Mandy

I read Mandy as a child and remember loving it. I just reread it and still think it is a wonderful book, especially for girls wanting adventure and independence. Mandy is an orphan, who at 10 becomes dissatisfied with the sameness of her life at an orphanage. Although the matron, staff, and other children are all kind and nice, Mandy longs for something more. She isn't sure what it is but it starts her wandering from the orphanage and leads her to discover an abandoned cottage over the wall. Mandy then sneaks off as much as possible to her cottage to garden and work on the cottage. She finds herself in trouble as she is less than honest about where she is spending her time. Of course it all works out in the end and satisfies the desire for a "happy-ever-after" ending that children like.