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Amazon.co.uk Review
Anyone who has ever entertained the notion of "little people" living furtively among us will adore this artfully spun classic. The Borrowers--a Carnegie Medal winner, a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award book, and an ALA Distinguished Book--has stolen the hearts of thousands of readers since its 1953 publication. Mary Norton (1903-1993) creates a make-believe world in which tiny people live hidden from humankind beneath the floorboards of a quiet country house in England.
Pod, Homily and daughter Arrietty of the diminutive Clock family fit out their subterranean quarters with the titbits and trinkets they've "borrowed" from "human beans", employing matchboxes for storage and postage stamps for paintings. Readers will delight in the resourceful way the Borrowers recycle household objects. For example, "Homily had made her a small pair of Turkish bloomers from two glove fingers for 'knocking about in the mornings.'"
The persistent pilfering goes undetected until a boy (with a ferret!) comes to live in the country house. Curiosity drives Arrietty to commit the worst mistake a Borrower can make: she allows herself to be seen. This engaging, sometimes hair-raisingly suspenseful adventure is recounted in the kind, eloquent voice of narrator Mrs May, whose brother might--just might--have seen an actual Borrower in the country house many years ago. (Ages 9 to 12) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Beautifully written, poetic and almost always alarming, the Borrowers have something very mysterious, sad and exciting about them (Sunday Times )
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First Sentence
IT WAS Mrs. May who first told me about them. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
IT WAS Mrs. May who first told me about them. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Unknown to the humans who seem to rule the Earth, they actually share the world with a race of little people, the Borrowers. Living beneath the floorboards, and anywhere else they can remain unseen, the Borrowers live by "borrowing" what they need from the "human beans." This is the story of one family (Pod, Homily and Arrietty Clock), their life in a spacious home, their borrowing, and their efforts to stay unseen. But Arrietty wants to see what else there is to life, and she is going to see it!
This is such a wonderful book. The story is charming, with the illustrations showing a realistic (if tiny) family. My children loved this story, and even have developed some games based on the story. If you have children, then please consider buying this book for them.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I never read the Borrowers as a kid, but I do remember seeing them on telly. When I came across an old copy at a fleamarket the other week, I decided to read it. Being an adult I still enjoy children's books, as so many of them now are "cross overs" that works well for both adults and kids. This one however, is made only for children. Though I did enjoy the story, and it's witts, it moves forward in a pace PERFECT for youngsters (7-9yrs). But it gets boring for us "grown-ups" after a while. Never the less, the book is a classic, and it is not a classic for nought. It IS good, funny and charming. And I am planning to read the next installment as well.
It tells the story of a family of borrowers, little people, just like you and me, that lives under the floor of an old house. They are the size of mice, and get by from things "borrowed" from the big people. Of course being out on a hunt for things to borrow is very very dangerous. You might be seen by the "giants" (us) or get cought by cats and many other dangers that lurk. It aint easy being safe when a doormat looks like a big field with high grass!!!
M. Norton is very good at describing just that, how things would feel and look when you're the size of a teaspoon!
It tells the story of a family of borrowers, little people, just like you and me, that lives under the floor of an old house. They are the size of mice, and get by from things "borrowed" from the big people. Of course being out on a hunt for things to borrow is very very dangerous. You might be seen by the "giants" (us) or get cought by cats and many other dangers that lurk. It aint easy being safe when a doormat looks like a big field with high grass!!!
M. Norton is very good at describing just that, how things would feel and look when you're the size of a teaspoon!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I cannot believe that no-one has reviewed this classic! I adored it as a child (it was a wonderful explanation of the mystery disappearance of household objects)- the idea is very appealing, plus the style of the narrative is down to earth and so keeps away from the potentially cloying 'fairy' idea (the borrowers themselves are scornful of the subject). It is a great addition to the children's bookcase- an enjoyable discovery or re-discovery depending on the age of the 'child'.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Al clev
The Borrowers is a book that would really make people want to read more. Arietty is the one
who would want to go on the most exciting adventures. Read more
who would want to go on the most exciting adventures. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Aly C
excellent service
Book arrived within 24 hr even tho it was just before Christmas
these are extra words so that my review can be accepted
these are extra words so that my review can be accepted
Published 3 months ago by xxx
THa Borrowers
Kept a 11/12yr old and her Dad who had never heard the story before quiet on long car journey - I loved hearing the story again. well recorded too.
Published 21 months ago by Sommie
The Borrowers
If this hasn't been heard, or you have read the book, listen to the audio. Its comical with all the voices. Read more
Published 23 months ago by streetlamp
The Borrowers
Great story, my granddaughter loves this as a bedtime story and during the day she has started a model of a room in the borrowers home.
Published 23 months ago by Mrs. Alyson Farr
Imaginative
The Borrowers is about Pod and Homily and the thirteen-year-old Arrietty, a family of tiny people, just a few inches high, who live under the floorboards of an old country house in... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2008 by kehs
What would they "borrow" from your home?
Have you ever pondered where your hairclips, bobby pins and thimbles have gotten to? Do you wonder why small quantities of your father's tobacco and Madeira seem to smoke... Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2007 by Zoe Brillantes
A Joy
An absolute classic, written for the slightly brighter child than most novels of it's time, so it unfortunately may be lost on most kids nowadays. Read more
Published on 7 July 2007 by T. Milnthorpe
overrated
I'm sorry but, as hard as I tried to get into this book, I found it incredibly dull and boring. Really badly written too. Give me a modern book any day.
Published on 2 Aug 2006 by Jiltedjohn
Like the film only much better: The borrowers by Mary Norton
This book is excellent because it is imaginative yet exciting. The borrowers are tiny little creatures that borrow stuff, they never steal! Read more
Published on 29 May 2003 by "friendsrulesall"
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