Three Loves Has Sandy

by Amelia Elizabeth Walden

Another YA romance by Amelia Walden combines the right amounts of sports, hard work and young love for popularly palatable reading, set in the small New England town of New Sharon. Sandy, a girl with a mind of her own, is star of the girls' high school softball team and not much interested in boys, until Bill, from Wyoming, enrolls as a new student. He is a colorful character- wardrobe-wise and personality-wise, and liberal-minded enough in his own way to make Sandy sit up and take notice. Their relationship, born of mutual interests in baseball, and later in horses at the stable where Bill gets a job, is a freewheeling one of respect and independence that leads to satisfying rewards. Where Bill's insistance on complete honesty provides some sticklers for Sandy at first, she benefits from it and becomes her true self. Healthy fun.

Genres: Young Adult, Coming Of Age, Romance

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Amelia Elizabeth Walden was born January 15, 1909 in New York City, and died in 2002. After graduating from Columbia University in 1934, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, also in New York. From 1935 to 1945 she taught English and Dramatics at Norwalk High School, Norwalk, Connecticut. In 1946 Miss Walden married John William Harmon. This was also the year that her first book was published. At the request of her editor she revised the manuscript, entitled Gateway, to fit a new genre emerging at the time, called the "young adult" novel which was aimed at a post-adolescent but not yet adult audience, approximately ages 16 to 18. She is considered a pioneer in this area of American literature. Miss Walden found success writing for this audience, and commented, "I respond to young people because I remember my own adolescence so vividly - and fondly. It was a period of total involvement, of enjoying life to the hilt."

Miss Walden wrote over 40 novels published by McGraw-Hill, Lippincott, William Morrow, The Westminster Press, and Appleton Century-Crofts. She was residing in Westport, Connecticut when she died.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifty years ago when I was in grade school I used to love being able to choose books from the Scholastic Book Services. I notice they are still active, and while I suppose it would feel a little different these days, I think that the day the books arrive and the teacher passes them out would be just as exciting now as it was then.

Three Loves Has Sandy is one of the books I chose way back then. At some point over time my copy managed to disappear but when I discovered online used book buying I eventually searched for it so now here we are, after my reading it for the first time as an adult.

Did I still like it?

Yes!

This is a charming story about tomboy Sandy (officially Sandra, but don't you dare call her that!) and all the glorious things that happen to her during her sophomore year in high school. She is the star pitcher of the girl's softball team, she helps coach sandlot baseball, and she loves horses, although she can no longer go for riding lessons. Her mother died years ago and her father is gone most of the time, but she has an older sister and brother who raised her, as well as another older brother who seems to spend most of his time on the ham radio.

Now that the always rough freshman year is over, Sandy is excited about school and feels that this will be her year to shine. Then along comes Wyoming Bill, a transfer student from (duh) Wyoming. He's tall, handsome, knows as much or more about baseball as Sandy does, but he gets on her nerves. Or does he? Will Bill help Sandy become who she was meant to be?

Were there any issues that popped up while I read this as an adult?

Yes!

The fact that any man was necessary to help Sandy become who she was meant to be!

I believe a girl needs to create and maintain her own sense of Self, and should never allow any man to 'fix' her.

But I still loved this story and I am glad to have it in my library again.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another sentimental favorite. A fast pitch softball player who loves horses and a man with character. Doesn't get much closer to my heart. :-)

[Rebecca Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone left it in my Little Free Library and I opened it on a lark, expecting some ridiculous heroine and domineering man from the 50’s. But is wasn’t like that and the writer is very good. I read it in one sitting, and although the dated dialogue made me see the whole story as a black and white movie, I thought it was sweet.

[Oolookitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of her best. A lot of mansplaining for poor Sandy as the guy of her dreams continually disapproves of her behavior and gives her the cold shoulder until she changes to suit him. I foresee a frustrating marriage ahead for Sandy. ;)

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy, I know. But I never read when I was a child. But my 5th grade teacher had us pick a book from the library. I chose this because it was my name! I guess it must have been pretty good, because I still remember the name of this book and think about it as one of the reasons I thought I might pick up another book one day.

[Clover White · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, vintage read, where the boy is more mature and a better all-around person than the silly girl. Not a bad book, but a bit dated. I have a bunch of books by this author, and I'm not sure whether I'll be keeping them or not.

[Janeal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book the summer of my eighth grade year, one of my first reads for just pleasure.

[Kim Kaso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book when I was 12 or so, 1 of my first romance books. Was crazy about horses then, loved the character and the way the author caught the awkwardness of first love. Read it over and over, remember all those adolescent feelings.

[Sheila]

My favorite book from childhood! Just rediscovered it!

[Peggy Williamson]

I read this when I was twelve and remember it to this day. I love reading.