Halfpenny Linda

by Jean Nielsen

Linda has had way too much fun in her California high school and practically fails out. Despairing, her parents send her to visit relatives in England for a year, where she has to shape up and become less spoiled. Not unexpectedly, she also finds an eligible young man, spending his junior year abroad.

185 pages

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Also wrote under the name "Hannah Sarver."

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the 1963 YA novel, Linda is a fun loving sixteen year-old California girl who puts no effort into her schoolwork. Rather than face the disgrace of spending her junior year of high school barred from all extracurricular activities because of her poor grades, she is shipped off to her mother's family in England for a year. Her father tells her she's just running away and that she's really worth no more than a half penny (Sheesh, Dad!). Linda has a hard time adjusting to chilly England and the equally chilly and staid manners of her aunt and her cousin, Icy (this deeply improbable nickname is short for Iris). Linda is shocked that the girls at her new (all girls) school aren't into makeup and dating.

I really didn't enjoy the first half of the book, because Linda is more boy crazed and shallow than the average maltshop heroine, which is saying a lot. However, things improve when she visits her grandparents in Scotland over Christmas, and generally over the course of the year her character predictably undergoes some transformation -- and she manages to get some of her classmates interested in boys, so the benefits of cross-cultural understanding go both ways - ???

The theme of "American girl goes to school in England and is brash" interests me, going back to my youth when I was scarred by the portrayal of Zerelda Brass in Third Year at Malory Towers. I have to say Linda could give Zerelda a run for her money.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book from my whole childhood.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a young teen and I really liked it. It is an early 60's teen novel that has nothing bad in it. The main character in the book is mainly concerned that she is not allowed to wear make up while she is living with her relatives in England. I like reading about a different time where even the rules of dating were a little different. A fun book to read.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book! Very satisfying vintage (1963) teen fiction. Angst-free, but not saccharine...just really nice! Kind of like the Janet Lambert books I've read.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom read it... she ended up going to england and this book inspired her to do it...
I read it... and now I REALLY want to be english....