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Penny Parrish #3
Glory Be
Penny and Carrol begin to face more grown up problems in this Penny Parrish story yet never lose sight of their excitement and fun for life. Penny celebrates her eighteenth birthday with her friends and continues her celebration with a New York shopping trip with Carrol. Their fun is interrupted by the tragedy of Pearl Harbor. The two friends muster the courage and character that they have developed over their youth so they may face the heartbreak and uncertainties that war brings.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 1943
2 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Janet Lambert
158 books42 followersJanet Lambert, born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, was a popular girls' story author from 1941 through 1969 (and beyond to today). She wrote 54 books during that time about a number of different girls and their families. Her most popular series were about the Parrishes and the Jordons. These stories, and many of her other series, became entwined as the various characters met each other, married, and then had children of their own!
Janet, having an interest in both the theater and writing, decided to write her own plays in which to act. She did achieve her goal and appeared on Broadway. When she married a career Army officer, her life on stage came to a close, but her stories were still flowing. Knowing well the "life of the Army," many of Ms. Lambert's books are set on Army posts throughout the United States.
Legend has it that her stories started as bedtime stories for her children while they were overseas. Each night, the author would tell the next "installment" of the series. Later, after her kids were grown, she penned one of her stories (Star Spangled Summer) and—according to legend—it was sold to a publisher the very day after she sent it to them.
Janet, having an interest in both the theater and writing, decided to write her own plays in which to act. She did achieve her goal and appeared on Broadway. When she married a career Army officer, her life on stage came to a close, but her stories were still flowing. Knowing well the "life of the Army," many of Ms. Lambert's books are set on Army posts throughout the United States.
Legend has it that her stories started as bedtime stories for her children while they were overseas. Each night, the author would tell the next "installment" of the series. Later, after her kids were grown, she penned one of her stories (Star Spangled Summer) and—according to legend—it was sold to a publisher the very day after she sent it to them.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 17, 2026
I don’t usually enjoy books that make me cry because of something that happens, but this one is one of those rare ones. I just want to hug all the characters, okay, NOT two of them who aren’t very nice, but Penny, Carrol, David, and the others. World War Two starts in this book and we see some of the reactions and thoughts. It’s not all serious by any means! How could it be with Penny around? A delightful book in the Penny Parrish series.
There are some euphemisms used, and I think one swear word. This is not a Christian book.
There are some euphemisms used, and I think one swear word. This is not a Christian book.
October 3, 2014
This is book #3 in the Penny Parrish series. I am really enjoying these books and I must say that this one made me weepy. I rarely cry over books.
Penny celebrates her 18th birthday and is looking forward to beginning a career in theater when World War II brings the USA into it with the bombing at Pearl Harbor. Colonel Parrish, Penny's dad, is sent to England. Now without a home, Carrol Houghton's father offers his mansion to the family. David is graduating from West Point and will presumably be joining the war. Everyone is growing up. David and Carrol become engaged and marry at the end of the book. I'm fearful that something will happen to either David or his father in the war. At least one of their many Army friends is sure to be killed or wounded. But to read them in order I must read the first Jordan book next.
Penny celebrates her 18th birthday and is looking forward to beginning a career in theater when World War II brings the USA into it with the bombing at Pearl Harbor. Colonel Parrish, Penny's dad, is sent to England. Now without a home, Carrol Houghton's father offers his mansion to the family. David is graduating from West Point and will presumably be joining the war. Everyone is growing up. David and Carrol become engaged and marry at the end of the book. I'm fearful that something will happen to either David or his father in the war. At least one of their many Army friends is sure to be killed or wounded. But to read them in order I must read the first Jordan book next.
November 12, 2013
So with this 3rd book, published in 1943, we finally have mention of WWII, most specifically the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of the reasons I love reading these books is that it's like being a time traveling anthropologist (Though I understand that these most likely truly reflect life in the 40's as Leave it to Beaver truly reflected life in the 50's)
Some interesting things to note:
1. Carroll has a dog named Marmaduke (this precedes the famous comic strip dog by at least a decade).
2. The continued use of the word "drag" in place of date. (I tried google, but haven't been able to find this as common usage)
3. Carroll at one point said to Penny: "Oh, Allah! What are you going to do?"
Some interesting things to note:
1. Carroll has a dog named Marmaduke (this precedes the famous comic strip dog by at least a decade).
2. The continued use of the word "drag" in place of date. (I tried google, but haven't been able to find this as common usage)
3. Carroll at one point said to Penny: "Oh, Allah! What are you going to do?"
January 14, 2013
Book 3 in the Parrish family series. WWII begins and Colonel Parrish is shipped off to England leaving his family sharing the elegant home of the Houghtons as they had to relinquish their on post west point home. David is close to graduation at West Point and will no doubt join the was.
Wonderful story
Wonderful story
July 10, 2019
Good things: great picture of family life, family members really treating each other mostly like what I grew up with, which I have been told flat out by people isn't possible...the fact that back when, an author would be able to tell a story and use dialogue this way, tells you it's possible (i.e. it's not just me). Good enough length and keeping the action going; humorous and yet has some depth to it with the serious plot points.
Less-good things: the racism! At least, whether or not you really have to race to the ribbon first to label things in this book as racist (since that label actually means a certain set of things these days, which isn't totally exactly what the problem is in this book), yes, there is something about it that, what else do you call it? I was taught to call exactly these things racism. So that doesn't mean what it means, always, in 2019, but what there is is sad, yes. And, for all the depth that the book does achieve, it still does feel about like a Nancy Drew book--pretty superficial, really, when you're reading this book for the first time as an adult. I can imagine that possibly it would have seemed more impressive at the age at which I was devouring Nancy Drew. But maybe not.
There's slightly more I could say for each side, but this can just remind me what this book is about.
Less-good things: the racism! At least, whether or not you really have to race to the ribbon first to label things in this book as racist (since that label actually means a certain set of things these days, which isn't totally exactly what the problem is in this book), yes, there is something about it that, what else do you call it? I was taught to call exactly these things racism. So that doesn't mean what it means, always, in 2019, but what there is is sad, yes. And, for all the depth that the book does achieve, it still does feel about like a Nancy Drew book--pretty superficial, really, when you're reading this book for the first time as an adult. I can imagine that possibly it would have seemed more impressive at the age at which I was devouring Nancy Drew. But maybe not.
There's slightly more I could say for each side, but this can just remind me what this book is about.
March 29, 2018
Once you enter Penny Parrish's world it can be hard to leave it!
This book adds the info that in addition to Mrs. Parrish's sewing and spending time with her kids (while Trudy does the cooking and cleaning and extra baby sitting) Mrs. Parrish also takes frequent naps.
A bit tough to see these smart, interesting girls--Penny and Carrol--completely disregard college. Not realizing how that experience could benefit and enrich their lives and make them more dimensional people, even as they saw the boys go through the college experience at West Point.
At least Penny wants a "career" rather than a rush in to marriage--despite the pressures on her to move into marriage, even from her mother. And everyone seems to be okay with this career--because it is acting. Perhaps because acting looks fun and glamorous from the outside? Perhaps because the thought is Penny may spend a few years at it but then she will settle down? These people are YEARS away from contemplating a daughter that wants to be a doctor, a lawyer, a career army officer.
This book adds the info that in addition to Mrs. Parrish's sewing and spending time with her kids (while Trudy does the cooking and cleaning and extra baby sitting) Mrs. Parrish also takes frequent naps.
A bit tough to see these smart, interesting girls--Penny and Carrol--completely disregard college. Not realizing how that experience could benefit and enrich their lives and make them more dimensional people, even as they saw the boys go through the college experience at West Point.
At least Penny wants a "career" rather than a rush in to marriage--despite the pressures on her to move into marriage, even from her mother. And everyone seems to be okay with this career--because it is acting. Perhaps because acting looks fun and glamorous from the outside? Perhaps because the thought is Penny may spend a few years at it but then she will settle down? These people are YEARS away from contemplating a daughter that wants to be a doctor, a lawyer, a career army officer.
February 24, 2017
Penny's turned 18 and ready to embark on beginning her future career as an actress. She's not quite certain how to begin, but writing to the actress she once met leads to meeting and Penny becomes a protege! The Parrish and Houghton families face a myriad of issues: news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor brings the realization that the military members of the family will most likely end up in this world war, young David is on the verge of graduating from West Point, the families face the loss of a dear member, and love blooms for David and Carrol.
Okay, I'll admit I did a lot of crying with this one. Tears of sadness and tears of joy...
Okay, I'll admit I did a lot of crying with this one. Tears of sadness and tears of joy...
October 9, 2018
Last week, I attended my critique class where someone shared a poem so disgusting, so vile, if I were to tell you about it, Goodreads would kick me off the site! So I ran home and opened this sweet book to ease my soul. Of course, it wasn't well written or structured-- the author hurried it along and threw in so much random stuff--someone dies, someone marries, someone goes off to star on Broadway. But it did have a belief in humans to overcome their circumstances and do the best they could that it soothed my soul. Oh, and I quit my critique class. :)
June 1, 2018
Not quite as good as #2, I think. I like the focus on David and Carrol, but felt like the whole book was about and then the wedding. Also, a bit of a difficult read for me as I recently lost my mother.
Also, I don't really care for Terry and I hope Penny winds up with Michael. :-)
Also, I don't really care for Terry and I hope Penny winds up with Michael. :-)
June 25, 2017
More insomnia reading.
April 25, 2020
Third in the "Penny Parrish" series, this story seemed shorter than the others, but that was okay with me. The plot moves quickly, the characters are interesting, and I enjoyed seeing Carrol and David get married.
These books are a glimpse back in time, revealing clearly to me how much times have changed. Sometimes in good ways, some not so much. I found myself horrified by how many fur coats, hats, and jackets these girls accumulate during the first three books (the fur garments all happened before the attack on Pearl Harbor, mind you). They spoke of their furs with such fondness--which seems rather macabre to me, considering the horrid deaths of the original owners of those gorgeous furs. Yet this is how people thought back then, and some still do. Furs were a sign of wealth and prestige.
Another shocker was the casual way the main characters dumped the paper cups and bags from their picnic into the river as "clean up." I confess, I gasped in horror.
Others have mentioned the role of black servants in these stories. Trudy the cook is beloved by the family and an important part of every celebration in their lives. Yet we never learn if she has a family of her own. The orderlies who serve the family at each base get less respect and remind me of the "colored folk" in movies from that time period, not only uneducated but childlike and simple.
I do appreciate Penny's determination to pursue her career, and I don't expect her to marry anyone in later books who doesn't respect her as an actress--Yay, Penny! Yet the overall attitude toward women, despite the author's being a successful career woman herself, is rather patriarchal.
On the positive side, the boy/girl friendships and romances were, although probably idealized, far sweeter than the current model. Couples dated as part of a group without claiming each other, and David and Carrol kept physical things mostly at a friendship level even after affection had been expressed--one kiss when she becomes officially "his girl" and none again until he proposed three years later. Penny, although pursued by two different attractive young men in these first three books, keeps them at arm's length--and they respect her for it! She never leads them on but communicates honestly. A pretty good role model for any teen girl. Wish I had read further in the series when I was young! But at ages 13-17, I thought most boys were disgusting dweebs and was too shy even to speak to any I admired, so it probably wouldn't have done me any good. Ha!
Again I loved the glimpse into the world of West Point and army life. Although as a former military-officer's wife I know for certain that this glimpse was through rose-colored glasses, I nevertheless appreciated the respect for our country, its flag, and its military traditions.
Anyway, it's a fun series for anyone who enjoys a glimpse into the past.
These books are a glimpse back in time, revealing clearly to me how much times have changed. Sometimes in good ways, some not so much. I found myself horrified by how many fur coats, hats, and jackets these girls accumulate during the first three books (the fur garments all happened before the attack on Pearl Harbor, mind you). They spoke of their furs with such fondness--which seems rather macabre to me, considering the horrid deaths of the original owners of those gorgeous furs. Yet this is how people thought back then, and some still do. Furs were a sign of wealth and prestige.
Another shocker was the casual way the main characters dumped the paper cups and bags from their picnic into the river as "clean up." I confess, I gasped in horror.
Others have mentioned the role of black servants in these stories. Trudy the cook is beloved by the family and an important part of every celebration in their lives. Yet we never learn if she has a family of her own. The orderlies who serve the family at each base get less respect and remind me of the "colored folk" in movies from that time period, not only uneducated but childlike and simple.
I do appreciate Penny's determination to pursue her career, and I don't expect her to marry anyone in later books who doesn't respect her as an actress--Yay, Penny! Yet the overall attitude toward women, despite the author's being a successful career woman herself, is rather patriarchal.
On the positive side, the boy/girl friendships and romances were, although probably idealized, far sweeter than the current model. Couples dated as part of a group without claiming each other, and David and Carrol kept physical things mostly at a friendship level even after affection had been expressed--one kiss when she becomes officially "his girl" and none again until he proposed three years later. Penny, although pursued by two different attractive young men in these first three books, keeps them at arm's length--and they respect her for it! She never leads them on but communicates honestly. A pretty good role model for any teen girl. Wish I had read further in the series when I was young! But at ages 13-17, I thought most boys were disgusting dweebs and was too shy even to speak to any I admired, so it probably wouldn't have done me any good. Ha!
Again I loved the glimpse into the world of West Point and army life. Although as a former military-officer's wife I know for certain that this glimpse was through rose-colored glasses, I nevertheless appreciated the respect for our country, its flag, and its military traditions.
Anyway, it's a fun series for anyone who enjoys a glimpse into the past.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews