and bought them all (# sucker for a pretty face).

Did I love it as much as 9 year old Sarah did? Of course not. But I'm still glad I read it again if only for the stunning imagery of living in a little wooden cabin perched upon the Swiss alps. Oh for some sweet smelling hay and prancy goats in my life. Heidi is also such a great character - she's not ridiculously soppy Pollyanna-sweet, but she's sassy and golden hearted.

One thing I didn't remember about the book though, was how God-heavy and preachy it is! I guess all the bible quoting flew over my head when I was a kid, but it was hard not to roll my eyes reading it now. I get that's a mark of the time it was written in, most of these old children's classics are parables full of religious lessons. As an atheist who embraces a secular life, that would probably prevent me from reading Heidi to my future children, unfortunately.