Dear Enemy

Judy Abbot, the heroine of Webster's DADDY LONG-LEGS, has purchased her "alma mater," the unhappy John Grier Orphanage, and places it into the hands of her college roommate, Sallie McBride. Sallie considers herself as flibbertigibbet and arrives at the school with her pet chow dog and a personal maid, determined to stay only a few months until she can marry her fiancé, an up-and-coming young lawyer/politician. However, Judy is wiser about Sallie than she is about herself, and Sallie grows to love her position, releasing the children from the browbeating institutional regime that they have previously followed and devising all sorts of new schemes like camps for the older boys that will help the children when they eventually go out into the world. Sallie also runs afoul of the orphanage's dour physician, a Scotsman named Robin MacRae, but as the story progresses, they become each other's ally as well as antagonist (it is from her salutations to him in letters that the title of the book derives). The book contains, unfortunately, the unsettling and bigoted theories of eugenics as practiced in the early part of the 20th century. It's a bit startling and depressing today to hear college-educated adults like Sallie and Dr. MacRae talking about heredity as something that overwhelmes upbringing, so that an alcoholic's child will always need institutionalizing because he will "naturally" crave alcohol, and watching Sallie sending handicapped children away to asylums because they don't belong with "normal" children. But this was the prevalent attitude at the time, and it doesn't keep Sallie or MacRae from actually breaking from the trends of the time. In particular, there is a girl named Loretta who is what we would call today "mentally challenged." Instead of banishing her to an asylum, Sallie sends her to live with a kindly farm family who basically act like one of today's residential homes for people with Down syndrome. Loretta is treated kindly, blooms into a happy young woman, and learns to do many things rather than spending the rest of her life rocking back and forth in an institution. With all the eugenics twaddle disposed of, what a great story is left: spoiled college socialite finds a social conscience and career, helps children, and eventually finds love with a man who has had some tough times in his life. There is a appealing subplot about three children who have just become orphaned, and a couple want to adopt just the little girl, not her older brothers. Sallie and MacRae quarrel because she at first thinks having the little girl adopted without her brothers would be an accomplishment, but as the doctor protests, Sallie must weigh breaking up the siblings, who are very close, or losing the little girl a good home where she will be given all advantages. Sallie also grows emotionally, becoming dissatisfied with her fiance who merely expects her to be ornamental. A wonderful tale, told in a lively epistlatory format, with some heartbreaking

I am a fan of Judy Abbott and Daddy Long Legs, but I loved Sallie's letters more! Judy asks her to be the superintendent of the John Grier Home. And Sallie puts her reforms into the practice. The book is consist of Sallie's letters to Judy, to the asylum's doctor, and to her boyfriend. I find this red haired, fierce, Irish girl Sallie and her letters very exciting , funny and humorous. I enjoyed this book a lot, also it is nice to learn somethings more about Judy and Jervis's wedded life.

This book captivates you from the beginning and quickly has you turning pages. The letters, written by Sallie McBride from the orphanage while engaging, are also intriguing because they reveal only one point of view. But Jean Webster masterfully builds characters through Sallie's letters. As a mother of a child from an orphanage this book tugged at my heart. But you need not be an adoptive mom to enjoy this book.

Sure DLL was the one that got famous and was a lovely,captivating book as well...but somehow I seem to prefer Dear Enemy. A bit predictable like DLL but I love Sallie's style of writing...it's so natural and original. Besides the orphanage is a very interesting thing to read about...I especially like being in the lives of making up dozens of lives. A grouse though is that Judy seems to alien and far away because Sallie's letters are all there are and no replies....and she doesn't tell me enough about Judy aside some sentences here and there. I hardly know Judy Junior who isn't elaborated properly. Allegra is a dear though! ;-)

This sequel to the classic "Daddy-Long-Legs" follows Sallie McBride through a year running her friend Judy Pendleton's orphanage. Less well-known than "DLL," "Dear Enemy" is really a better book. This is not a cutesy portrayal of orphans, but an amazingly honest look at the serious, even tragic price kids can pay for their parents'-- and society's -- shortcomings. But there's plenty of fun and humor, and a wonderful realistic-yet-romantic storyline about the importance of making a wise choice. If you want a quality story for girls, Sallie's self-confidence, independence, and intelligent optimism make her a top-notch role-model. Women readers could find a lot to love about this book, too.