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The High School Girls Series #1
Grace Harlowe's Freshman Year at High School
Aunt Claire is bringing back the series books that American girls read for fun a century ago.
These are fast-paced stories of friendship, adventure, and life in the age of streetcars and silent movies.
Here's what Aunt Claire has to say about her second selection, Grace Harlowe's Freshman Year at High School by Jessie Graham Flower (first published 1910).
Dear Reader,
Grace Harlowe's Freshman Year at High School was written over a hundred years ago, but it might just as easily be a story about a group of girls today.
First of all, there's Grace--confident and athletic, a natural leader and a true friend. Then there's the new girl, Anne--quiet, smart, and quite determined to win the freshman academic prize. There's also Nora, who's funny and sharp, and Jessica, who is rather good at detective work. And then of course there's the mean girl, Miriam, who's not about to let Anne take her place at the head of the class.
The girls have all sorts of adventures in their freshman year at Oakdale High School--there are parties, pranks, and even a pack of hungry wolves. The girls must contend with Miriam's scheming, the cruel jokes played by the sophomore class, and a most unpleasant math teacher. Oh, and Anne has a secret. . . .
You'll notice that even if the girls seem familiar, some things about high school life in 1910 don't. I've added a note about these things--with some pictures--to the front of the book. And I will try my hardest not to feel offended if you ignore it completely and start right in on the story. It's an uphill battle, after all, to compete with Grace and the gang.
Yours most sincerely,
Aunt Claire
These are fast-paced stories of friendship, adventure, and life in the age of streetcars and silent movies.
Here's what Aunt Claire has to say about her second selection, Grace Harlowe's Freshman Year at High School by Jessie Graham Flower (first published 1910).
Dear Reader,
Grace Harlowe's Freshman Year at High School was written over a hundred years ago, but it might just as easily be a story about a group of girls today.
First of all, there's Grace--confident and athletic, a natural leader and a true friend. Then there's the new girl, Anne--quiet, smart, and quite determined to win the freshman academic prize. There's also Nora, who's funny and sharp, and Jessica, who is rather good at detective work. And then of course there's the mean girl, Miriam, who's not about to let Anne take her place at the head of the class.
The girls have all sorts of adventures in their freshman year at Oakdale High School--there are parties, pranks, and even a pack of hungry wolves. The girls must contend with Miriam's scheming, the cruel jokes played by the sophomore class, and a most unpleasant math teacher. Oh, and Anne has a secret. . . .
You'll notice that even if the girls seem familiar, some things about high school life in 1910 don't. I've added a note about these things--with some pictures--to the front of the book. And I will try my hardest not to feel offended if you ignore it completely and start right in on the story. It's an uphill battle, after all, to compete with Grace and the gang.
Yours most sincerely,
Aunt Claire
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1910
7 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 28, 2015
In an absolute ORGY of reading on Project Gutenberg, I have read the first TEN books about Grace Harlowe, the best girl ever. I feel like I have fallen into a timewarp and have been living in the nineteen-tens.
Grace is the best at everything. Well, that's not technically true, because other girls are smarter, or more artistic or creative. But Grace is the one that everyone else circles around. She's got flashing gray eyes, she's athletic and tomboyish, she is kind to stray waifs (and probably kittens and lost puppies), and she is always a straight shooter.
Even when bitchy Marian and the Sophomores (ptui!) are unfair to Grace and her chums, Grace never stoops to revenge or bad behavior. She just tries to do the right thing ALWAYS with the belief that in the end, things will come right.
Read my review of Grace Harlowe's Problem to read my more adult thoughts about the series. I don't want to be spoilery in this review, because for what this is, it was charming.
Grace is the best at everything. Well, that's not technically true, because other girls are smarter, or more artistic or creative. But Grace is the one that everyone else circles around. She's got flashing gray eyes, she's athletic and tomboyish, she is kind to stray waifs (and probably kittens and lost puppies), and she is always a straight shooter.
Even when bitchy Marian and the Sophomores (ptui!) are unfair to Grace and her chums, Grace never stoops to revenge or bad behavior. She just tries to do the right thing ALWAYS with the belief that in the end, things will come right.
Read my review of Grace Harlowe's Problem to read my more adult thoughts about the series. I don't want to be spoilery in this review, because for what this is, it was charming.
August 21, 2016
Fans of the Betsy-Tacy high school books will probably like this. It's not as deep or thoughtful but it's plenty of fun.
This book was published in 1910. I liked it a little extra because I read it in a hotel built in 1913.
This book was published in 1910. I liked it a little extra because I read it in a hotel built in 1913.
July 17, 2012
Ah, a book series about school days, but this particular series is written by a single person, and not a slew of writers using the same non de plume! Plus, it helps that I like the reader(s) at librivox to get me started on it.
The magic and mayhem is *exactly* what we ALL experienced during our freshman year at high school:
Evil teachers who purposely conspire with evil students to bring down the poor,
A picture perfect principal who demotes the evil teachers and their favouritism, who fights on for the honour of the institution,
Burning an effigy on All Hallows Eve,
The pelting of fruit at converging dangers,
Monocle’d dandies impersonating beloved long-distance relatives,
And the wolves of winter hunting one down during a frosty alfresco luncheon.
Those were the days, eh?
I shall continue to “re-live” these delightful times of my educational career with Grace Harlowe!
The magic and mayhem is *exactly* what we ALL experienced during our freshman year at high school:
Evil teachers who purposely conspire with evil students to bring down the poor,
A picture perfect principal who demotes the evil teachers and their favouritism, who fights on for the honour of the institution,
Burning an effigy on All Hallows Eve,
The pelting of fruit at converging dangers,
Monocle’d dandies impersonating beloved long-distance relatives,
And the wolves of winter hunting one down during a frosty alfresco luncheon.
Those were the days, eh?
I shall continue to “re-live” these delightful times of my educational career with Grace Harlowe!
March 30, 2017
Although this was written for young girls, I love this book, as well as all of the high school and college books. I have a treasured photo of my grandmother with her high school basketball team dressed much like the book describes. So many of the details in the books mirror things I've heard about the Granny I was never privileged to meet that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading them all several times. The WWI Overseas series was a bit over the top and the Overland Riders series even more so.
Want to read
November 20, 2013Edwardian-era slice-of-life "shoujo" series? YES.
Also the beautiful and imperious (i.e. bitchy) Miriam (flashing her dark eyes at everyone and everything) is so great.
Also the beautiful and imperious (i.e. bitchy) Miriam (flashing her dark eyes at everyone and everything) is so great.
December 29, 2018
Kind of batshit crazy, super vintage-y goodness. But...ummm, wolves aren’t cannibals FWIW.
July 13, 2022
I picked this up at a thrift store because I saw it was a reprint of a book originally published in 1910, which I thought would be interesting. It follows Grace Harlowe, a newly minted freshman, as she navigates the trials and triumphs of high school with her best friends and a few enemies. She's athletic, sensible, and kind, but doesn't excel at academics as much as her friends. The plot is fairly episodic, but with an overarching conflict that runs throughout the book.
The tone of this book reminded me of books like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or Tom Swift (minus the adventure elements of all those books). The main character has two or three good buddies and a sworn enemy, and everything is fairly black and white. This is a stark contrast with modern books, which tend very much towards shades of gray, with anti-heroes and all that comes along with that. So in some ways it was a refreshing change, in other ways it seemed a bit simplistic. But it was a pleasant read and an interesting look at the past!
The tone of this book reminded me of books like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or Tom Swift (minus the adventure elements of all those books). The main character has two or three good buddies and a sworn enemy, and everything is fairly black and white. This is a stark contrast with modern books, which tend very much towards shades of gray, with anti-heroes and all that comes along with that. So in some ways it was a refreshing change, in other ways it seemed a bit simplistic. But it was a pleasant read and an interesting look at the past!
August 26, 2019
This book kicked off my reading of the entire Grace Harlowe series which I adored! These were written at a time when so much was changing for young women - first riding bikes, then driving cars. The independent young American woman of the 20th century was being launched. As the country lurches toward WWI in more or less real time you can see it unfold in these books. I devoted a post to this series (and tacked The Automobile Girls series on as well) which can be found at: https://pams-pictorama.com/2016/11/13... or by searching Pams-Pictorama.com. Hit Project Gutenberg and have yourself a fine time!
July 5, 2024
Interesting to read a book that was written 114 years ago. Surprised to find out that girl's basketball was in high schools in 1910. I had thought Title Nine brought it to schools in the 70's. (Also read a book from 1933 that had girl's basketball.) Not sure why it went away from schools and when that happened. Although fiction, the book does give you some historical perspective.
September 21, 2017
Enjoyed the book. Good characters. I won this book through goodreads.
February 19, 2023
😀 Dated, but enjoyable to read.
Read
March 8, 2025Christine Blanchard, the narrator of the Librivox recording read rather fast but her articulation and expression was good.
February 6, 2011
Written and set in 1910, this was often unintentionally hilarious (sometimes intentionally so). Lots and lots of drama! and hijinks! and wolves! A pretty fun companion to, say, the Betsy-Tacy books. House parties and freshman class songs and evil teachers, oh my! I've downloaded all of the high school and college years, although I'm not sure I will ever get through them.
February 20, 2013
this one doesn't seems like an old writings. The classical story of high school students is never ends, and I will always love it. It will reminds you of Enid Blyton's St. Claire or Malory Towers stories.
April 27, 2013
A pretty good story in an interesting series, although I read them slightly out of order. This is the first book, and if you enjoy school stories, you will probably enjoy this one. The characters are a little perfect though,and I'd prefer more flaws and less harmony all over.
September 19, 2015
A good look into what the idealized American youth was in the early 20th century
Want to read
March 13, 2017Read this book for free through Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20472/...
Read
November 26, 2018It was fun and cute! :)
January 21, 2019
Great fun, but some of the hijinks were a little extreme.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews