Nice little story. We follow Sara, a little girl that was born into riches. She goes to London and joins a boarding school while her father is away doing his business in India. All goes well, and Sara lacks nothing, until her father dies and she is left penniless. The owner of the school is an unkind cold-hearted woman that dislikes little Sara and that shows even more when Sara's condition turns to the worse. Either during good fortune or in poverty, Sara always behaves well, and is kind to others. This doesn't go unnoticed by some people and help finally comes.
The story is filled with hope and it feels almost magical, however (and I guess this is the patronizing tone of the period) there are so many passages in the story that show how superior the white people feel toward people of other "colour" or poorer monetary condition, and that tone annoyed me. This was the part I didn't enjoy, but I guess the author felt herself superior and her condescending tone was normal at her time.
I saw the 1995 film many years ago and a few times after that, and it is quite magical, although a little different from the book, but I highly recommend it.
It is a lovely princess story, afterall.