Going Steady

Sally & Jean Burnaby #2

by Anne Emery

This is the sequel to Anne Emery's popular book SENIOR YEAR, which left Sally Burnaby riding on pink clouds because Scotty had given her his "pin" and they were going steady. It is the story of what happens after that--the other side of "happily ever after."

Sally looks forward to a carefree, happy summer with nothing to do but be with Scotty. But she soon discovers that the world does not stop for couples in love and that there are--though at first she can hardly believe it--disadvantages to going steady.

GOING STEADY will be welcomed by teenagers, for Mrs. Emery tackles a problem that is of foremost importance to them and of utmost concern to their harried parents. She faces it squarely, showing its dangers and pitfalls rather than glamorizing it as a rosy, blissful state. The author treats the question of "true love" with the understanding sympathy, the proper amount of humor, and the dignity that teenagers respect.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Anne Emery was born Anne Eleanor McGuigan, in Fargo, North Dakota, and moved to Evanston, Illinois, when she was nine years old. Miss McGuigan attended Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. Following her graduation from college, her father, a university professor, took the family of five children abroad for a year, where they visited his birthplace in Northern Ireland, as well as the British Isles, France, Switzerland, and Italy. Miss McGuigan spent nine months studying at the University of Grenoble in France. She taught seventh and eighth grades for four years in the Evanston Schools, and fourth and fifth grades for six more years after her marriage to John Emery. She retired from teaching to care for her husband and five children, Mary, Kate, Joan, Robert, and Martha.

Anne Emery wrote books and short stories for teen girls throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Her understanding of the lives of teenaged girls creates believable stories and characters that are readable and re-readable!

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this when I was a kid, probably because I didn't think Scotty was very interesting or attractive (I still don't), and Sally comes off as sort of dumb (that's why I like Jean better), and there isn't any cool stuff like making skirts or skipping school to go to Chicago or working in a department store. But I like it now, for showing how easy it is for a teenager to get into a serious relationship with someone who is a fine person, but totally the wrong one. And I like that the two who do get married are shown realistically but basically positively. I DON'T like that Sally eventually ends up marrying the very next boy she meets, but that's a minor quibble.

I love it when Sally finally bursts out with "I hate big, soft, fat cookies!" after spending a day with Scotty.

But here's a question I've never been able to resolve satisfactorily: are we, or are we not, supposed to think that Millie and Joe eloped because Millie was pregnant?

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to "Senior Year". Sally and her boyfriend Scotty are "pinned" and Sally is looking forward to a lazy summer. This is a very realistic book. In "Going Steady" Sally and her boyfriend Scotty decide to skip college and the careers they planned for themselves and get married at Labor Day. Their parents are horrified and Sally can't believe that they aren't supportive because she is so in love. He has a summer job as a mail carrier and she is working in the university office copying things, stuffing envelopes, etc. Instead of saving her money she goes out and buys a beautiful vase for $48, showing that she is immature. She was resentful through most of the book because they always did things that Scotty liked and she hated but I knew this wasn't going to work out when she met a guy in the office who asked her for a date. She thought that she should have told him she was going to be married in a few weeks but she didn't want to tell him that she was through with dating forever. Visiting a H.S. friend who eloped opened their eyes- a cramped little hot apartment, the two of them frazzled, and a baby on the way. Young love portrayed in reality.

I can remember those teenage days when the sight of the guy you loved made your heart skip a beat and you couldn't wait to marry him but as an experienced adult I can see why the parents were horrified. And I'm still with that guy 50+ years later. Hearts skipping beats are of concern these days. LOL!

[Amy Sjoquist]

1964 edition.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally is so pleased when she and Scotty get pinned right before high school graduation, but it's too easy to get wrapped up in the one relationship and not being able to view things clearly. It's funny how Sally is both smarter and more stupid than Jean simultaneously - she makes fewer obvious mistakes, but still ends up where she shouldn't be. I don't remember Scotty being so bland and controlling later, so hopefully he matured out of it or it just came through because he and Sally were so ill-suited. Millie and Joe were a great contrast to them and an interesting look at a young marriage.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 1950's, this teen novel by Anne Emery focuses on the pros and cons of going steady. The central character Sally Burnaby is the oldest child of a large, active traditional family. She is thrilled when she becomes pinned to her boyfriend Scotty shortly before high school graduation. I found Scotty to be an irritating and controlling person. Scotty gives Sally constant advice. He suggests that she hone her tennis and diving skills. He suggests books for her summer reading. These "recommendations" affect Sally's self-esteem; she often feels inadequate and depressed after their dates. When Sally is invited to Scotty's home, he treats her like any other guest, rather than a girlfriend. Despite their relationship flaws, they discuss forgoing college and plan to be married in the autumn. I found the description of Sally's summer job (clerical work at the local university) to be interesting. Sally regards the work (stuffing envelopes and typing registration cards) to be dull and tedious. She often makes errors and is reprimanded by the brusque and efficient Carol Colbert. As the summer progresses, Sally re-evaluates her goals and evolves into a stronger person. The themes of this 1950's youth novel are relevant today.

[Sarah TheAromaofBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit on the slow side, with a LOT of Sally being kinda angsty about her relationship with Scotty and whatnot, but overall a pleasant story with a good message about growing up and learning to be independent.

Note: You can read my review for the full series on my blog - https://thearomaofbooks.wordpress.com...

[Kerri (Book Hoarder) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huh.

I hadn't thought about this book in *years* but something brought it to mind (I can so easily picture the cover!) And I appreciate that I was actually able to find it, unlike some other books that I read as a kid where I can't remember what they were called or who they were by.

Thinking back on this book, I feel like it had a surprising amount of feminism in it for a book that was written in the 50's. The author may have just wanted to take on the subject of 'going steady' but in doing so there's also an examination of the route that so many women went down without really considering the alternatives.

That being said, I haven't read this book in YEARS so forgive me if I don't remember the whole plot - and may not be completely accurate! As a teen I quite liked this book, though.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

In true Anne Emery fashion - she leaves us starry-eyed and going steady in the previous book, and as soon as "Going Steady" begins, we know this isn't going to work out.
Of course, if their whole summer was hearts, flowers and malt shop dates, I guess that wouldn't be very interesting. This was a good read about how young love can get too intense where you lose yourself, friends and think you need something even more serious for the wrong reasons - in this case, independence from parents.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have the book, and the pages are still tight, so I probably didn't read this one many times. (It wasn't unusual for me to read a book 5 or 6 times.)

It begins ...
The mock orange bushes beside the house were heavy with sweetness of the summer's first bloom, and the branches bent low with masses of white blossoms. Sally Burnaby leaned her head against the back of the glider, thinking what fragrances meant to her. Lilacs would always bring back ...

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always amazing to me when I read books from this era featuring high school students or recent grads who are engaged or married, but I guess that’s what at least some people did back in 1950. I liked this book for the way it dealt with some serious issues without being too dark or negative. And I definitely want to see what happens next to the characters.

[Guusje · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite "malt shop" novels!

[P Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as fun as the first book in the series.

[Cheryl Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually humourous, although it's not supposed to be. Romance in 1950. Earning $30/week at a full-time job. Yikes!