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Paintbox Summer
A seventeen-year-old girl spends a summer in Provincetown, working for Peter Hunt painting his gay peasant decorations, making a new group of friends, finding a new assurance and making a definite decision about her future.
- GenresYoung AdultRomanceTeen
192 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1949
1 person is currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Betty Cavanna
100 books61 followersAmerican juvenile author (full name: Elizabeth Allen) Betty Cavanna suffered from a crippling disease, infantile paralysis, as a child, which she eventually overcame with treatment and exercise. During her convalescence, attentive adults read to her until she was old enough to read to herself, beginning a long love affair with books.
Cavanna majored in journalism at the New Jersey College for Women in New Brunswick, from where she received the Bachelor of Letters degree in 1929. She also took art classes in New York and Philadelphia. Cavanna's first job was as a reporter for the Bayonne Times. In 1931 she joined the staff of the Westminster Press in Philadelphia and over the next ten years served as advertising manager and art director. She also wrote and sold material to Methodist and Baptist publishing firms. In 1940 she married Edward Talman Headley, with whom she had a son. They moved to Philadelphia. After her husband's death, she married George Russell Harrison, a university dean of science, as well as nonfiction writer, in 1957. He died in 1979.
Cavanna became a full-time writer in 1941. Since then she has written more than seventy books under the name of Betty Cavanna as well as two pseudonyms: Betsy Allen, under which she wrote the "Connie Blair Mystery" series, and Elizabeth Headley, under which she wrote several books, including the Diane stories. As Betty Cavanna she also published the nonfiction "Around the World Today" about young people living in various countries.
Cavanna's juvenile fiction, about the difficulties of adolescenc, appealed to generations of teenage girls. Her characters confronted loneliness, sibling rivalries, divorce, and tense mother-daughter relationships. Her books, although characterized as pleasant, conventional, and stereotyped, have been extremely popular and recommended by critics for their attention to subjects which have reflected girls' interests. Going on Sixteen and Secret Passage were Spring Book Festival honor books in 1946 and 1947.
In the 1970s Cavanna turned to writing mysteries, which she termed "escape fiction," because she said she felt out of sync with the problems of modern teenagers. Two of her books have been runners-up for the Edgar Allan Poe Award: Spice Island Mystery in 1970 and the Ghost of Ballyhooly in 1972.
She died in France (2001).
Cavanna majored in journalism at the New Jersey College for Women in New Brunswick, from where she received the Bachelor of Letters degree in 1929. She also took art classes in New York and Philadelphia. Cavanna's first job was as a reporter for the Bayonne Times. In 1931 she joined the staff of the Westminster Press in Philadelphia and over the next ten years served as advertising manager and art director. She also wrote and sold material to Methodist and Baptist publishing firms. In 1940 she married Edward Talman Headley, with whom she had a son. They moved to Philadelphia. After her husband's death, she married George Russell Harrison, a university dean of science, as well as nonfiction writer, in 1957. He died in 1979.
Cavanna became a full-time writer in 1941. Since then she has written more than seventy books under the name of Betty Cavanna as well as two pseudonyms: Betsy Allen, under which she wrote the "Connie Blair Mystery" series, and Elizabeth Headley, under which she wrote several books, including the Diane stories. As Betty Cavanna she also published the nonfiction "Around the World Today" about young people living in various countries.
Cavanna's juvenile fiction, about the difficulties of adolescenc, appealed to generations of teenage girls. Her characters confronted loneliness, sibling rivalries, divorce, and tense mother-daughter relationships. Her books, although characterized as pleasant, conventional, and stereotyped, have been extremely popular and recommended by critics for their attention to subjects which have reflected girls' interests. Going on Sixteen and Secret Passage were Spring Book Festival honor books in 1946 and 1947.
In the 1970s Cavanna turned to writing mysteries, which she termed "escape fiction," because she said she felt out of sync with the problems of modern teenagers. Two of her books have been runners-up for the Edgar Allan Poe Award: Spice Island Mystery in 1970 and the Ghost of Ballyhooly in 1972.
She died in France (2001).
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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August 31, 2012When I was in Jr High I devoured Betty Cavanna's books. Now as an adult I have reread some of them and decided they are like an old afghan, cozy and simple and comfortable. Her writing style is like watching an old Debbie Reynolds movie. But what stands out is how are strong and independent the heroines are, there is always a boy but most of their focus is on their own hobbies or interests.
April 18, 2009
This book may very well have been the beginning of my lifelong fascination -- obssession? -- with color and design. I don't have any idea how many times I carried this small book down the long staircase from the library and back again but likely a half a dozen times would be my guess. What a lovely memory came back to me in thinking of this book and searching out the title after all these years.
September 29, 2009
Like The Country Cousin, this book begins at the wedding of an admired older sister, and just as in The Country Cousin, the heroine is a somewhat insecure recent high school graduate who doesn't really know what to do with her life. And once again, she is rescued by an independent female relative who knows just the job for her to take for this crucial summer after high school (this time, it is Aunt Dotty). But Kate's dream summer job is in quaint, touristy Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod, working for folk artist Peter Hunt (a real artist in the 1940's through the 1960's). http://www.peasantvillage.com/Biograp...
SPOILER:
She falls for a handsome Portuguese fisherman whose life and dreams are very different from hers. That does not deter her, however, until he meets her friend Misty, a beautiful, domestic girl to whom he is immediately attracted. I would have liked to see this intercultural romance between Kate and Manuel play out, with all the challenges it would doubtless bring, but Cavanna plays it safe, and pairs her off with good-humored art student named Bill.
Still, it's an entertaining story, and the art studio background gives it a creative fillip.
SPOILER:
She falls for a handsome Portuguese fisherman whose life and dreams are very different from hers. That does not deter her, however, until he meets her friend Misty, a beautiful, domestic girl to whom he is immediately attracted. I would have liked to see this intercultural romance between Kate and Manuel play out, with all the challenges it would doubtless bring, but Cavanna plays it safe, and pairs her off with good-humored art student named Bill.
Still, it's an entertaining story, and the art studio background gives it a creative fillip.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2014
This sweet and innocent summer read is one of my favorite memories. Growing up we had certain books to be read in certain seasons, and this was a beloved book for summer vacation from about age 10 to age 18 or so. I remember just loving the descriptions of clothing and the gentle, sweet tone of the writing.
It may not appeal to pre teens today, as the issues it deals with are so dated in comparison to online bullying, teen pregnancy and school shootings. But older readers may love a delightful escape read for the beach and a trip back in time to a more idyllic age and time.
It may not appeal to pre teens today, as the issues it deals with are so dated in comparison to online bullying, teen pregnancy and school shootings. But older readers may love a delightful escape read for the beach and a trip back in time to a more idyllic age and time.
August 9, 2007
When my grandparents were going through their books to give away before they moved into their apartment, this book ended up in a box to donate. My mom picked this one up and handed it to me. She said it was her favorite growing up and that she read it every summer. It's one of those book that is about coming of age with a romantic twist.
September 2, 2018
One of Cavanna's best, I think,and it is not all that dated. Despite being published in 1949, it has a problem that transcends time: what to do with one's life after high school graduation. Follow the parental wishes and if not, how to go against them? Lots of good characters help the protagonist find her way. Other books I like on a similar subject (but I have not re-read recently) are Mary Stolz's The Seagulls Woke Me and Maureen Daly's Seventeenth Summer.
July 16, 2019
A charming book that I read while I was in junior high. I somehow managed to keep it all these years, and glad that I rediscovered it. Considered a "teenage book," what we would now call YA, I still enjoyed it as much as I did over 40 years ago. It took me back to lazy summers and desperately wanting to spend a summer on Cape Cod like they did in the book. I still want that!
February 1, 2008
I was in 7th grade when I read this, I think. I wanted to paint by the sea and have a summer romance after I read it. A cute story for young girls.
April 16, 2009
For Cavanna and Folk Art fans alike. The furniture shop and owner were real. Saw a piece of the furniture in a Plymouth antique shop shortly after reading this for big bucks...
February 20, 2016
A favorite of mine from when I was in grade school. I try to revisit this book every summer and really should own it! Published when my mom was a girl, I enjoy the sweet story!
March 15, 2021
such a gentle story. it's completely predictable, but so atmospheric that I don't mind.
September 5, 2021
The same breezy, matter-of-fact, third-person narration as Cleary's teen novels, but Kate is done with high school and is busy figuring out what kind of adult she wants to be, and so is somewhat less boy-crazy. She's very innocent & naïve, though, of course. And the word 'infatuation' is not used, but rather that romance is treated as 'first love' (which frustrates me greatly). Good enough ending, bearing in mind that women did not need to earn a living back then and went to college 1. to meet a young man who would provide a good living for them and 2. for 'enrichment.'
Young me would have liked it, though it would not have had particular relevance for me. I'd have liked learning about the artist's 'factory' of students and P-town and Portuguese fishermen, etc., and about what it was like to be 17 and away from family for a whole summer.
But I don't think it's worth tracking down, for any of you.
Young me would have liked it, though it would not have had particular relevance for me. I'd have liked learning about the artist's 'factory' of students and P-town and Portuguese fishermen, etc., and about what it was like to be 17 and away from family for a whole summer.
But I don't think it's worth tracking down, for any of you.
July 6, 2011
This is a book I read in high school, but I re-read it just because it is summer and this is a really summer feeling book. I enjoyed it then and I enjoyed reading it again. One of my favorite books.
February 10, 2017
4.5 stars
April 21, 2025
Year 2013. My friend and I were searching for books in the school library. Then she took out a small book from a corner, came to me, and said, "You're so gonna like it, Arshi. The book's so much like you — dreamy, romantic, artistic!" I got excited and put the book in my frock pocket and went out without anyone noticing! My friend and I laughed about it later as we went out. This has been one of our secrets during school life. Yes, I stole a book, I feel so sorry about it but not so sorry as I would have regretted it if I hadn’t taken it!
Paintbox Summer was my first favorite teen-romance novel. I still cannot forget the feeling when I read it. So much raw, pure, and innocence of love I found in that book. Kate's suppressed emotions about herself and her surroundings, how she experienced her artistic journey on a wonderful summer vacation, and beautifully expressed significant feelings — Oh! Everything was just magical to read and imagine. Maybe it touched my heart deeply as I pictured myself in Kate's place — a teen girl on a destination to find her passion, to love and value herself, as well as to find my person. ❤️
I gave away the book to someone whom I don't recall at all. I wish I kept it and reminisce about the moments again and again... My once upon a time: paintbox summer ✨
Paintbox Summer was my first favorite teen-romance novel. I still cannot forget the feeling when I read it. So much raw, pure, and innocence of love I found in that book. Kate's suppressed emotions about herself and her surroundings, how she experienced her artistic journey on a wonderful summer vacation, and beautifully expressed significant feelings — Oh! Everything was just magical to read and imagine. Maybe it touched my heart deeply as I pictured myself in Kate's place — a teen girl on a destination to find her passion, to love and value herself, as well as to find my person. ❤️
I gave away the book to someone whom I don't recall at all. I wish I kept it and reminisce about the moments again and again... My once upon a time: paintbox summer ✨
July 9, 2017
A childhood favorite, just re-read for the umpteenth time...
August 16, 2017
3.5 stars for personal enjoyment, but a good book--well written and with interesting Cape Cod details.
May 13, 2023
There is just something sweet about these vintage teen summer romance books, especially when they’re from decades ago.
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April 17, 2019Revisiting a favorite author from childhood.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews