The Half Sisters

Half Sisters #1

by Natalie Savage Carlson

A twelve-year-old girl looks forward to a summer filled with many events especially showing her half-sisters, arriving from boarding school, how grown up she is.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, 20th Century

163 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Natalie Savage Carlson was born on October 3, 1906, in Kernstown, Virginia. After she married, she moved around a great deal as the wife of a Navy officer, living for many years in Paris, France.

Her first story was published in the Baltimore Sunday Sun when she was eight years old.

Her first book, The Talking Cat and Other Stories of French Canada (where her mother was born), was published in 1952. One of her best-loved books is The Family Under the Bridge (1958), which was a Newbery Honor book in 1959. Many readers will remember her series of Happy Orpheline books about a group of French orphans and their carefree lives.

In 1966, Ms. Carlson was the U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen International Children's Book Award.

Materials for fifteen of her novels are held at the Children's Literature Research Collection at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ms. Carlson lived in Rhode Island, Oklahoma, California, the Pacific Northwest, Florida, and abroad. She died September 23, 1997, in Rhode Island.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. It was rather dull and uneventful until near the end and then—*Wham!* There are some unexpected dramatic twists (some that I liked and some that I didn't).

Apparently this is semi-autobiographical, which makes me wonder just what parts are true and what is made up.

Luvvy isn't my favorite character ever. She wants very much to be grown up, but she is often immature and mostly just serves as a nuisance to her snobbish sisters, who condescendingly brush her off. Luvvy doesn't realize, until it's too late, that she was acting the same way to her younger sister, who looked up to her. The sweet younger sister, who basically just wants someone to play with her, ends up dying suddenly near the end. I'm not sure exactly what kind of injury she got, but it was shocking to me when she died. Then it seemed like the rest of the family, with the exception of the mother, just sort of glazed over the death and proceeded with life as usual.

I know what it's like to be eager to grow up (don't we all), but I also had a pretty great time being a kid. I wish Luvvy would've realized this. She just starting to gain maturity near the end of the story, and then she reverts to her old obsession with getting to go to boarding school. This time, her argument works and the book ends with her departure.

For some reason I just didn't find the characters in this to be very endearing. The interactions between the girls came off as petty, silly squabbles between spoiled rich kids. I also thought it was selfish of Luvvy to take those birds from their mother, and I'm glad she learned her lesson. I did like the fact that Luvvy wrote stories, though. That's a character trait I always enjoy.

I didn't really care for the illustrations. Something about them just seemed a little off. The figures, especially, seemed stiff.

Regina's decision at the end of the book was sudden, but I liked the extra dimension it gave the story. Her former fiancé seemed a little too fast to snatch up her sister in the rebound, though.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strange and disturbing book. My most vivid memory of this one is when one of the sisters sustains a head injury Luvvy hears her mother sobbing and realizes she has died during the night. It was so horrifying to me I could barely read the words on the page.

[Maria Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this coming of age book as a child and enjoyed it. The main character, Luvvy, was very relatable and this book made me laugh and cry.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the novels of Natalie Savage Carlson when I was growing up. Luvvy is a likable girl and her coming-of-age story will make young readers laugh and cry.

[Madame Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luvena just wants to be like her three older half sisters: Regina, Hetty, and Betsy. They however still believe her to be a child at 12. Luvvy is worshipped by her younger sister, Maudie. While trying to get the attention of her half sisters, Luvvy in the process ignores Maudie. The setting takes place in Maryland in 1915. I love the mannerisms of the era and how close the sisters are.

Natalie Savage Carlson creates the warmest stories.

This is a beautiful and unforgettable story. A new favourite.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in elementary school and it has stayed with me thru the years (that would be over 40yrs now, ~sigh~). I was intrigued by the title because I am a "half sister" and felt I would find it relevant. It wasn't, but it was a compelling tale for young me, just the same - especially a gut wrenching twist near the end. I am thinking of finding a copy and re-reading it sometime soon. I'd like to revisit those girls. I was unaware of a sequel, so that is now definitely on my list.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute