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Greensleeves
For eighteen-year-old Shannon Lightley, life’s been an endless parade across Europe, following either her actress mother or her renowned journalist father. Paris, Milan, London—Shannon has been everywhere, but somewhere along the way, she realizes she’s really…nowhere.
Having graduated from high school and about to board yet another flight for yet another destination, Shannon is offered an alternative: stay in Portland, Oregon, with her parents’ close friend and help his law firm investigate a group of strangers living near the local university. A will with a substantial inheritance is being contested, and Shannon’s task is to gather information on the unlikely recipients of the money.
Using an assumed name and working as a waitress in a diner, Shannon finds herself entirely on her own for the first time in her life; and as the long summer days go by, she tries to sort out who she really is and what her future holds.
Originally published in 1968 and newly released as part of Nancy Pearl’s Book Crush Rediscoveries, Greensleeves is a smart and timeless tale of how far people must go to find themselves.
Having graduated from high school and about to board yet another flight for yet another destination, Shannon is offered an alternative: stay in Portland, Oregon, with her parents’ close friend and help his law firm investigate a group of strangers living near the local university. A will with a substantial inheritance is being contested, and Shannon’s task is to gather information on the unlikely recipients of the money.
Using an assumed name and working as a waitress in a diner, Shannon finds herself entirely on her own for the first time in her life; and as the long summer days go by, she tries to sort out who she really is and what her future holds.
Originally published in 1968 and newly released as part of Nancy Pearl’s Book Crush Rediscoveries, Greensleeves is a smart and timeless tale of how far people must go to find themselves.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1968
101 people are currently reading
2038 people want to read
About the author
Eloise Jarvis McGraw
36 books311 followersEloise Jarvis McGraw was an author of children's books. She was awarded the Newbery Honor three times in three different decades, for her novels Moccasin Trail (1952), The Golden Goblet (1962), and The Moorchild (1997). A Really Weird Summer (1977) won an Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America. McGraw had a very strong interest in history, and among the many books she wrote for children are Greensleeves, Pharaoh, The Seventeenth Swap, and Mara, Daughter of the Nile.
McGraw also contributed to the Oz series started by L. Frank Baum, writing with her daughter Lauren Lynn McGraw (Wagner) Merry Go Round in Oz (the last of the Oz books issued by Baum's publisher) and The Forbidden Fountain of Oz, and later writing The Rundelstone of Oz on her own. The actual writing of the books was done entirely by Eloise; Lauren made story contributions significant enough for Eloise to assign her co-authorship credit.
She lived for many years in Portland, Oregon before dying in late 2000 of "complications of cancer".
McGraw was married to William Corbin McGraw, who died in 1999. They had two children, Peter and Lauren.
-Wikipedia
McGraw also contributed to the Oz series started by L. Frank Baum, writing with her daughter Lauren Lynn McGraw (Wagner) Merry Go Round in Oz (the last of the Oz books issued by Baum's publisher) and The Forbidden Fountain of Oz, and later writing The Rundelstone of Oz on her own. The actual writing of the books was done entirely by Eloise; Lauren made story contributions significant enough for Eloise to assign her co-authorship credit.
She lived for many years in Portland, Oregon before dying in late 2000 of "complications of cancer".
McGraw was married to William Corbin McGraw, who died in 1999. They had two children, Peter and Lauren.
-Wikipedia
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July 19, 2024
2024 Review
I really love this book. I didn't expect it to hit as hard as it did this re-read. In the three year gap, I'm already starting to find the me who read it in 2020 and differentiate her from the me of today. Different things stand out. I feel a bit more objective, a bit more able to stand back and appreciate the overarching themes of the story instead of just feeling every dang thing. (And I'm quite confused by what parts I highlighted in my Kindle.) But the lessons are still hard-hitting and I fell in love with the story all over again.
2021 Review
In retrospect, probably the best book I read in 2020.
As my book club kindly agreed to read this book, I got to kick off the new year by reading it again. It held up even better than I expected. There is a relatability about this novel that transcends time and speaks squarely to the angst and uncertainty of the teenage years. Except it also provides an beautiful perspective on the teenage years--I wish I'd read it then.
If looking for a good book for a teenage daughter or niece or even nephew, I recommend.
2020 Review
If you would have told me a week ago that an angsty, coming-of-age story with discussion questions at the back would steal my heart and rocket onto my favorites list, I'd call you crazy.
Even knowing it was a novel by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, I probably would have doubted. Sure, I read a lot of her in high school, but this book sure sounded as far from Mara, Daughter of the Nile and ancient Egypt as you could possibly get. And angst, coming-of-age stories, and unnecessary discussion questions are three of my least favorite things.
But this book. It was marvelous from page 1.
I really can't think of any other adjective except marvelous. And emphasized marvelous. This book wasn't just marvelous. It was a breathlessly marvelous.
I am so delighted to see other reviewers on here experiencing a similar sentiment. Someone said it resonated. That's an excellent word for it.
Because at its heart, this book is about human nature. Yes, it is about growing up and trying to figure who you are. But it is more than that. It is about who people are and how to find your place among them. It is about examining the cages we place ourselves in and the lies we tell ourselves, sometimes good and sometimes bad.
It is about making hard decisions and leaving comfort zones.
It is about finding and pursuing your calling.
And I suppose it is also the story of a very odd will and a cast of colorful characters all set to receive highly unusual bequests. It reminded me a bit of The Westing Game. (Though admittedly I haven't read that book in years, so the comparison might be off.)
It is creative and fun and has such a great message, particularly about romance. But I'll gush about that in the spoiler. Suffice to say, unlike some other reviewers, I loved the ending. But I probably wouldn't have 10 years ago, so I sympathize.
The characters are likable. The story intriguing. And my heart completely won over.
And if like me you are now dying to listen to the song Greensleeves... can't go wrong with Peter Hollens.
I really love this book. I didn't expect it to hit as hard as it did this re-read. In the three year gap, I'm already starting to find the me who read it in 2020 and differentiate her from the me of today. Different things stand out. I feel a bit more objective, a bit more able to stand back and appreciate the overarching themes of the story instead of just feeling every dang thing. (And I'm quite confused by what parts I highlighted in my Kindle.) But the lessons are still hard-hitting and I fell in love with the story all over again.
2021 Review
In retrospect, probably the best book I read in 2020.
As my book club kindly agreed to read this book, I got to kick off the new year by reading it again. It held up even better than I expected. There is a relatability about this novel that transcends time and speaks squarely to the angst and uncertainty of the teenage years. Except it also provides an beautiful perspective on the teenage years--I wish I'd read it then.
If looking for a good book for a teenage daughter or niece or even nephew, I recommend.
2020 Review
If you would have told me a week ago that an angsty, coming-of-age story with discussion questions at the back would steal my heart and rocket onto my favorites list, I'd call you crazy.
Even knowing it was a novel by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, I probably would have doubted. Sure, I read a lot of her in high school, but this book sure sounded as far from Mara, Daughter of the Nile and ancient Egypt as you could possibly get. And angst, coming-of-age stories, and unnecessary discussion questions are three of my least favorite things.
But this book. It was marvelous from page 1.
I really can't think of any other adjective except marvelous. And emphasized marvelous. This book wasn't just marvelous. It was a breathlessly marvelous.
I am so delighted to see other reviewers on here experiencing a similar sentiment. Someone said it resonated. That's an excellent word for it.
Because at its heart, this book is about human nature. Yes, it is about growing up and trying to figure who you are. But it is more than that. It is about who people are and how to find your place among them. It is about examining the cages we place ourselves in and the lies we tell ourselves, sometimes good and sometimes bad.
It is about making hard decisions and leaving comfort zones.
It is about finding and pursuing your calling.
And I suppose it is also the story of a very odd will and a cast of colorful characters all set to receive highly unusual bequests. It reminded me a bit of The Westing Game. (Though admittedly I haven't read that book in years, so the comparison might be off.)
It is creative and fun and has such a great message, particularly about romance. But I'll gush about that in the spoiler. Suffice to say, unlike some other reviewers, I loved the ending. But I probably wouldn't have 10 years ago, so I sympathize.
The characters are likable. The story intriguing. And my heart completely won over.
And if like me you are now dying to listen to the song Greensleeves... can't go wrong with Peter Hollens.
January 10, 2012
You can read a hundred books, even good ones, without finding one that effects you in a meaningful way. But every once in a while you pick up a story—some simple, unassuming book—and something about it sinks deep within you, and lodges there. Such is Greensleeves.
I won't deny it; Greensleeves hurts, because it is honest. It's chockfull of gentle but unflinching insights into human nature. These can be hilarious, charming, tender, or excruciating by turn. I felt—and I suspect that anyone who has ever felt alone or adrift (that is, everyone) would feel similarly—as though I were reading a fictional account of my own struggles and insights over the last few years. Like life, Greensleeves doesn't give easy answers, and there lies its strength, and its ultimate beauty.
I very much recommend the story. I hope you read it. But if you do, be prepared to take good, long, hard look at yourself, or you'll miss the story's power. Its currency is honesty. Be prepared to use it.
I won't deny it; Greensleeves hurts, because it is honest. It's chockfull of gentle but unflinching insights into human nature. These can be hilarious, charming, tender, or excruciating by turn. I felt—and I suspect that anyone who has ever felt alone or adrift (that is, everyone) would feel similarly—as though I were reading a fictional account of my own struggles and insights over the last few years. Like life, Greensleeves doesn't give easy answers, and there lies its strength, and its ultimate beauty.
I very much recommend the story. I hope you read it. But if you do, be prepared to take good, long, hard look at yourself, or you'll miss the story's power. Its currency is honesty. Be prepared to use it.
August 7, 2023
Wow…such an addicting read and perhaps rather brilliant? It reminds me of a more mature version of Bloomability by Sharon Creech. But really it almost defies description. I honestly can’t think of another book like this. I can’t wait to discuss this with the Kindred Spirits because there is so much packed into it. I can’t even begin to write more at the moment—so many thoughts—but will try to return to my review later on.
February 8, 2017
Re-read, December 2016. Liked it just as much as the first time.
It's been a long time since I read a book that just made me want to gush incoherently—and I never expected the next one would be a 1960s young-adult novel.
Shannon Lightley has spent her life being shuttled all over the world between famous and glamorous parents and step-parents, not to mention some aunts and uncles. At eighteen, after so much switching between different lifestyles, she doesn't really know who she is or what she wants to do with her life. An impulse and a twist of circumstances leads her into taking on an unusual task for her father's friend, a surrogate uncle who seems to be one of the few people she can trust for guidance. Before she knows it, Shannon finds herself living in a boarding-house near a college, working as a café waitress, with a new hairstyle, new accent, and an assumed name...trying to gather information about the legatees of an extremely eccentric will her uncle has been hired to contest.
Living in the same room occupied by the late Mrs. Dunningham, slowly trying to form acquaintances with the colorful cast of fellow-boarders and neighbors to whom the wealthy, elderly lady made her exceedingly odd bequests, Shannon begins to put together the pieces about their characters and their relationships with Mrs. Dunningham...and it's not what she expected at first. Along the way she learns a rough lesson about the difference between attraction and true love, and continues to struggle with questions about her masquerade and her true self.
Where to start? I was completely sucked in and completely charmed by this book. It's warm, literate, often extremely funny. How can you not be charmed by a book that's littered with references to everything from masquerade balls in Regency novels (I smell Georgette Heyer) to Wagnerian opera to Theodore Bikel? But beyond the sheer entertainment, what spoke to me unexpectedly was Shannon's own personal struggles. Maybe I don't have anything in common with her chaotic childhood, or her doubts about identity and purpose. But the crippling shyness, the unwillingness to share one's real self with others, the fear of being disliked or laughed at—oh, yes. Incredibly, just a week or so before reading this book, I caught myself wondering one day what it would be like to introduce myself to someone under a different name, to take on a more carefree persona than I'd dare to do as myself...because it wouldn't matter what they thought of someone who didn't exist! And Greensleeves is basically a development of that idea, as Shannon first gets a taste of the freedom from inhibitions that comes with pretending to be someone else...and then gradually comes to understand that you can't experience life fully if you're always acting a part.
And then...there's Sherry. I simply adored Sherry. Did you ever read a book with a character that seemed so alive that you kept thinking about them for days afterward? I suspected from the first time he appeared that I was going to like him, though I didn't know what kind of part he was going to play in the story, and I was thrilled when it turned out to be the one I'd hoped. He's one of the most lovable male characters I've read in a long time—smart, bookish, imaginative, with a great sense of humor, always so sweet and considerate as he tries to coax Shannon out of her shell. Easily my favorite character in the book.
There's other memorable characters—understanding Uncle Frosty, enigmatic Mr. Bruce, awkward Wynola, exasperating Helen, and even the late Mrs. Dunningham, whom Shannon feels she comes to know as well as any of them. And the use of "Greensleeves," from its literal meaning for Shannon, to the way it ties into the theme of anonymity, to that scene near the end with the sheet music...I won't spoil it for you.
Another thing I found refreshing was the feature of common sense in romantic relationships (which, by the way, doesn't prevent the romance from being heart-melting). College-age kids who look at marriage as the natural goal of a relationship, who know to exercise self-control without looking at it as a dreadful, unfair burden—it's just the way to behave. When something looking like a love triangle began to rear its ugly head, I was pretty frantic—then glad to find it didn't follow the predictable path I suspected. There were times when I wanted to give Shannon a good shaking...then when she had her occasional moments of clarity my reaction was yes! You finally figured it out.
I sort of gulped the second half of the book, because I was so anxious to find out what was going to happen. I knew from some other reviews to expect an inconclusive, questioning ending, and yes, it is rather maddening. Shannon's decision seems a little drastic, even if you can understand her reasoning. But in one respect it was better than I thought, because it's an open enough ending that you can imagine for yourself what happens after the last page. I like to think it turned out the way I always hoped it would.
After all, you can play "Greensleeves" with a major chord at the end if you want to.
It's been a long time since I read a book that just made me want to gush incoherently—and I never expected the next one would be a 1960s young-adult novel.
Shannon Lightley has spent her life being shuttled all over the world between famous and glamorous parents and step-parents, not to mention some aunts and uncles. At eighteen, after so much switching between different lifestyles, she doesn't really know who she is or what she wants to do with her life. An impulse and a twist of circumstances leads her into taking on an unusual task for her father's friend, a surrogate uncle who seems to be one of the few people she can trust for guidance. Before she knows it, Shannon finds herself living in a boarding-house near a college, working as a café waitress, with a new hairstyle, new accent, and an assumed name...trying to gather information about the legatees of an extremely eccentric will her uncle has been hired to contest.
"Have you figured out how the scholarships fit in?...Or the doctor's time-machine visit to ancient Greece?"
"The what?"
"Didn't I mention that? I guess there are several bequests you don't know about."
Living in the same room occupied by the late Mrs. Dunningham, slowly trying to form acquaintances with the colorful cast of fellow-boarders and neighbors to whom the wealthy, elderly lady made her exceedingly odd bequests, Shannon begins to put together the pieces about their characters and their relationships with Mrs. Dunningham...and it's not what she expected at first. Along the way she learns a rough lesson about the difference between attraction and true love, and continues to struggle with questions about her masquerade and her true self.
Where to start? I was completely sucked in and completely charmed by this book. It's warm, literate, often extremely funny. How can you not be charmed by a book that's littered with references to everything from masquerade balls in Regency novels (I smell Georgette Heyer) to Wagnerian opera to Theodore Bikel? But beyond the sheer entertainment, what spoke to me unexpectedly was Shannon's own personal struggles. Maybe I don't have anything in common with her chaotic childhood, or her doubts about identity and purpose. But the crippling shyness, the unwillingness to share one's real self with others, the fear of being disliked or laughed at—oh, yes. Incredibly, just a week or so before reading this book, I caught myself wondering one day what it would be like to introduce myself to someone under a different name, to take on a more carefree persona than I'd dare to do as myself...because it wouldn't matter what they thought of someone who didn't exist! And Greensleeves is basically a development of that idea, as Shannon first gets a taste of the freedom from inhibitions that comes with pretending to be someone else...and then gradually comes to understand that you can't experience life fully if you're always acting a part.
And then...there's Sherry. I simply adored Sherry. Did you ever read a book with a character that seemed so alive that you kept thinking about them for days afterward? I suspected from the first time he appeared that I was going to like him, though I didn't know what kind of part he was going to play in the story, and I was thrilled when it turned out to be the one I'd hoped. He's one of the most lovable male characters I've read in a long time—smart, bookish, imaginative, with a great sense of humor, always so sweet and considerate as he tries to coax Shannon out of her shell. Easily my favorite character in the book.
There's other memorable characters—understanding Uncle Frosty, enigmatic Mr. Bruce, awkward Wynola, exasperating Helen, and even the late Mrs. Dunningham, whom Shannon feels she comes to know as well as any of them. And the use of "Greensleeves," from its literal meaning for Shannon, to the way it ties into the theme of anonymity, to that scene near the end with the sheet music...I won't spoil it for you.
Another thing I found refreshing was the feature of common sense in romantic relationships (which, by the way, doesn't prevent the romance from being heart-melting). College-age kids who look at marriage as the natural goal of a relationship, who know to exercise self-control without looking at it as a dreadful, unfair burden—it's just the way to behave. When something looking like a love triangle began to rear its ugly head, I was pretty frantic—then glad to find it didn't follow the predictable path I suspected. There were times when I wanted to give Shannon a good shaking...then when she had her occasional moments of clarity my reaction was yes! You finally figured it out.
I sort of gulped the second half of the book, because I was so anxious to find out what was going to happen. I knew from some other reviews to expect an inconclusive, questioning ending, and yes, it is rather maddening. Shannon's decision seems a little drastic, even if you can understand her reasoning. But in one respect it was better than I thought, because it's an open enough ending that you can imagine for yourself what happens after the last page. I like to think it turned out the way I always hoped it would.
After all, you can play "Greensleeves" with a major chord at the end if you want to.
September 7, 2018
This book touched my soul.
I rarely find a story that is not only captivating to read, but also speaks to me. It was as if it was spoken in language I'd been speaking my whole life. A language I wasn't aware even existed until I heard someone using the words I'd known all along.
Here is a "kindred spirit" if you wish. Eloise Jarvis Mcgraw is gone. But I feel as if she and I would have been good friends. Someone who saw life in full color and wistfulness. With all the dreamy, poetic touches that people find so repulsive. Now that I think about it, all of her books hold a sort of dreamy wistfulness to them. I think that's what I always found most appealing. The fact that she didn't see life flat and dull, but as shifting and elusive as a cloud in the sky. If that makes any sense?
Pros:
Sherry. I don't think I've found a character this appealing in ages. From the minute he entered the story I found him captivating. His insatiable curiosity, languid manners, and gentle kindness all created a vivid picture of this human unlike any other character I've read.
Shannon Lightly. She was very relatable. Even though this book was written in a different time frame and set in a different era I still felt a certain kinship to her. The story is what they call a "coming of age" story I think. I personally find those labels annoying, but that is what people label this story and I can understand why. Every moment is leading up to her finding herself, who she is, her purpose. Thankfully the book never comes to an explicit conclusion. Still, it raises more questions about what it means to live and learn and be a human. Shannon, throughout the whole story changes quite dramatically, yet she also remains unchanged in many aspects.
All the characters. Yes, I thought they were all delightful. The different boarders Shannon lives with are all unique and really bring the story to life.
The storyline.It meanders, it twists, it turns, it rests but it never stops. Reading this book was like walking along a path in a park. I didn't know quite were it was leading, but I always knew that it was leading somewhere. What I found was the path itself was more or less the destination, and when you come to the end of the book the story or path never really ends either. Instead its as if you can see it stretching out ahead of you. This was both satisfying and unsatisfying. I think on a whole it fit the book much better than if she had tied up all the loose ends completely, it fit the style of the story.
Cons:
There is no solid ending. I know I said I liked this. Well, I liked that it fit in with the theme. I did not like that I never got to see a specific scene that resolved everything at the end. It was left with a sort of unfinished feeling on purpose. I understand the benefits of this, but I still can't help feeling a little frustrated and disappointed to not be left with a more satisfying conclusion.
-Last Words-
I said it earlier. This book touched my soul. I shall not forget it. (Well I don't think I will. Honestly I say that about a lot of things, and forget a lot of things. Only time will tell eh?)
Read more of my delightfully insightful opinions at honestavocado.wordpress.com.
I rarely find a story that is not only captivating to read, but also speaks to me. It was as if it was spoken in language I'd been speaking my whole life. A language I wasn't aware even existed until I heard someone using the words I'd known all along.
Here is a "kindred spirit" if you wish. Eloise Jarvis Mcgraw is gone. But I feel as if she and I would have been good friends. Someone who saw life in full color and wistfulness. With all the dreamy, poetic touches that people find so repulsive. Now that I think about it, all of her books hold a sort of dreamy wistfulness to them. I think that's what I always found most appealing. The fact that she didn't see life flat and dull, but as shifting and elusive as a cloud in the sky. If that makes any sense?
Pros:
Sherry. I don't think I've found a character this appealing in ages. From the minute he entered the story I found him captivating. His insatiable curiosity, languid manners, and gentle kindness all created a vivid picture of this human unlike any other character I've read.
Shannon Lightly. She was very relatable. Even though this book was written in a different time frame and set in a different era I still felt a certain kinship to her. The story is what they call a "coming of age" story I think. I personally find those labels annoying, but that is what people label this story and I can understand why. Every moment is leading up to her finding herself, who she is, her purpose. Thankfully the book never comes to an explicit conclusion. Still, it raises more questions about what it means to live and learn and be a human. Shannon, throughout the whole story changes quite dramatically, yet she also remains unchanged in many aspects.
All the characters. Yes, I thought they were all delightful. The different boarders Shannon lives with are all unique and really bring the story to life.
The storyline.It meanders, it twists, it turns, it rests but it never stops. Reading this book was like walking along a path in a park. I didn't know quite were it was leading, but I always knew that it was leading somewhere. What I found was the path itself was more or less the destination, and when you come to the end of the book the story or path never really ends either. Instead its as if you can see it stretching out ahead of you. This was both satisfying and unsatisfying. I think on a whole it fit the book much better than if she had tied up all the loose ends completely, it fit the style of the story.
Cons:
There is no solid ending. I know I said I liked this. Well, I liked that it fit in with the theme. I did not like that I never got to see a specific scene that resolved everything at the end. It was left with a sort of unfinished feeling on purpose. I understand the benefits of this, but I still can't help feeling a little frustrated and disappointed to not be left with a more satisfying conclusion.
-Last Words-
I said it earlier. This book touched my soul. I shall not forget it. (Well I don't think I will. Honestly I say that about a lot of things, and forget a lot of things. Only time will tell eh?)
Read more of my delightfully insightful opinions at honestavocado.wordpress.com.
November 7, 2022
What!!! I was going to give it 5 stars...
To write such an engaging story with such likable characters and give me an inconclusive ending like that?!?!? I’ll have to write a review and give my actual rating when I’m not so mad. 😂😂😂
UPDATE: Ok, breathe ... I think I'm ready to write a little more about this book.
Have you watched the movie, "Into the Woods"? If so, think of the part towards the end where everything is beginning to wrap up nicely and then ... it's suddenly not, because the happily-ever-after rug got brutally yanked out from under you. Remember that? Okay. So now, which boat are you in?
If you liked that movie's twist, the "twist" at the end of this book probably won't bother you. If, on the other hand, you're in the boat where now, anytime you watch the movie, you don't go to the end (like me), you'll probably cringe and feel a little crushed with this book's ending like I did.
I get it. Realistic. Everything doesn't always end happily, or right, or conclusively. But .... I so badly wanted that type of ending! This book needed that resolve, needed the character to stop wrestling with herself, move on, keep that other guy at arm's length and my goodness, get back in touch with Sherry! I didn't want that to be left hanging ... sigh.
That's my rant. It really is well written and has some memorable characters.
Cleanliness: there's a few d*mn words and blasphemies used. There is mention of drinking and smoking. There are a few kisses (one is between a girl who is dating another guy - she feels incredibly attracted to a different guy and although doesn't like him, gives in to the moment; regretting it almost immediately).
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
To write such an engaging story with such likable characters and give me an inconclusive ending like that?!?!? I’ll have to write a review and give my actual rating when I’m not so mad. 😂😂😂
UPDATE: Ok, breathe ... I think I'm ready to write a little more about this book.
Have you watched the movie, "Into the Woods"? If so, think of the part towards the end where everything is beginning to wrap up nicely and then ... it's suddenly not, because the happily-ever-after rug got brutally yanked out from under you. Remember that? Okay. So now, which boat are you in?
If you liked that movie's twist, the "twist" at the end of this book probably won't bother you. If, on the other hand, you're in the boat where now, anytime you watch the movie, you don't go to the end (like me), you'll probably cringe and feel a little crushed with this book's ending like I did.
I get it. Realistic. Everything doesn't always end happily, or right, or conclusively. But .... I so badly wanted that type of ending! This book needed that resolve, needed the character to stop wrestling with herself, move on, keep that other guy at arm's length and my goodness, get back in touch with Sherry! I didn't want that to be left hanging ... sigh.
That's my rant. It really is well written and has some memorable characters.
Cleanliness: there's a few d*mn words and blasphemies used. There is mention of drinking and smoking. There are a few kisses (one is between a girl who is dating another guy - she feels incredibly attracted to a different guy and although doesn't like him, gives in to the moment; regretting it almost immediately).
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
August 18, 2020
I finished "Greensleeves", closed the book, and stared at the wall in joy, exasperation, and longing. Joy because this is an amazing literary experience; exasperation because I love the ending while hating the fact that I am able to love it; and longing because the ending I want to complete in my head for Shan and Sherry is almost impossible. ( That's the reason Eloise Jarvis McGraw kept the end of the book unresolved. She knew everyone would hate the natural ending, but the happier ending would destroy the tone of the entire book.)
"When you've spent your tothood in London, your six grade-school years in Mary's Creek Oregon (pop. 4,741) and that gruesome period between ages eleven and seventeen playing hopscotch all over the map of Europe, swapping parents and personalities with every change of headquarters, it results in fairly total confusion on all fronts."
Confusion is right, especially confusion about who your inner girl is, all shells removed. Who is the real Shannon Lightley? As the daughter of a famous actress and a world renowned journalist, she struggles to find her place in life. Then comes the opportunity of a lifetime: a summer on her own. No one has to know who she is or who her parents are. She can truly be whoever she wants to be!
Taking up an assumed name and new personality and finding a job are her first steps. Then she can start in on her real job: investigating the lives of her new neighbors to help her parents' close friend unsnarl a law case involving a most unusual will.
During the summer she becomes involved in the lives of a range of endearing characters and begins a journey of self discovery.
~ ~ ~
Eloise Jarvis McGraw was an amazing author! Her writing defies description. Let's just say I know a book is good when I have an ache in my heart the entire time I'm reading it, and want to hibernate for at least a year when I'm finished. All of her books (the ones I've read) affect me in this way.
Character development=unbelievable! I love the fact that this book really has no villain- I most certainly do not consider Dave a villain- but the plot still works spectacularly. There's really a huge array of characters, but I never got confused about who was who except right at the beginning. And talk about living, breathing, three-dimensionality!
I love how the story brings out that physical attraction to someone does not indicate 'true love.' Shan and Sherry are both super intelligent about their relationship (not that they make no mistakes, of course). The Dave part is slightly creepy, but well thought out and necessary to the story line.
I may as well tell you that Sherry is fascinating. What's not to like about a guy who studies integral calculus just so he can know what people are talking about when they mention it in conversation!?
Overall this book is amazingly satisfyingly unsatisfactory (which means perfect in my language😊)
"When you've spent your tothood in London, your six grade-school years in Mary's Creek Oregon (pop. 4,741) and that gruesome period between ages eleven and seventeen playing hopscotch all over the map of Europe, swapping parents and personalities with every change of headquarters, it results in fairly total confusion on all fronts."
Confusion is right, especially confusion about who your inner girl is, all shells removed. Who is the real Shannon Lightley? As the daughter of a famous actress and a world renowned journalist, she struggles to find her place in life. Then comes the opportunity of a lifetime: a summer on her own. No one has to know who she is or who her parents are. She can truly be whoever she wants to be!
Taking up an assumed name and new personality and finding a job are her first steps. Then she can start in on her real job: investigating the lives of her new neighbors to help her parents' close friend unsnarl a law case involving a most unusual will.
During the summer she becomes involved in the lives of a range of endearing characters and begins a journey of self discovery.
~ ~ ~
Eloise Jarvis McGraw was an amazing author! Her writing defies description. Let's just say I know a book is good when I have an ache in my heart the entire time I'm reading it, and want to hibernate for at least a year when I'm finished. All of her books (the ones I've read) affect me in this way.
Character development=unbelievable! I love the fact that this book really has no villain- I most certainly do not consider Dave a villain- but the plot still works spectacularly. There's really a huge array of characters, but I never got confused about who was who except right at the beginning. And talk about living, breathing, three-dimensionality!
I love how the story brings out that physical attraction to someone does not indicate 'true love.' Shan and Sherry are both super intelligent about their relationship (not that they make no mistakes, of course). The Dave part is slightly creepy, but well thought out and necessary to the story line.
I may as well tell you that Sherry is fascinating. What's not to like about a guy who studies integral calculus just so he can know what people are talking about when they mention it in conversation!?
Overall this book is amazingly satisfyingly unsatisfactory (which means perfect in my language😊)
November 16, 2015
Rating: PG (for romance)
Recommended for: Ages 15 to Adult
A week ago, I didn't know this book existed. Last Thursday, I came across a link to this review on Twitter. Odd, because I rarely actually scroll through my Twitter feed, and even more rarely click on any links (unless they're behind-the-scenes information on Doctor Who; those I can scarcely resist). I suppose it was the author name that intrigued me: Eloise Jarvis McGraw. Since the review made it sound incredibly interesting, it was $1.99 on kindle, I still have gift card (I tend to hoard it for moments like this), I'd really enjoyed the author's The Golden Goblet and Moccasin Trail and my library doesn't have Greensleeves, I decided on impulse to buy it. It's definitely for a different audience than those books; those are middle grade historical fiction and Newbery Honors. Greensleeves is a 60s teen contemporary novel with a dash of mystery and intrigue and a lot about finding direction in life.
I rarely read contemporary teen fiction, 50 years old or otherwise. If I read any era of contemporary, it's usually middle grade. As for teen fiction, I have a friend who reads a lot of it and her reviews are usually enough to steel my determination to avoid it. A lot of the teen fiction books I hear about sound wildly inappropriate, my main reason for avoiding them, other than the fact that I generally enjoy adventure the most. Greensleeves certainly isn't. There is kissing in the book, and Shan does analyze how different guys make her feel, but it's rather less than what's in The Hunger Games. (In case you're wondering why I make the comparison, since I also did it in my Cinderella post, THG is basically my as-far-as-I'll-go-on-Content, which I realize isn't incredibly far.)
I have a lot of unread books on my kindle, yes, bought ones as well as free ones. It's mostly typical for me to download a book and let it sit there. However, Saturday came and since I'd spent Friday out in the woods with my sisters and our friend filming an impromptu movie, stayed up past midnight to show her Star Wars, and then gotten up earlier than I would have liked so I'd be up before her parents came to pick her up, following that up with a trip to the post office and several hours editing our movie, and a 45 minute nap (I never take naps) because I was so tired, I really didn't feel like trudging through the really old books that don't get good until halfway through, and I wanted something different. Besides, Greensleeves had intrigued me. So I did little else from that late afternoon until late Sunday afternoon besides read that book. (Of course I didn't read it during church, just to and from church.)
I really enjoyed it. Shannon is a girl who really doesn't know what she wants out of life. I'm sure everyone's felt that way at some point. And even though I do know what I want from life and I am pursuing some of those things, I still can't help feeling directionless and like I'm waiting for something to happen. Shan goes under cover to help her Uncle Frosty investigate a strange will, but also because she's tired of Shan Lightley and her problems, and just wants to be someone else for awhile. She's trying to find herself. While I don't exactly identify with her struggle for identity, I can understand her fears that people wouldn't like her if they knew the real her. Probably why I liked it, besides the natural intrigue of the peculiar will and the interesting, varied people named in it which is bound to excite me, is because I can understand her struggles.
I have to say, though, my favorite character is Sherry. Gone are the days when I didn't like guy characters simply because they were guys. Sherry (his full name is George Maynard Sherrill) is an interesting guy. He’s good and smart and intellectual, kind of shy, very perceptive, extremely curious, and he wants to learn just to know things. He studied Greek because he wanted to know how people in Greece sounded. He wanted to learn integral calculus so he would know what people were talking about when they said “integral calculus.” I didn’t like Dave Kulka. He kind of reminded me of Dean Priest from the Emily of New Moon books by L. M. Montgomery, and that’s not exactly a good association. The characters are all very well developed, and so is the little world Shan stepped into when she went to College Street and became Georgetta Einszweiler Smith. It all felt so real.
Greensleeves is a good book. The ending was slightly unsatisfactory due to being a bit inconclusive, but I guess I can make up my own epilogue. I’d say it’s geared towards older teen girls and that’s probably the best audience for it, but I would recommend it. It gave me a nice weekend and some food for thought.
For more reviews from me and my sisters, visit www.shirereviews.blogspot.com
Recommended for: Ages 15 to Adult
A week ago, I didn't know this book existed. Last Thursday, I came across a link to this review on Twitter. Odd, because I rarely actually scroll through my Twitter feed, and even more rarely click on any links (unless they're behind-the-scenes information on Doctor Who; those I can scarcely resist). I suppose it was the author name that intrigued me: Eloise Jarvis McGraw. Since the review made it sound incredibly interesting, it was $1.99 on kindle, I still have gift card (I tend to hoard it for moments like this), I'd really enjoyed the author's The Golden Goblet and Moccasin Trail and my library doesn't have Greensleeves, I decided on impulse to buy it. It's definitely for a different audience than those books; those are middle grade historical fiction and Newbery Honors. Greensleeves is a 60s teen contemporary novel with a dash of mystery and intrigue and a lot about finding direction in life.
I rarely read contemporary teen fiction, 50 years old or otherwise. If I read any era of contemporary, it's usually middle grade. As for teen fiction, I have a friend who reads a lot of it and her reviews are usually enough to steel my determination to avoid it. A lot of the teen fiction books I hear about sound wildly inappropriate, my main reason for avoiding them, other than the fact that I generally enjoy adventure the most. Greensleeves certainly isn't. There is kissing in the book, and Shan does analyze how different guys make her feel, but it's rather less than what's in The Hunger Games. (In case you're wondering why I make the comparison, since I also did it in my Cinderella post, THG is basically my as-far-as-I'll-go-on-Content, which I realize isn't incredibly far.)
I have a lot of unread books on my kindle, yes, bought ones as well as free ones. It's mostly typical for me to download a book and let it sit there. However, Saturday came and since I'd spent Friday out in the woods with my sisters and our friend filming an impromptu movie, stayed up past midnight to show her Star Wars, and then gotten up earlier than I would have liked so I'd be up before her parents came to pick her up, following that up with a trip to the post office and several hours editing our movie, and a 45 minute nap (I never take naps) because I was so tired, I really didn't feel like trudging through the really old books that don't get good until halfway through, and I wanted something different. Besides, Greensleeves had intrigued me. So I did little else from that late afternoon until late Sunday afternoon besides read that book. (Of course I didn't read it during church, just to and from church.)
I really enjoyed it. Shannon is a girl who really doesn't know what she wants out of life. I'm sure everyone's felt that way at some point. And even though I do know what I want from life and I am pursuing some of those things, I still can't help feeling directionless and like I'm waiting for something to happen. Shan goes under cover to help her Uncle Frosty investigate a strange will, but also because she's tired of Shan Lightley and her problems, and just wants to be someone else for awhile. She's trying to find herself. While I don't exactly identify with her struggle for identity, I can understand her fears that people wouldn't like her if they knew the real her. Probably why I liked it, besides the natural intrigue of the peculiar will and the interesting, varied people named in it which is bound to excite me, is because I can understand her struggles.
I have to say, though, my favorite character is Sherry. Gone are the days when I didn't like guy characters simply because they were guys. Sherry (his full name is George Maynard Sherrill) is an interesting guy. He’s good and smart and intellectual, kind of shy, very perceptive, extremely curious, and he wants to learn just to know things. He studied Greek because he wanted to know how people in Greece sounded. He wanted to learn integral calculus so he would know what people were talking about when they said “integral calculus.” I didn’t like Dave Kulka. He kind of reminded me of Dean Priest from the Emily of New Moon books by L. M. Montgomery, and that’s not exactly a good association. The characters are all very well developed, and so is the little world Shan stepped into when she went to College Street and became Georgetta Einszweiler Smith. It all felt so real.
Greensleeves is a good book. The ending was slightly unsatisfactory due to being a bit inconclusive, but I guess I can make up my own epilogue. I’d say it’s geared towards older teen girls and that’s probably the best audience for it, but I would recommend it. It gave me a nice weekend and some food for thought.
For more reviews from me and my sisters, visit www.shirereviews.blogspot.com
January 8, 2020
A more eloquent exploration of a young woman's search for self, which we sometimes call "growing up" or "coming of age," than any I have read in a great while.
Eighteen-year-old Shannon Kathleen Lightley, daughter of notable and multiple parents, had spent most of her life traveling from one place to another, and felt herself a stranger wherever she went. Unsure of who she was, or what she wanted to do, she jumped at the chance to spend a summer incognito, the chance to "create" herself. But had Shannon created the girl who came to be known as "Greensleeves," had the new people in her life somehow drawn her out, or had she been there all along?
This delightful young-adult novel was rewarding on many different levels. Although I could have predicted the outcome vis-a-vis the legatees from the beginning, the narrative is involving enough that the reader rushes along, anxious to know just how each discovery comes about. Ms. McGraw understands her characters, the complexity of their motivations, and the sometimes unexpected ways in which they interact. Some of these moments of insight made me laugh, as when the snooty Helen decides "to be Democratic" about the seemingly plebian Georgetta. Others were undoubtedly tragic, as when Georgetta recognizes the loneliness of the elderly Mrs. Hockins, whose great personal loss has imprisoned her in the past, but finds herself unable to even extend a simple invitation to tea, or to imagine that such an invitation would be welcome.
The great majority of McGraw's characters are neither one thing nor the other, however, but a mixture of many things. This is especially true of Shannon/Georgetta/Greensleeves, who in the process of trying to "find" or create herself, discovers that her interactions with and feelings for the other people in her life are both a help and hindrance to her quest.
It is in this ambiguity that McGraw truly manages to create some moments of pathos, and a few passages about the layer-like nature of truth, that really strike home. Towards the end of the book, Mr. Bruce states that it is impossible to help people. I think that what McGraw is really driving at, however, is the impossibility of saving people from themselves. A very complex and difficult point to convey without becoming didactic, but McGraw manages beautifully.
I considered rewarding Greensleeves with five stars, a rating I save for books that either move me greatly, or prompt me to think along unexplored channels. But despite its many and undeniable virtues, I found McGraw's portrayal of Greensleeve's awakening sexuality somewhat disturbing. In two separate cases, the situation becomes amorphously "dangerous," either because Shannon responds with passion to a kiss, or because she directs a "certain kind" of look at a young man. The implication seems to be that Shannon's own sexual awareness or desire are somehow the cause of these young men losing control over themselves (a depressingly common attitude, even today). This may or may not be a fair analysis of McGraw's intention, but it was the impression created in me. An impression irritating enough to merit a 1-star demotion.
Eighteen-year-old Shannon Kathleen Lightley, daughter of notable and multiple parents, had spent most of her life traveling from one place to another, and felt herself a stranger wherever she went. Unsure of who she was, or what she wanted to do, she jumped at the chance to spend a summer incognito, the chance to "create" herself. But had Shannon created the girl who came to be known as "Greensleeves," had the new people in her life somehow drawn her out, or had she been there all along?
This delightful young-adult novel was rewarding on many different levels. Although I could have predicted the outcome vis-a-vis the legatees from the beginning, the narrative is involving enough that the reader rushes along, anxious to know just how each discovery comes about. Ms. McGraw understands her characters, the complexity of their motivations, and the sometimes unexpected ways in which they interact. Some of these moments of insight made me laugh, as when the snooty Helen decides "to be Democratic" about the seemingly plebian Georgetta. Others were undoubtedly tragic, as when Georgetta recognizes the loneliness of the elderly Mrs. Hockins, whose great personal loss has imprisoned her in the past, but finds herself unable to even extend a simple invitation to tea, or to imagine that such an invitation would be welcome.
The great majority of McGraw's characters are neither one thing nor the other, however, but a mixture of many things. This is especially true of Shannon/Georgetta/Greensleeves, who in the process of trying to "find" or create herself, discovers that her interactions with and feelings for the other people in her life are both a help and hindrance to her quest.
It is in this ambiguity that McGraw truly manages to create some moments of pathos, and a few passages about the layer-like nature of truth, that really strike home. Towards the end of the book, Mr. Bruce states that it is impossible to help people. I think that what McGraw is really driving at, however, is the impossibility of saving people from themselves. A very complex and difficult point to convey without becoming didactic, but McGraw manages beautifully.
I considered rewarding Greensleeves with five stars, a rating I save for books that either move me greatly, or prompt me to think along unexplored channels. But despite its many and undeniable virtues, I found McGraw's portrayal of Greensleeve's awakening sexuality somewhat disturbing. In two separate cases, the situation becomes amorphously "dangerous," either because Shannon responds with passion to a kiss, or because she directs a "certain kind" of look at a young man. The implication seems to be that Shannon's own sexual awareness or desire are somehow the cause of these young men losing control over themselves (a depressingly common attitude, even today). This may or may not be a fair analysis of McGraw's intention, but it was the impression created in me. An impression irritating enough to merit a 1-star demotion.
August 12, 2023
August 12, 2023:
This was just as wonderful on the second read as it was on the first. Such a special coming-of-age story, and one I wish I'd known about and read when I was in my late teens/early 20s.
August 14, 2022:
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book given the nondescript cover and the blurb on the back, but what I got was an absolute gem - one of my favorite reads so far this year. Greensleeves was published in 1968, but something about it feels very timeless. The eighteen year old heroine's struggle to understand and like herself, and know what her future path should be, are certainly relatable.
Intelligently written, with humor that frequently made me laugh out loud, a romance that tugged at my heartstrings, well-developed and endearing characters, a plot that kept me turning the pages, and a delightfully satisfying and mature ending - I really loved this book. I can think of quite a few of you who'd probably love it too.
This was just as wonderful on the second read as it was on the first. Such a special coming-of-age story, and one I wish I'd known about and read when I was in my late teens/early 20s.
August 14, 2022:
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book given the nondescript cover and the blurb on the back, but what I got was an absolute gem - one of my favorite reads so far this year. Greensleeves was published in 1968, but something about it feels very timeless. The eighteen year old heroine's struggle to understand and like herself, and know what her future path should be, are certainly relatable.
Intelligently written, with humor that frequently made me laugh out loud, a romance that tugged at my heartstrings, well-developed and endearing characters, a plot that kept me turning the pages, and a delightfully satisfying and mature ending - I really loved this book. I can think of quite a few of you who'd probably love it too.
January 22, 2024
This was an unusual novel. My expectations going into it were all wrong. I thought it was going to be a mystery/caper with mistaken identity, perhaps with a bit of a YA Mary Stewart feel. I wouldn’t have knowingly picked up a book about a fish out of water, socially anxious teen’s coming of age in the late 60s, but that would have been my loss, as this is an intelligent, clean, surprisingly sweet-hearted novel about identity and growing up.
Now that I’ve become a writer myself, I’ve noticed I read quite differently. I’m much more aware of tropes and one that pleasantly surprised me here was her spin on the “choosing between two potential love interests” trope. I was all set to rant and rage at the book if it went the typical mid 20th century way I thought it was going to…and then she did something I didn’t expect.
This is not my usual fare but it gave me plenty of food for thought as a novelist.
Now that I’ve become a writer myself, I’ve noticed I read quite differently. I’m much more aware of tropes and one that pleasantly surprised me here was her spin on the “choosing between two potential love interests” trope. I was all set to rant and rage at the book if it went the typical mid 20th century way I thought it was going to…and then she did something I didn’t expect.
This is not my usual fare but it gave me plenty of food for thought as a novelist.
August 16, 2021
I’m glad I finally read this book. It has been on my TbR for years!
In this coming of age story, Shannon finds herself paralyzed at the thought of starting college. She feels like she doesn’t know who she is after living half her life in Europe. To Europeans she is American, to Americans she must be European.
Her Uncle frost gives her a chance a a summer off while staying in a boarding house doing some detective work.
This book was humorous, and poignant. I really enjoyed every minute of it.
Would read again.
In this coming of age story, Shannon finds herself paralyzed at the thought of starting college. She feels like she doesn’t know who she is after living half her life in Europe. To Europeans she is American, to Americans she must be European.
Her Uncle frost gives her a chance a a summer off while staying in a boarding house doing some detective work.
This book was humorous, and poignant. I really enjoyed every minute of it.
Would read again.
August 9, 2023
This is the third Eloise Jarvis McGraw I've tried and the only one I've finished. Lesson learned, listen to your reading intuition and if you know you don't like an authors writing style, don't force it.
March 24, 2017
Shannon Lightly has just graduated from high school after a life time of living in Europe and the US, either with her mother, her father or her aunt. She has been everywhere in Europe, but when she is about to fly back overseas from Portland, she realizes she is really nowhere and isn't even sure of who she is and what she wants to do. She turns to her "Uncle" Frosty, who suggests she take the summer off, and ends up helping him discover what is up with a rather unusual will that he has been hired to contest. She decides to go undercover, gets a job as a waitress and lives right among some of the potential legatees. Bear in mind that this was written and set in the 1960s, when you could do that and be paid from the till.
Although Shannon has traveled alone from one parent to another, this is the first time she is really and truly on her own, and while trying earnestly to gather information, she meets Sherry (George Maynard Sherrill) who takes to her immediately.
It's easy to see, while reading this, why Eloise Jarvis McGraw, who won the Newberry Honor three times in as many decades, published so many books; she knew how to write. This has been republished as a Nancy Pearl "Book Crush Rediscovery" and I would say is worth it.
Although Shannon has traveled alone from one parent to another, this is the first time she is really and truly on her own, and while trying earnestly to gather information, she meets Sherry (George Maynard Sherrill) who takes to her immediately.
It's easy to see, while reading this, why Eloise Jarvis McGraw, who won the Newberry Honor three times in as many decades, published so many books; she knew how to write. This has been republished as a Nancy Pearl "Book Crush Rediscovery" and I would say is worth it.
August 10, 2023
I wanted to like this, I really did. But it felt disjointed and distant. It's a sort-of coming of age story, but without much payoff. If it had leaned more heavily into the "mystery" of the unusual will, or played up the idea of found family, I think I would have liked it more. But instead it keeps circling back to the insistently self-loathing musings of an insecure teenager, which might resonate with someone somewhere, but not me. I did not get any joy from it.
By the end, I felt the message was, "People just get in each other's way." The protagonist trades out all potentially meaningful relationships (including friendships!) for casual detached ones. I'm definitely not saying she should have gotten married at age 18 (yikes), but the way she jettisons people, I do think she's setting herself up for a life with no connection. Ugh. No thanks. Way too nihilistic.
By the end, I felt the message was, "People just get in each other's way." The protagonist trades out all potentially meaningful relationships (including friendships!) for casual detached ones. I'm definitely not saying she should have gotten married at age 18 (yikes), but the way she jettisons people, I do think she's setting herself up for a life with no connection. Ugh. No thanks. Way too nihilistic.
July 9, 2025
I am shocked at how gripping this coming of age story is. The writing! The character development! Welcome to my latest book obsession that all my friends will hear me raving about. I laughed, I felt seen and known, I learned some things through Shannon Kathleen Lightly/ Georgetta/Greensleeves that probably would have taken me years all alone. If you feel unsettled, unsure, or just need a good comfort read that leaves you with deep feelings, READ THIS BOOK.
November 16, 2015
The pacing of the prologue-like first chapter aside, I slipped easily into the world of this book and would have liked to remain there longer. Our eighteen-year-old heroine is a girl who has been haphazardly raised by seven different parent-figures, including her divorced father and mother, while being dragged up and down across Europe. When in Europe, she is perceived to be an American; while in the States, she is seen as European. She is a girl who doesn’t know who she is. Our story opens with her desperate attempt to hit the pause button and escape for a time from her own awkward identity before she is pushed into a college education she does not want. She will be a detective. In disguise.
The story is told with charm, wit, and perceptiveness. Our heroine may be filled with angst, but it is a self-aware, rather mature angst that does not exaggerate her own importance or sap her sense of humor. Many aspects of this late-1960’s world are delightful. The way trendy blue eye-shadow and a massive hair-do, well glued-up, are used by our heroine to create a mask is fun to read about. The way daily life is conducted with a complete lack of modern screens is striking. The characters’ moral universe is appealing. They assume that love leads to marriage and that playing with sexual contact in the form of kissing and making-out is to awaken a deep, heavy, potentially dangerous thing that robs people of the ability to properly evaluate their mutual compatibility.
Yet the overall message of the story left me feeling ambiguous. Essentially, it is a well-presented, charming manifestation of the idea that life’s purpose is to find and know oneself. This must be done as an individual, and involves escape from other people’s undue influence (in the imagery of the novel, one must “escape one’s own cage”--the personal fears and insecurities that hold one imprisoned--without the help of friends, parents, or true love, because no one can save us from ourselves). Marriage is something to consider only after both parties have first pursued their own dreams and discovered who they truly are. This message is all the more powerful because, rather than being assumed, it is discovered by the heroine in a slow and non-preachy way.
Unfortunately, the author forgets that the search for truth (including about oneself) is not best pursued only through individualism. Community and revealed beliefs are an important part of this process.
There is some truth to the book’s thesis that we can’t save each other and that we must find our own inner courage, and I am ready enough to accept the idea that these particular characters really did need to make the choices they did. The problem is that nowadays, it is assumed that everyone needs to make such choices.
My final feeling is that this would make a good book to read and discuss with one’s teenage daughters, but not perhaps to hand them and leave undiscussed.
The story is told with charm, wit, and perceptiveness. Our heroine may be filled with angst, but it is a self-aware, rather mature angst that does not exaggerate her own importance or sap her sense of humor. Many aspects of this late-1960’s world are delightful. The way trendy blue eye-shadow and a massive hair-do, well glued-up, are used by our heroine to create a mask is fun to read about. The way daily life is conducted with a complete lack of modern screens is striking. The characters’ moral universe is appealing. They assume that love leads to marriage and that playing with sexual contact in the form of kissing and making-out is to awaken a deep, heavy, potentially dangerous thing that robs people of the ability to properly evaluate their mutual compatibility.
Yet the overall message of the story left me feeling ambiguous. Essentially, it is a well-presented, charming manifestation of the idea that life’s purpose is to find and know oneself. This must be done as an individual, and involves escape from other people’s undue influence (in the imagery of the novel, one must “escape one’s own cage”--the personal fears and insecurities that hold one imprisoned--without the help of friends, parents, or true love, because no one can save us from ourselves). Marriage is something to consider only after both parties have first pursued their own dreams and discovered who they truly are. This message is all the more powerful because, rather than being assumed, it is discovered by the heroine in a slow and non-preachy way.
Unfortunately, the author forgets that the search for truth (including about oneself) is not best pursued only through individualism. Community and revealed beliefs are an important part of this process.
There is some truth to the book’s thesis that we can’t save each other and that we must find our own inner courage, and I am ready enough to accept the idea that these particular characters really did need to make the choices they did. The problem is that nowadays, it is assumed that everyone needs to make such choices.
My final feeling is that this would make a good book to read and discuss with one’s teenage daughters, but not perhaps to hand them and leave undiscussed.
January 16, 2021
This is not typically the kind of book I’d pick out to read, but the writing was gripping and articulately pulls the reader in. The story is a mix of genres: coming of age, mystery, drama, romance, young adult adventure.
The themes of knowing yourself, tackling problems, seeing people for who they are, the importance of community, and making serious choices are all subtle but also poignant.
Towards the end I thought the author dropped the ball and the plot was beyond saving, but she pulled it around and I think the roller coaster was worth it.
The themes of knowing yourself, tackling problems, seeing people for who they are, the importance of community, and making serious choices are all subtle but also poignant.
Towards the end I thought the author dropped the ball and the plot was beyond saving, but she pulled it around and I think the roller coaster was worth it.
August 14, 2023
Such a lovely book!
August 23, 2008
This is a growing pains type of book, something that makes you look at being a young adult stuggling with growing up in a different way, maybe in a wring you out kind of way. Possibly the only other books that made me feel this way would be the series by Megan McCafferty.
Sherwood Smith, author of Inda and Crown and Court Duel has recommended it on livejournal (http://community.livejournal.com/atha...) and describes it very well - "Greensleeves had what I considered the very best illustration of the difference between love and mere (or not so mere) attraction that I have EVER seen. And that included very wide reading in adult books at that time. In fact, much of the popular adult literature I read in the sixties mixed the two--usually mistaking attraction-at-first-sight for actual love, which usually ends in tragedy in real life. The thing about Greensleeves is that it is a delightful story, not the least bit preachy, and not a single inappropriate word or action, though it deals so directly with potentially strong material. I thought Jarvis a genius. And more clearsighted than many so-called adult writers.
The story, briefly, is about a girl named Shannon whose divorced parents are both famous. So she's spent time partly in Europe, partly in a small town in USA. She feels like she doesn't fit anywhere. When it comes time for college, she panics. So her 'uncle' hires her to go in disguise to this tiny college town to investigate a very peculiar will. There is no danger involved, just a very odd set of circumstances around this will, and he wants to know if the recently deceased elderly lady was sane, or coerced, or what.
So Shannon makes up this ridiculous persona, and goes off to investigate, getting a job as a waitress. Among the distinctive characters she meets are two guys . . . well, I'll stop there. "
Sherwood Smith, author of Inda and Crown and Court Duel has recommended it on livejournal (http://community.livejournal.com/atha...) and describes it very well - "Greensleeves had what I considered the very best illustration of the difference between love and mere (or not so mere) attraction that I have EVER seen. And that included very wide reading in adult books at that time. In fact, much of the popular adult literature I read in the sixties mixed the two--usually mistaking attraction-at-first-sight for actual love, which usually ends in tragedy in real life. The thing about Greensleeves is that it is a delightful story, not the least bit preachy, and not a single inappropriate word or action, though it deals so directly with potentially strong material. I thought Jarvis a genius. And more clearsighted than many so-called adult writers.
The story, briefly, is about a girl named Shannon whose divorced parents are both famous. So she's spent time partly in Europe, partly in a small town in USA. She feels like she doesn't fit anywhere. When it comes time for college, she panics. So her 'uncle' hires her to go in disguise to this tiny college town to investigate a very peculiar will. There is no danger involved, just a very odd set of circumstances around this will, and he wants to know if the recently deceased elderly lady was sane, or coerced, or what.
So Shannon makes up this ridiculous persona, and goes off to investigate, getting a job as a waitress. Among the distinctive characters she meets are two guys . . . well, I'll stop there. "
August 29, 2024
Wow! It was good. It was kind of a sad book though with a semi-happy ending.
The mystery part of the book takes up only about half the book and the rest a very complicated romance. Definitely not a la-di-da book.
****SPOILER Lines****
"It doesn't say very much about-anything. But it does tell where I am."
Usually I don't like the fill in the blank, you get to decide how this ends, kind of writing. But this was a little more complete even though it wasn't completely finished.
"It's been 381 days, 6 hours, and 32 minutes since I said, 'I'll see you in a week.' Just shows how wrong a person can be." Did he like look at his watch or something right after he said 'see you in a week'? Maybe he just made some numbers up. Anyways still a great line!
And to end this kind of random review I must say that I absolutely ADORE the cover! And the name!
Re-read: 2024
Upon re-reading this delight of a book, I loved it even more the second time. Perhaps because I find myself relating far more to the main character. It really hit home with me. Her rollercoaster was my rollercoaster. Also, I realized the story follows the rhythm a of Greensleeves the song. I don’t remember that from before, or perhaps I missed it. It was beautiful, thoughtful, and very utterly fitting. I wonder why this book isn’t more popular, but then again maybe it’s because not many people can relate to this main character, mis-fit in the different worlds she’s been a part of. If everyone could relate then that would mean we would all be the same or near similar, then we wouldn’t be mis-fits any more.
The mystery part of the book takes up only about half the book and the rest a very complicated romance. Definitely not a la-di-da book.
****SPOILER Lines****
"It doesn't say very much about-anything. But it does tell where I am."
Usually I don't like the fill in the blank, you get to decide how this ends, kind of writing. But this was a little more complete even though it wasn't completely finished.
"It's been 381 days, 6 hours, and 32 minutes since I said, 'I'll see you in a week.' Just shows how wrong a person can be." Did he like look at his watch or something right after he said 'see you in a week'? Maybe he just made some numbers up. Anyways still a great line!
And to end this kind of random review I must say that I absolutely ADORE the cover! And the name!
Re-read: 2024
Upon re-reading this delight of a book, I loved it even more the second time. Perhaps because I find myself relating far more to the main character. It really hit home with me. Her rollercoaster was my rollercoaster. Also, I realized the story follows the rhythm a of Greensleeves the song. I don’t remember that from before, or perhaps I missed it. It was beautiful, thoughtful, and very utterly fitting. I wonder why this book isn’t more popular, but then again maybe it’s because not many people can relate to this main character, mis-fit in the different worlds she’s been a part of. If everyone could relate then that would mean we would all be the same or near similar, then we wouldn’t be mis-fits any more.
December 31, 2019
I read this one again. Goodreads might tell you that I have now read it twice, but it is more like twenty times. Every time I get something new from it, and I realized this time that if I had paid more attention to its lessons the first time, I would have made far fewer mistakes in my life. It's a coming-of-age novel about a young women who is struggling to become herself amid the expectations of those around her, and if it had been about a young man instead of a young woman, it would be as popular as Catcher in the Rye or if the young woman hadn't walked away from both the sexy beast and the safe good guy at the end, it would be as popular as Little Women. But as it is, it is far better than either one.
February 6, 2017
I read this book after a friend recommended it on her blog. I wanted a light book I could read in one day, and this one seemed to fit the bill. I really enjoyed the book while she was a spy (although I still don't completely understand why she decided to pretend to be someone else when no one from the area even knew her), but I liked how she interacted with the residents and searched for answers to the "mystery" she was trying to solve. However, the last 1/4 of the book left me confused. I understand that this was a book about finding your true identity, but I just wasn't satisfied by the end of the book.
March 1, 2021
This was quite a departure from McGraw's historical fiction.
It's part coming-of-age story, part mystery (Why did Mrs. Dunningham leave such a strange will? And should it be contested?) and part teenage romance.
The last 100 pages focus on the romance angle with Shannon struggling to learn the difference between love and sexual attraction. I was tempted to drop the book at that point, but kept going because McGraw had created such compelling characters.
Although the novel is wonderfully written and brings an extremely satisfying conclusion to the will fiasco, the book had too much teenage angst for me.
It's part coming-of-age story, part mystery (Why did Mrs. Dunningham leave such a strange will? And should it be contested?) and part teenage romance.
The last 100 pages focus on the romance angle with Shannon struggling to learn the difference between love and sexual attraction. I was tempted to drop the book at that point, but kept going because McGraw had created such compelling characters.
Although the novel is wonderfully written and brings an extremely satisfying conclusion to the will fiasco, the book had too much teenage angst for me.
August 27, 2021
I loved this book! It started as a "coming of age", then turned Mystery, then Romance, and came back around to the beginning through the theme of finding out who you are. I was a tiny bit frustrated with the main character at the end, but the conclusion was still satisfying, and the characters and storytelling were very human and well written. Though it's a quick, straightforward read, the author understands human nature, and seeing life, love, and identity through the eyes of the protagonist was a really fun and thought provoking journey.
July 24, 2025
This book is absolutely wonderful!!! A delightful bildungsroman filled with wit and wisdom. I wish I could go back in time and give this book to my 16 year old self. Imagine a bit of Excellent Women combined with some Dorothy Sayers, a splash of Madeline L'Engle, Jane Austen, all as toppings on McGraw's own unique voice.
August 9, 2023
Although I thought this book was good, it wasn’t quite as cozy and fun as I’d hoped it would be. I think I was too excited to read it so that it (sadly) fell flat for me.
The story of 18 year old Shannon Lightly (aka Greensleeves) starts off in an intriguing way, but my interest started to wane about halfway through. The reader follows Shannon on a mini quest to “find herself” with the help of her steady and reliable Uncle Frost. He gives her a mystery to solve over an unforgettable summer.
The writing style and tone of the book reminded me very much of Dorothy Gilman’s adventure stories (such as Thale’s Folly and The Nun in the Closet). The book seemed a bit dated, especially with the slang and clothes of the time.
I was lucky enough to find a lovely vintage edition with dust jacket and it’s actually signed by the author! I’m not sure if I would read this book again, but I was happy to be reading it along with the Kindred Spirits book club with Kate Howe.
The story of 18 year old Shannon Lightly (aka Greensleeves) starts off in an intriguing way, but my interest started to wane about halfway through. The reader follows Shannon on a mini quest to “find herself” with the help of her steady and reliable Uncle Frost. He gives her a mystery to solve over an unforgettable summer.
The writing style and tone of the book reminded me very much of Dorothy Gilman’s adventure stories (such as Thale’s Folly and The Nun in the Closet). The book seemed a bit dated, especially with the slang and clothes of the time.
I was lucky enough to find a lovely vintage edition with dust jacket and it’s actually signed by the author! I’m not sure if I would read this book again, but I was happy to be reading it along with the Kindred Spirits book club with Kate Howe.
library-priority
April 26, 2023Because glowing reviews of the author's skill. Because I want to reconcile the two very different cover images, which both appeal, sort of. Because, unlike some of the author's HF, it may not be dated in a bad way.
October 21, 2016
I have been wanting to read this for years, ever since I read Sherwood Smith on Livejournal in the days of yore talking about how this book had been so important to her in figuring out the difference between love and attraction. It was definitely worth the read! This is a very solid middlebrow young adult novel in the old way of things, which means it is just like an adult novel, but featuring younger characters. There are some things I had problems with -- a little bit of the male/female behaviour is very much of its time (late 60s/early 70s) and narratively taken for granted, although it is handled by the main character in a way that I liked. I can see recommending it to our daughter when she is in her middle teens, since I think Shannon's struggles to figure out where she wants to go in the next stage of her life are things that a 15-17 year old could identify with today.
From a more literary perspective,
I would say that this novel resists epiphany in a way that I haven't seen in many current YA novels; it is definitely about some things, and the characters learn and grow, but they don't finish and resolve.
From a more literary perspective,
I would say that this novel resists epiphany in a way that I haven't seen in many current YA novels; it is definitely about some things, and the characters learn and grow, but they don't finish and resolve.
July 16, 2021
This is one of those books that I just didn't rush through. One or two chapters at a time was always enough. But at the same time I was always happy to pick it back up again a few days later.
It's not a particularly happy or set-down-with-satisfaction sort of story, but it was beautiful in it's honest depiction of life and struggles. There were times I thought Shannon was being insufferable and wanted to dislike it for that - but I realized that those times were often when I related to her the most. This book unexpectedly taught me more about myself than I thought a coming of age novel could. I didn't agree with all of the final conclusions, but they will all be things I mull over long after the book is back on my bookshelf.
Relatable yet whimsical, this story moved me, and I think it's going to be a novel that makes permanent change in how I view myself and the world.
It's not a particularly happy or set-down-with-satisfaction sort of story, but it was beautiful in it's honest depiction of life and struggles. There were times I thought Shannon was being insufferable and wanted to dislike it for that - but I realized that those times were often when I related to her the most. This book unexpectedly taught me more about myself than I thought a coming of age novel could. I didn't agree with all of the final conclusions, but they will all be things I mull over long after the book is back on my bookshelf.
Relatable yet whimsical, this story moved me, and I think it's going to be a novel that makes permanent change in how I view myself and the world.
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