by Cindy Walker Burton

Time had obviously not been kind to her. She was old, worn, and not very attractive. You know the kind. Rough around the edges. Kind of dull and disheveled. Perhaps mistreated, with an appearance that definitely looked defeated. She was probably not worth anyone’s time; not even worth a second glance. You know the kind. I judged a book by its cover.

Now that I’ve made that public confession, I have some explaining to do. The book I judged was not a person. It was an actual book. (Readers, this is where you exhale in relief.) I discovered this ancient-looking hardback book while going through my late mother’s belongings in February 2023. I almost dismissed it entirely, thinking it might be worthy of tossing. It wasn’t remarkable in appearance, but the title caught my eye: “A Bunch of Cherries” by L.T. Meade. I opened the yellowed pages carefully and gasped audibly when I saw a first edition publishing date of January 1, 1898. I was holding a genuine antique treasure!

I quickly researched the author. Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith (pseudonym L.T. Meade) was born June 5, 1844, in Bandon, Ireland. She began writing at age 17 and wrote over 280 books in her lifetime including books for young girls, mysteries, romance, historical novels, and religious stories. Her first book, “A World of Girls,” was published in 1886 and sold 37,000 copies.

“A Bunch of Cherries” is a story about a group of girls at Cherry Court Boarding School and explores themes of friendship, rivalry, and personal growth. They navigate the complexities of adolescence, academic pressures, social rivalries, and individual issues. It showcases the power of friendship and community. Sounds like a modern day movie to me! It was as relevant in 1898 as it is in 2025.

I was definitely wrong to judge this gem of a book by its frayed, threadbare cover. It was obviously dear to my mother, and it is dear to me. I loved reading it, savoring each page, and applying it to my own life experiences. Lesson learned: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. You may miss out on the story of a lifetime.