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Booky #1-3 Omnibus
Booky: A Trilogy
Beatrice Thomson doesn't mind her funny nickname. It makes her feel special, which is important when you're the middle child: not the smartest, or the best-looking, or a boy. The Depression years are hard ones, with her father out of work and the family struggling to make ends meet. But irrepressible Booky, with her big imagination and even bigger plans, can tackle anything. A sharp-eyed kid can find plenty to see and do without spending a cent. Even if it does get her into scrapes!
485 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
4 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Bernice Thurman Hunter
19 books44 followers She was born in Toronto, Ontario, on November 3, 1922 and died May 29, 2002. She married her high school sweetheart, Lloyd Hunter, and had two children, Anita and Heather, and four grandchildren, Meredith, Lisa, Hunter and Franceline. No Greats.
Bernice was the middle child of 5 children (Wilma, Gordon, Bernice, Jack and Robert). She struggled in school because they moved so often. The Booky Trilogy, set during the Great Depression, depicts her family being forced to stay ahead of the bailiff, who threw them out when her unemployed father couldn't afford the rent. (Despite the hardships of poverty, it was her nature to be happy, so the books are upbeat.) They lived in Birchcliff and Swansea. The "new house" was on Cornell Avenue and she went to Birchcliff Public School, but most of her childhood and teens were spent on Lavinia, which is why Swansea claims her for their own. She attended Runnymede Collegiate, but didn't graduate because the war started and she went to work (depicted in The Girls They Left Behind). As a new bride, she lived on Gladstone Avenue in Toronto. Her husband was transferred to Peterborough, so they moved to Millbrook when her children were young. In 1956, she and her husband bought their own home on Meldazy Drive in a beautiful new subdivision in Scarborough, when McCowan was a gravel road and north of Ellesmere was farmland. Her books accurately depict these locales in different eras. Toronto is "a character" in her books.
She was interested in writing since early childhood and would often have a captive audience of school chums lined up along the curb to listen to her stories. In her teens, she met and had the temerity to present a story to her idol, L.M. Montgomery. The famous author of Anne Of Green Gables complimented Bernice: "Your characters ring true!...You have a good imagination" – blissful words for the young author's ears, but the next bit of advice was a crushing blow to the fourteen-year-old's already faltering self-esteem. Montgomery said, "A writer must have higher education -- it is imperative that you go to University." The young hopeful went away dejected. What Ms. Montgomery could not know was that Bernice came from a very poor background and had no hope of a University Education. The fateful words stayed buried in her heart for many years. An avid reader, she was self-educated. She often read a book in one night.
She continued to write because writing was as natural to her as breathing. When her own children were small, Bernice wrote for them an ongoing story about their lives in Millbrook, Ontario with themselves as heroines. (Her first manuscript, Kimberley of Millpond, has been published 55 years later in 2010 by her daughter.) Her stories were written in longhand because Bernice didn't own a typewriter. It was not until her children were grown that she decided to try to publish. She obtained an old Underwood typewriter and tapped out a story about her first grandchild, aptly titled, "A Grandchild Can Make Life Beautiful Again". She sent it to The Toronto Star and they published it and sent her a cheque for fifty-dollars. After that she wrote and published numerous stories for children in magazines and anthologies and then went on to publish 17 novels.
Bernice's novels, especially the "Booky" trilogy, are autobiographical in nature. Her strength as a writer lies in her ability to bring her childhood memories vividly to life for her young readers. Because the setting and tone of her novels accurately capture the past, she was acknowledged by the Toronto Historical Society and her books are used in history as well as language programs in schools. She was in constant demand as a guest speaker in schools and libraries across Canada and her daughter, Heather Hunter, now goes in her stead. Heather gives a power point presentation on Bernice's life and works.
Of her school visits, Bernice once said: "My favourite part of a school visit is 'que
Bernice was the middle child of 5 children (Wilma, Gordon, Bernice, Jack and Robert). She struggled in school because they moved so often. The Booky Trilogy, set during the Great Depression, depicts her family being forced to stay ahead of the bailiff, who threw them out when her unemployed father couldn't afford the rent. (Despite the hardships of poverty, it was her nature to be happy, so the books are upbeat.) They lived in Birchcliff and Swansea. The "new house" was on Cornell Avenue and she went to Birchcliff Public School, but most of her childhood and teens were spent on Lavinia, which is why Swansea claims her for their own. She attended Runnymede Collegiate, but didn't graduate because the war started and she went to work (depicted in The Girls They Left Behind). As a new bride, she lived on Gladstone Avenue in Toronto. Her husband was transferred to Peterborough, so they moved to Millbrook when her children were young. In 1956, she and her husband bought their own home on Meldazy Drive in a beautiful new subdivision in Scarborough, when McCowan was a gravel road and north of Ellesmere was farmland. Her books accurately depict these locales in different eras. Toronto is "a character" in her books.
She was interested in writing since early childhood and would often have a captive audience of school chums lined up along the curb to listen to her stories. In her teens, she met and had the temerity to present a story to her idol, L.M. Montgomery. The famous author of Anne Of Green Gables complimented Bernice: "Your characters ring true!...You have a good imagination" – blissful words for the young author's ears, but the next bit of advice was a crushing blow to the fourteen-year-old's already faltering self-esteem. Montgomery said, "A writer must have higher education -- it is imperative that you go to University." The young hopeful went away dejected. What Ms. Montgomery could not know was that Bernice came from a very poor background and had no hope of a University Education. The fateful words stayed buried in her heart for many years. An avid reader, she was self-educated. She often read a book in one night.
She continued to write because writing was as natural to her as breathing. When her own children were small, Bernice wrote for them an ongoing story about their lives in Millbrook, Ontario with themselves as heroines. (Her first manuscript, Kimberley of Millpond, has been published 55 years later in 2010 by her daughter.) Her stories were written in longhand because Bernice didn't own a typewriter. It was not until her children were grown that she decided to try to publish. She obtained an old Underwood typewriter and tapped out a story about her first grandchild, aptly titled, "A Grandchild Can Make Life Beautiful Again". She sent it to The Toronto Star and they published it and sent her a cheque for fifty-dollars. After that she wrote and published numerous stories for children in magazines and anthologies and then went on to publish 17 novels.
Bernice's novels, especially the "Booky" trilogy, are autobiographical in nature. Her strength as a writer lies in her ability to bring her childhood memories vividly to life for her young readers. Because the setting and tone of her novels accurately capture the past, she was acknowledged by the Toronto Historical Society and her books are used in history as well as language programs in schools. She was in constant demand as a guest speaker in schools and libraries across Canada and her daughter, Heather Hunter, now goes in her stead. Heather gives a power point presentation on Bernice's life and works.
Of her school visits, Bernice once said: "My favourite part of a school visit is 'que
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 16, 2019
I read this trilogy as a buddy read with Lisa Vegan, reading about 50 pages each day at the same time and discussing what we had read after. It's a wonderful book for a buddy read, so much to talk about. They're great books to read all in one go.
Although these are classified as novels they seem very autobiographical, a few name changes but there are photos included. I was left wanting to know which bits were made up. I wanted names by the photos but most you can work out who they are.
There are some wonderful characters in this book. I loved Booky and her positive attitude. Her mother was wonderful, trying so hard and sticking up for her children and teaching her children some great values like kindness to the boy in the village that everyone laughed at and called dumb. Aunt Winn was wonderful and Aunt Aggie, the letter Booky wrote her with the long words in and Aunt Aggies reply were hilarious. Her mother's father was a wonderful character too. A wonderful teacher makes all the difference to Booky's life briefly.
The second two books have lots about boys, dates and crushes. Normally I find this sort of thing both boring and cringy to read about but I so enjoyed these parts, they were written with much humour and self mocking. I loved the part where a boy Booky likes is invited to tea unexpectedly and she quickly tries to make herself look good by all sorts of ways that where so interesting to read about, copying film star styles and improvising with household ingredients to emulate the latest beauty fads of the time. Given the circumstances of this family I didn't expect this book to be so funny.
Despite some awful hardship and horrible conditions and treatment of children this family had some great times. The brothers and sisters had typical relationships but still loved each other and many family members, cousins and aunts were around to help out. It looked a great place to grow up in many respects despite the poverty. I loved Booky's mum's positive outlook and her saying that 'bad beginnings have good endings'
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys accounts of day to day life, hardship, books set in the great depression or those looking for books with strong female characters.
Read on open library
Although these are classified as novels they seem very autobiographical, a few name changes but there are photos included. I was left wanting to know which bits were made up. I wanted names by the photos but most you can work out who they are.
There are some wonderful characters in this book. I loved Booky and her positive attitude. Her mother was wonderful, trying so hard and sticking up for her children and teaching her children some great values like kindness to the boy in the village that everyone laughed at and called dumb. Aunt Winn was wonderful and Aunt Aggie, the letter Booky wrote her with the long words in and Aunt Aggies reply were hilarious. Her mother's father was a wonderful character too. A wonderful teacher makes all the difference to Booky's life briefly.
The second two books have lots about boys, dates and crushes. Normally I find this sort of thing both boring and cringy to read about but I so enjoyed these parts, they were written with much humour and self mocking. I loved the part where a boy Booky likes is invited to tea unexpectedly and she quickly tries to make herself look good by all sorts of ways that where so interesting to read about, copying film star styles and improvising with household ingredients to emulate the latest beauty fads of the time. Given the circumstances of this family I didn't expect this book to be so funny.
Despite some awful hardship and horrible conditions and treatment of children this family had some great times. The brothers and sisters had typical relationships but still loved each other and many family members, cousins and aunts were around to help out. It looked a great place to grow up in many respects despite the poverty. I loved Booky's mum's positive outlook and her saying that 'bad beginnings have good endings'
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys accounts of day to day life, hardship, books set in the great depression or those looking for books with strong female characters.
Read on open library
December 15, 2019
This omnibus edition includes all three books in the trilogy: [That Scatterbrain Booky], [With Love from Booky], and [As Ever, Booky]. It also has a bonus story, which appears between the first and second books, titled: “Visitors From Saskatoon” and it is a short story of only 8 pages, not including the photos.
That Scatterbrain Booky, book 1 = 5 stars (read 3/6/11-3/9/11)
Thanks to Goodreads’ friends Gundula, I have a copy of this of my very own, which I am happy to lend out. Another Goodreads friend offered to let me borrow her copies of the three books. What a wonderful site this is! What’s infuriating and disappointing though is how many books from faraway, and not all that far away, places are sometimes not available. Yes, this book is old, but it’s reprinted, and yet it’s not available at my public library. I’ll bet if the events in the book took place in the U.S. and not in Canada, our near neighbor, my library would have the book.
The cover has a painting of a young girl and normally I like deciding for myself what characters look like but turn the first page and there is a photo of a girl who looks exactly like the painting on the cover, and there are more photos. These are autobiographical novels with some non-fiction components.
The storytelling and writing style engaged me from the start. Booky’s narration is wonderful, her story lovingly drawn. So, despite the hunger and poverty and the hitting and yelling and other disturbing content, this book definitely qualifies as a comfort read for me. There was quite a bit of humor. There was a nifty appearance of the book [Anne of Green Gables]. The author’s vivid and genuine memories of childhood had universal appeal. The relationships and situations felt very genuine. And there was so much hopefulness.
Unfortunately, when I read books about hungry people is when I’m most prone to overeat and Booky’s descriptions of her hunger and the hunger experienced by her family members was vividly told, as were the descriptions of the foods they did eat.
The photographs of people and places and things and events from the time, including some of the author when young, really added to my pleasure of reading the story. It brought the historical fiction even more to life.
What a treasure! It’s ridiculous that just because this book’s events take place in Canada and it’s by a Canadian author, that it’ so difficult to obtain in the U.S. My library should have this edition (it has no Booky books) and I think I’ll recommend they purchase it for lending out. Thanks to Goodreads’ friend Gundula I own this lovely book, and thanks also to Goodreads’ friend Abigail who offered to lend me her 3 Booky books.
I expect this will be my favorite of the three books. The child narrator is so entertaining; in this book she goes in age from shortly before her 10th birthday until shortly after her 11th birthday.
If I’d read this when I was 9, 10, 11 it would have been one of my favorite books. My father talked about the Great Depression some when I was young. He was a young adult by then, but when he was Booky’s age he also lived in extreme poverty, no happy ending for him until he was older than Booky.
“Visitors from Saskatoon”, a Booky story = 4 stars (read 3/9/11)
I wasn’t sure that this additional 8 page long story would add anything of substance to the three Booky books. In this edition it appears after the first book. I ended up really liking it. It gave some fascinating information about Booky’s mother when she was young, and it manages to deftly convey the emotions that are at and under the surface, for both the visitors and the members of Booky’s family, and as with the first book this story is also narrated marvelously by Booky.
Booky: A Trillogy, continued:
I read this as a buddy read with Hilary.
Reread book 1: 2019/12/7-9 3 days. I’d remembered I’d liked it when I read it over 7-1/2 years ago but I actually remembered very little from it. It was almost like reading it for the first time.
I’d read the first book on my own a long time back. I liked it so much I was scared to continue but I’ve read enough reviews now of the second and third books that I wanted to read all three and I knew I had to reread the first book so it would be fresh in my memory. I wanted to read the trilogy as one book. (Much thanks to Gundula for giving me this copy. Unfortunately, this book is hard to find in the U.S. None of my libraries have it.)
From this trilogy I read the first book and short story that follows book 1 over 7-1/2 years ago. Later today I'm starting again, reading the entire book with HIlary. Eager to get started. I love all the photos.
We were delayed. I own a copy but the Open Library copy Hilary needs to read has been borrowed and has an additional person waiting, not true not that many days ago. It's so frustrating when books aren't available in certain countries. This one I'd think libraries in Canada would have it but that's not true in the United States or in England.
I’d already written reviews for the first book and the story that comes between books one and two, the parts I reread. I’ll add my notes to those and my reviews and reading of books two and three will be brand new.
The only frustrating thing is that seems so much more like a biography/non-fiction than a novel. There are even many photos of the people/characters. I don’t know what is true and what is fictionalized. The photographs are wonderful!
So after my second read of book 1 and the short story. I liked the short story but to me it seems like the last chapter of book 1.
I love Booky and her mother too. The story is great. I can feel what it felt like to be poor in the Great Depression with this family and the people they know who live near or are relatives and friends. Great historical fiction! The many photos included and knowing this book was based on the author’s life have me curious about what was true and what was fictionalized.
Book 2: read with Hilary 2019/12/10-12/12
With Love from Booky, book 2 = 2019/12/10-12
I read this in this omnibus edition: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
I loved it.
I was afraid I wouldn't like books 2 or 3 which is why I hadn't read them 7-1/2 years ago when I read book 1 and the story, but I love this and I think I'll love book 3 too.
It’s a testament to her mother for being such a good housekeeper to see what the “new house“ was like in another family’s/women’s hands. Booky’s family seemed poorer than the family of her friend so finances wouldn’t be an excuse.
Her first kiss, well that was the 1930s and I think those sort of games went out in the 1950s because when I was growing up in the 1960s and 70s at those ages nobody was doing that kind of thing and I don’t think kids play that now but maybe. I have heard about recently younger people doing that or maybe seen it in movies? In this book the kids were very sweet and innocent and the mother on the premises did not seem at all perturbed.
Such a difference to have a great teacher vs. a horrid one. So glad that Booky did so well her last year before high school.
So sad for Willa. Hope a way is found for her to get the education she wants and that the family wants for her. We’ve come a long way as far as sexism/discrimination. With all of Willa’s squeamishness I wouldn’t have thought she would have being a doctor as a goal.
It was very sad about Grandpa but I'm so glad everyone was kind and helpful to Booky when she was grieving. What a great relationship they had!
I was afraid the end of book 2 wouldn’t feel like the end of a book but it did.
Thanks again to Gundula for the book!!!
As Ever, Booky, book 3 = 2019/12/13-14 buddy read with Hilary.
I love how L.M. Montgomery made her way into the story. So much fun! I love Booky and I love her mother. Willa too!
All seemed very 15 years old (to 17 years old) things, especially for the 1930s: the celebrity idols, the girl-boy party which was equally sad and hilarious and Booky’s concerns, her first jobs including her first real job.
I didn’t like rich girl Gloria but I did like rich boy Lorne.
I’d been so scared to read on but it’s really like one big book.
To summarize the 3 novels: Great and memorable characters & relationships and wonderful humor and touching stories, and such interesting photographs. The sibling relationships throughout all seemed completely authentic. One long story.
The only downside for me (aside from what always happens when I read about hungry people without enough food, especially when there are vivid food descriptions in the books, is that I get more hungry myself) is that these were published as novels but they’re obviously heavily autobiographical, so I’m left wondering what was real and what was fictionalized. I might have to try to look for a good and thorough biography of the author. It took me years but I’m grateful I’ve read the whole thing. For my reread of book 1 and the short story and my first reading of books 2 and 3, I enjoyed my buddy read with Hilary. I’m so glad I got to the whole trilogy! Sometimes when I read books and the main character is young I don’t always like it as much as they get older but this one was wonderful throughout. Great historical fiction. I got such a great sense of what it was like to be poor in the Toronto area during the Great Depression. Despite so much awfulness I envied having so many relatives and so many friends in the neighborhood. There is such a sense of community. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this young girl seeing her aspirations come to fruition.
I wanted to put this on my biography and non-fiction shelves because it’s obvious so much of this content belongs there. There are even real photos supporting the narrative, but they were published as fictional novels and that’s how they’re shelved so I’m restraining myself, even though the Epilogue and story details all the way through point solidly to autobiography.
I’ve added the individual books in addition to the trilogy book that I read for the purposes of the Goodreads “compare books” with other members feature.
Highly recommended trilogy of autobiographical novels for readers who enjoy historical fiction coming of age novels that have both drama & comedy, and it’s of particular interest to young readers who want to be writers.
This book is available on Open Library which is a good thing because it’s hard to get borrowed copies outside of Canada. I am so thankful for my copy, received years ago from Goodreads friend Gundula. It’s a treasure.
That Scatterbrain Booky, book 1 = 5 stars (read 3/6/11-3/9/11)
Thanks to Goodreads’ friends Gundula, I have a copy of this of my very own, which I am happy to lend out. Another Goodreads friend offered to let me borrow her copies of the three books. What a wonderful site this is! What’s infuriating and disappointing though is how many books from faraway, and not all that far away, places are sometimes not available. Yes, this book is old, but it’s reprinted, and yet it’s not available at my public library. I’ll bet if the events in the book took place in the U.S. and not in Canada, our near neighbor, my library would have the book.
The cover has a painting of a young girl and normally I like deciding for myself what characters look like but turn the first page and there is a photo of a girl who looks exactly like the painting on the cover, and there are more photos. These are autobiographical novels with some non-fiction components.
The storytelling and writing style engaged me from the start. Booky’s narration is wonderful, her story lovingly drawn. So, despite the hunger and poverty and the hitting and yelling and other disturbing content, this book definitely qualifies as a comfort read for me. There was quite a bit of humor. There was a nifty appearance of the book [Anne of Green Gables]. The author’s vivid and genuine memories of childhood had universal appeal. The relationships and situations felt very genuine. And there was so much hopefulness.
Unfortunately, when I read books about hungry people is when I’m most prone to overeat and Booky’s descriptions of her hunger and the hunger experienced by her family members was vividly told, as were the descriptions of the foods they did eat.
The photographs of people and places and things and events from the time, including some of the author when young, really added to my pleasure of reading the story. It brought the historical fiction even more to life.
What a treasure! It’s ridiculous that just because this book’s events take place in Canada and it’s by a Canadian author, that it’ so difficult to obtain in the U.S. My library should have this edition (it has no Booky books) and I think I’ll recommend they purchase it for lending out. Thanks to Goodreads’ friend Gundula I own this lovely book, and thanks also to Goodreads’ friend Abigail who offered to lend me her 3 Booky books.
I expect this will be my favorite of the three books. The child narrator is so entertaining; in this book she goes in age from shortly before her 10th birthday until shortly after her 11th birthday.
If I’d read this when I was 9, 10, 11 it would have been one of my favorite books. My father talked about the Great Depression some when I was young. He was a young adult by then, but when he was Booky’s age he also lived in extreme poverty, no happy ending for him until he was older than Booky.
“Visitors from Saskatoon”, a Booky story = 4 stars (read 3/9/11)
I wasn’t sure that this additional 8 page long story would add anything of substance to the three Booky books. In this edition it appears after the first book. I ended up really liking it. It gave some fascinating information about Booky’s mother when she was young, and it manages to deftly convey the emotions that are at and under the surface, for both the visitors and the members of Booky’s family, and as with the first book this story is also narrated marvelously by Booky.
Booky: A Trillogy, continued:
I read this as a buddy read with Hilary.
Reread book 1: 2019/12/7-9 3 days. I’d remembered I’d liked it when I read it over 7-1/2 years ago but I actually remembered very little from it. It was almost like reading it for the first time.
I’d read the first book on my own a long time back. I liked it so much I was scared to continue but I’ve read enough reviews now of the second and third books that I wanted to read all three and I knew I had to reread the first book so it would be fresh in my memory. I wanted to read the trilogy as one book. (Much thanks to Gundula for giving me this copy. Unfortunately, this book is hard to find in the U.S. None of my libraries have it.)
From this trilogy I read the first book and short story that follows book 1 over 7-1/2 years ago. Later today I'm starting again, reading the entire book with HIlary. Eager to get started. I love all the photos.
We were delayed. I own a copy but the Open Library copy Hilary needs to read has been borrowed and has an additional person waiting, not true not that many days ago. It's so frustrating when books aren't available in certain countries. This one I'd think libraries in Canada would have it but that's not true in the United States or in England.
I’d already written reviews for the first book and the story that comes between books one and two, the parts I reread. I’ll add my notes to those and my reviews and reading of books two and three will be brand new.
The only frustrating thing is that seems so much more like a biography/non-fiction than a novel. There are even many photos of the people/characters. I don’t know what is true and what is fictionalized. The photographs are wonderful!
So after my second read of book 1 and the short story. I liked the short story but to me it seems like the last chapter of book 1.
I love Booky and her mother too. The story is great. I can feel what it felt like to be poor in the Great Depression with this family and the people they know who live near or are relatives and friends. Great historical fiction! The many photos included and knowing this book was based on the author’s life have me curious about what was true and what was fictionalized.
Book 2: read with Hilary 2019/12/10-12/12
With Love from Booky, book 2 = 2019/12/10-12
I read this in this omnibus edition: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
I loved it.
I was afraid I wouldn't like books 2 or 3 which is why I hadn't read them 7-1/2 years ago when I read book 1 and the story, but I love this and I think I'll love book 3 too.
It’s a testament to her mother for being such a good housekeeper to see what the “new house“ was like in another family’s/women’s hands. Booky’s family seemed poorer than the family of her friend so finances wouldn’t be an excuse.
Her first kiss, well that was the 1930s and I think those sort of games went out in the 1950s because when I was growing up in the 1960s and 70s at those ages nobody was doing that kind of thing and I don’t think kids play that now but maybe. I have heard about recently younger people doing that or maybe seen it in movies? In this book the kids were very sweet and innocent and the mother on the premises did not seem at all perturbed.
Such a difference to have a great teacher vs. a horrid one. So glad that Booky did so well her last year before high school.
So sad for Willa. Hope a way is found for her to get the education she wants and that the family wants for her. We’ve come a long way as far as sexism/discrimination. With all of Willa’s squeamishness I wouldn’t have thought she would have being a doctor as a goal.
It was very sad about Grandpa but I'm so glad everyone was kind and helpful to Booky when she was grieving. What a great relationship they had!
I was afraid the end of book 2 wouldn’t feel like the end of a book but it did.
Thanks again to Gundula for the book!!!
As Ever, Booky, book 3 = 2019/12/13-14 buddy read with Hilary.
I love how L.M. Montgomery made her way into the story. So much fun! I love Booky and I love her mother. Willa too!
All seemed very 15 years old (to 17 years old) things, especially for the 1930s: the celebrity idols, the girl-boy party which was equally sad and hilarious and Booky’s concerns, her first jobs including her first real job.
I didn’t like rich girl Gloria but I did like rich boy Lorne.
I’d been so scared to read on but it’s really like one big book.
To summarize the 3 novels: Great and memorable characters & relationships and wonderful humor and touching stories, and such interesting photographs. The sibling relationships throughout all seemed completely authentic. One long story.
The only downside for me (aside from what always happens when I read about hungry people without enough food, especially when there are vivid food descriptions in the books, is that I get more hungry myself) is that these were published as novels but they’re obviously heavily autobiographical, so I’m left wondering what was real and what was fictionalized. I might have to try to look for a good and thorough biography of the author. It took me years but I’m grateful I’ve read the whole thing. For my reread of book 1 and the short story and my first reading of books 2 and 3, I enjoyed my buddy read with Hilary. I’m so glad I got to the whole trilogy! Sometimes when I read books and the main character is young I don’t always like it as much as they get older but this one was wonderful throughout. Great historical fiction. I got such a great sense of what it was like to be poor in the Toronto area during the Great Depression. Despite so much awfulness I envied having so many relatives and so many friends in the neighborhood. There is such a sense of community. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this young girl seeing her aspirations come to fruition.
I wanted to put this on my biography and non-fiction shelves because it’s obvious so much of this content belongs there. There are even real photos supporting the narrative, but they were published as fictional novels and that’s how they’re shelved so I’m restraining myself, even though the Epilogue and story details all the way through point solidly to autobiography.
I’ve added the individual books in addition to the trilogy book that I read for the purposes of the Goodreads “compare books” with other members feature.
Highly recommended trilogy of autobiographical novels for readers who enjoy historical fiction coming of age novels that have both drama & comedy, and it’s of particular interest to young readers who want to be writers.
This book is available on Open Library which is a good thing because it’s hard to get borrowed copies outside of Canada. I am so thankful for my copy, received years ago from Goodreads friend Gundula. It’s a treasure.
June 18, 2022
This delightful omnibus version of Bernice Thurman Hunter's Booky trilogy (That Scatterbrain Booky, With Love from Booky and As Ever, Booky) was published in 1998 by Scholastic Canada. It not only contains (as of course shown above) all three novels in their absolute entirety, including all of the wonderful and informative archival photographs and illustrations, it also features an additional short story titled Visitors from Saskatoon (a surprise visit from Dave and Mary Atlas on New Year's Eve 1933). And although personally, I still somewhat prefer having originally read the Booky novels as single books, Booky: A Trilogy is of course handy, portable and complete (and at least here in Canada, Booky: A Trilogy is also in current print and easier to purchase at a relatively inexpensive price than the three novels are, which sadly and unfortunately are now only available second-hand, and depending on condition and availability, can equally be rather expensive, even for mass market paperback editions).
January 7, 2015
This deserves a gold star. This book was the first one I read on the Great Depression and is still the best one I have yet to read on the subject. Very realistic.
October 27, 2015
Reread, 25 years later. Loved it. Feels like real canadiana
December 14, 2015
First time I've read this book in three years. Absolutely love it. I recommend it to everyone of all ages.
September 8, 2025
Booky Teaches History In Her Journey
Her name is Beatrice Thomson. Her nickname is Booky. But it feels pretty obvious this is really all about the author, the late Bernice Thurman Hunter.
Booky A Trilogy is three novels, That Scatterebrained Booky from 1981, and With Love from Booky from 1983 and As Ever, Booky from 1985 and the short story Visitors from Saskatoon from 1981, make up the tale of this young girl growing up.
And yes, this is one of those fictionalized biographies just like Mildred D Taylor and Watson Choy and Louise Fitzhugh and Betty Smith have done as well.
Booky has one big advantage for these other books, which I dearly loved, in that it takes place in my hometown Toronto, and the other big advantage is that it is filled with history. Two great things together!
But back to the story of Booky itself.
Booky is Beatrice’s childhood nickname, a young girl living in Depression era 1930’s Toronto with her loving family. Her dad looks for work, they go by Eaton’s department store, have to money, move quite abit, hang around relatives, write letters, and many many many more small adventures over the course of time. Booky lives and learns and loves and becomes the person who will one day, when she is much older, write a version of her life.
To compliment this journey, Hunter has photos and old ads scattered throughout the book, which massively helps brings this past to life.
While family love and surviving the Depression being major themes here, another is the turmoil in Europe leading to World War Two. Many books cover this same territory, and from the youth perspective, so some would say Booky just adds to that chorus. My diplomatic response is…. so what? World War Two was one of the most traumatic world events ever, and every story, whether fictional or non-fictional or semi-fictional, should be documented. Because we hope we all learn from it so it never happens again.
Thankfully the Booky series was extremely popular, so its lessons could be absorbed. To help with this, Booky was made into a television movie and a play, that I have never seen.
I got this amazing volume at a Little Free Library and is so very very very glad I did.
Scoopriches
https://scoopsmentalpropaganda.wordpr...
Her name is Beatrice Thomson. Her nickname is Booky. But it feels pretty obvious this is really all about the author, the late Bernice Thurman Hunter.
Booky A Trilogy is three novels, That Scatterebrained Booky from 1981, and With Love from Booky from 1983 and As Ever, Booky from 1985 and the short story Visitors from Saskatoon from 1981, make up the tale of this young girl growing up.
And yes, this is one of those fictionalized biographies just like Mildred D Taylor and Watson Choy and Louise Fitzhugh and Betty Smith have done as well.
Booky has one big advantage for these other books, which I dearly loved, in that it takes place in my hometown Toronto, and the other big advantage is that it is filled with history. Two great things together!
But back to the story of Booky itself.
Booky is Beatrice’s childhood nickname, a young girl living in Depression era 1930’s Toronto with her loving family. Her dad looks for work, they go by Eaton’s department store, have to money, move quite abit, hang around relatives, write letters, and many many many more small adventures over the course of time. Booky lives and learns and loves and becomes the person who will one day, when she is much older, write a version of her life.
To compliment this journey, Hunter has photos and old ads scattered throughout the book, which massively helps brings this past to life.
While family love and surviving the Depression being major themes here, another is the turmoil in Europe leading to World War Two. Many books cover this same territory, and from the youth perspective, so some would say Booky just adds to that chorus. My diplomatic response is…. so what? World War Two was one of the most traumatic world events ever, and every story, whether fictional or non-fictional or semi-fictional, should be documented. Because we hope we all learn from it so it never happens again.
Thankfully the Booky series was extremely popular, so its lessons could be absorbed. To help with this, Booky was made into a television movie and a play, that I have never seen.
I got this amazing volume at a Little Free Library and is so very very very glad I did.
Scoopriches
https://scoopsmentalpropaganda.wordpr...
June 22, 2012
I first read the Booky books when I was in elementary school. I'm 27 now and still enjoyed every bit of them. Some things I remembered, though most I didn't. I'm sad that I hadn't kept my original copies from childhood when I moved out on my own. Lucky for me, I found a spotless copy at a nearby thrift store for just a couple dollars. I'm holding onto this one, for sure.
I have to say that reading this trilogy has peaked my interest in re-reading the Anne of Green Gables books again. The fact that Beatrice met LM Montgomery was exciting and I have to wonder if that part was part of the authors own childhood - thrilling!
These books are endearing and hard to put down. I should add that at first I found the writing a bit hard to get into, but soon realized it is written completely and whole-heartedly in Booky's own words and voice.
This is the kind of book that you read and then look around at the world today and think about just how completely different we are compared to life in the Great Depression. Swiffer mops and paper towels. I truly wish my grandparents were still alive so I could talk to them about what amazing lives they had lived.
I would recommend these books to anyone of any age.
I have to say that reading this trilogy has peaked my interest in re-reading the Anne of Green Gables books again. The fact that Beatrice met LM Montgomery was exciting and I have to wonder if that part was part of the authors own childhood - thrilling!
These books are endearing and hard to put down. I should add that at first I found the writing a bit hard to get into, but soon realized it is written completely and whole-heartedly in Booky's own words and voice.
This is the kind of book that you read and then look around at the world today and think about just how completely different we are compared to life in the Great Depression. Swiffer mops and paper towels. I truly wish my grandparents were still alive so I could talk to them about what amazing lives they had lived.
I would recommend these books to anyone of any age.
June 9, 2011
These three stories are from a time that will never be again. But they're some that young girls should read. Before they get all into popular girls, werewolves, vampires and paranormal stuff that is everywhere today.
March 21, 2011
I first read this trilogy in elementary school and have kept it ever since.
Read
September 29, 2010i read a thousand times
June 24, 2012
Loved this one, i was fascinated by the different time period... you experienced while reading these books although i would never choose to live in a time period myself
Great read
Great read
November 16, 2018
With Love, From Booky - 5/5
December 17, 2023
Re-read of one of my fav childhood books.
April 26, 2022
I loved this book so much as a kid!
June 28, 2022
I normally don't reread books. That said, having first read Booky in grade 6 I came at this book with a different view point as an adult. Still as good as it was 20+ years ago.
July 19, 2024
The book that got me into reading !
Read
November 13, 2024Unfortunately, a DNF for me. Just couldn’t get into the story. As well, there were some dark subjects for a kid’s book, such as a father physically abusing his wife and children, often.
January 16, 2025
I read the series as a kid and thought I would reread for nostalgia sake. I liked it as a kid and still like it as an adult (and understand some things better)
December 28, 2025
What a sweet book, very refreshing.
August 6, 2008
her name confused me..."book-ee"? "book-ay"? "booooo-key"?
April 16, 2017
My Nana gave me a stack of books one summer. I remember reading the Booky books on the beach (pebbles!) in southeast England. By reading, I should say devouring them. I loved Booky and wanted to be her!
April 26, 2017
Childhood love
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews