One of our local supermarkets sells classic novels at a very cheap price. I'd bought "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri to read aloud to my 8yo daughter, but when I got it home and opened it, I was in for a shock disappointment. The story turns out to have been "adapted" for modern readers. In my opinion, this means that it's been slashed, shortened and stripped of its character. I went to our local library where I know they have the original "Heidi" and borrowed that one instead. Since then, I've been reading the 1880 version to Emma and glancing through the modern retelling to compare the differences between the two.

To start with, many of the wonderful descriptive passages of the Swiss Alps have been taken out. I wonder how Johanna Spyri would feel if she knew what'd been done. She had lots of very lovely parts of the story which dealt with Heidi being taught about God and His love for her and the way in which prayers are answered. For example, in Chapter 11, her friend Clara's grandmother explains, "If we go on praying earnestly and and never run away or lose faith, our prayers will be answered. You see Heidi, what you asked for was not good for you just at this moment. God has certainly heard you. He can hear everyone at the same time because He is God and not a human being like you or me.... You see, when someone behaves like you so that God never hears his voice among those who pray, He lets him go his own way. And when he gets into trouble and then complains, "There is no one to help me!" God says, "Why did you run away from me? I cannot help you when you run away!" And all of this totally complements the plot of the story. I love reading stories like this to the kids, which reinforce God's love and care for them, but do you think the modern adaptation of "Heidi" has left any of this in the story? I think you've guessed it. Not one bit. Every mention of God has been deleted, leaving a "Don't worry, everything'll be OK," sort of wishy-washy theme.

I'm beginning to understand why we, as homeschooling families, need to turn to the Internet to order to search for the good and excellent books of our childhood. Bookstores no longer stock most of them. I'm going to order the "real" edition of "Heidi" along with its sequels, online. Emma has proven that she enjoys the original version and didn't need to have it watered-down like that at all. Her friend was over to play yesterday, and I heard Emma mention the story. They were both having a glass of milk, and Emma told Hannah, "You ought to see the gross thing they used to do in the book we're reading! The grandfather squeezes milk straight from the goats into a cup for the little girl to drink from!" And Hannah groans, "Ough, YUCK!"  I sit there smiling to myself. Nothing will ever convince me that the good old books, untouched by 21st century hands, are not superior.