I Met a Boy I Used to Know

Katie Rose and Stacy Belford #4

by Lenora Mattingly Weber

Book by Weber, L. M.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Lenora Mattingly, though born in Missouri, lived most of her life in Denver, Colorado. In 1916 she married Albert Herman Weber and was the mother of six children.

Weber's first book, Wind on the Prairie, was published in 1929. From 1930 through 1962 she wrote short stories for magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, McCall's, and Good Housekeeping. Her last book was published posthumously in 1972.

Lenora Mattingly Weber’s favorite topics included the Denver area, horses, and teenage girls. In 1943 the first Beany Malone book, Meet the Malones, was published. Beany Malone became Weber's most well-known creation, featured in 14 books and appearing as a minor character in the Katie Rose Belford and Stacy Belford series.

Reviews

[Barbara Irene Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenora Mattingly Weber's formula for writng teenage romance books includes young coming of age heroines, who though flawed try to do the right thing; large families with conflict among siblings; over whelmed single parents; romance with less than worthy suitors; constant striving for imagined ideals followed by the realization that what they already have is what was wanted in the first place. These themes provide very satisfying reading about the world of teenage angst. In "I Met a Boy I Used to Know," Katie Rose is drawn to a new boy in high school, Gilmartin Ames, a young, swaggering, self-centered cowboy, who proves irritating from the start. He gets himself into a lot of trouble because of his attitude, yet at the same time Katie sees a softer side that attracts her to him. The conflict in their relationship is the basis for this well written story. What I especially like about Ms. Weber's writing is the way she provides food for thought for her readers. My favorite quote from this book is on page 33, "...poets are men or women who have the gift of putting into words the longing, despair, or ecstacy other people feel but can't find words for." I like this quote as I am one who lacks talent for writing poetry and have learned to appreciate writers who have that gift.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insomnia-induced re-read. This story was published in '67. Of course I never noticed, at twelve, old Lenora's attempts to be kind of with-it in the Beatles era . . . She makes a reference to Salinger, for example. (Also never thought twice about single Uncle Brian moving to San Francisco and joining a theater group as extracurricular fun.) I didn't pick up on the fact that Gil is a full-on manipulator and Katie Rose's relationship with him constitutes an object warning to young women: these types are no good and never will be! Don't get hornswaggled! As usual Katie Rose's big brother and high school friends are preternaturally mature and free of insecurities. They all see right through Gil! All in all, I just love the way the Belfords and Jeanie care about each other and so easily say/do the right thing. I always wish I could travel in time to the Denver of Beany's day.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably the weakest LMW book in all of the Malone and Belford books. Gil is a downright awful, but unbelievable, character. Katie Rose acts more like Beany than herself in her blind helpfulness to Gil. The road trip in the end was highly similar to Beany's Beckoning Road, making the third Katie Rose plot stolen from a Beany book.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

This story is a great example of how someone can be narcissistic and not see it and somehow other people get blamed for their actions.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite of the Katie Rose books, but it was still a pretty fun read. Gil and Katie Rose kind of reminds me a little of Norbett and Beany, except Gil is even more annoying. Speaking of Beany, the road trip part reminded me a lot of [title: Beany and the Beckoning Road]. Basically, everything goes wrong, but in the end it all works out okay.

Like a lot of Lenora Mattingly Weber's books, there are some good messages woven in here. Katie Rose's takeaway at the end of the book is that "suffering is learning" (286), to not judge and gossip about others (286), and that you should always be able to respect the person you are dating and that he/she should build you up and inspire you to be a better person…not the other way around (292).

I totally hope Miguel and Katie Rose get together. I think this book’s ending makes it pretty clear that they will.