The Funny Guy

by Grace Allen Hogarth

In the early 1900's a lonely little New England girl, unhappily nicknamed the Funny Guy, derived much happiness from the "St. Nicholas magazine." Her happiness increased when she found a new friend with whom to share the magazine and her nickname became a term of endearment.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1905, Grace Weston Allen was educated at the University of California at Berkeley and at Vassar, where she graduated in 1927. She spent two years at the Massachusetts School of Art and Yale University School of Fine Arts, before leaving to work for Oxford University Press, eventually becoming a children's book editor. She moved from Oxford's New York offices to their London headquarters in 1936, marrying publisher William David Hogarth that same year. Hogarth went on to work for a variety of publishers, from Chatto & Windus to Boston-based Houghton Mifflin, where she was employed during the early years of WWII, before returning to Britain in 1944.

In addition to her long career as a children's book editor, Hogarth was also a prolific author, publishing - for both children and adults - under her own name, as well as the pseudonyms Amelia Gay, Grace Allen, and Allen Weston. Her papers are held by Vassar College Library.

(from: Vassar College Library's Special Collections)

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was published in 1955; the story is set in 1912. I found it interesting, beyond the children's story that it is, because it fits with other things I've learned about 1912, the time period. I wish my copy wasn't falling apart; it's a 1965 printing from Scholastic, on heavy newsprint-type acidic paper. The Funny Guy is an insulting label put on the new girl, who is the main character. She struggles to get rid of the label and finally succeeds. She also learns about honesty by being dishonest, and about integrity by earning her integrity back again.

[Super Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite of all the Golden Era (1950-1980) Scholastic Books. It was brave of the author to go back to the early 1910s during the Atomic era. Here is a story about an outcast and isolated child from a dysfunctional home. Her mother is recovering from a severe accident, her father is stalwart but hands off and her great aunt is of (literally) the 19th century. What should have been a benign incident makes her the target of the school and a near pariah.

The main character devises a crafty but poorly executed get rich quick scheme ironically selling magazines which as many GenXers will recall was advertised to many of us in comics . Along the way though she gains a sense of self.

The richness of detail of the era, of New England is a delight.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story, set in a small New England town in 1912, is about a girl turning twelve who has many troubles - in school, at home (her mother is recovering from a bad accident), and with growing up. The plot is interesting, the characters well-rounded and the outcomes not always predictable. The book was published in 1955, but still felt fresh to me. I enjoyed it, and found it particularly poignant because my mother worked for the author, Grace Hogarth, in the children's book publishing field just after The Funny Guy came out.

[Chantilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in Grade 4 in the mid-70s and the story has always remained with me. It was my favourite book as a young girl.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple tale of adolescence with relatable elements even today.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book so many times that it completely fell apart. I love everything about it, from the detailed illustrations to the throwback to 1912 to the plot.

[Elizabeth]

The Funny Guy by Grace Allen Hogarth (1955)