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Janet of Laurel Hill
182 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1941
About the author
Genevieve Fox
15 books1 followerGenevieve May Fox (13 July 1888 – October 5, 1959) was an American author, best known for her adventure books for girls that were written in the first half of the twentieth century.
She was born in Southampton, Massachusetts and studied at Smith College, graduating in 1911. She developed an interest in labor relations and published at least one book on the subject. It was at this time that she appears to have met her future husband, Raymond Garfield Fuller, two years her senior, who was interested in the question of child labour. A journalist and sociologist, he published several papers on the subject and spoke at numerous conferences in the 1930s.
The couple lived at Eaton Center, NH and later in New York City. It was in the thirties and forties that most of Genevieve Fox's fictional works were produced, beginning with Mountain Girl in 1932, and finishing with Bonnie, Island Girl, which appeared in 1951. Popular in their day, many were translated into other languages.
She died in Bar Harbor, Maine a year before the passing of her husband. She and her husband were buried in Ledgelawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor. They had no children.
(From Wikipedia)
She was born in Southampton, Massachusetts and studied at Smith College, graduating in 1911. She developed an interest in labor relations and published at least one book on the subject. It was at this time that she appears to have met her future husband, Raymond Garfield Fuller, two years her senior, who was interested in the question of child labour. A journalist and sociologist, he published several papers on the subject and spoke at numerous conferences in the 1930s.
The couple lived at Eaton Center, NH and later in New York City. It was in the thirties and forties that most of Genevieve Fox's fictional works were produced, beginning with Mountain Girl in 1932, and finishing with Bonnie, Island Girl, which appeared in 1951. Popular in their day, many were translated into other languages.
She died in Bar Harbor, Maine a year before the passing of her husband. She and her husband were buried in Ledgelawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor. They had no children.
(From Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 1, 2026
Back of the book blurb "For a teenage girl, Janet Bradley carries a heavy load. Since her mother’s death, Janet has been running the household, helping her father on their struggling farm, and acting as a proxy parent to her little sister, Molly. Janet longs to continue her education, but until the Bradleys can earn enough to hire extra help, school remains a distant dream.
However, when a visiting cousin opens Janet’s eyes to the “treasure” all around her, Janet quickly becomes a thriving businesswoman. Despite a few setbacks, including a raging wildfire, Janet and her neighbors grow closer as a community through her business, gaining a greater appreciation for the beautiful land around them and the simple joys of their rural life."
This was an enjoyable read about rural life in MA in the 1920s. Janet is 15 when the book begins. Her mother has recently passed after a sudden illness and Janet is now responsible for the home, meals, and her 7 year old younger sister. She wants to go back to school but many different things come up that make that less and less likely. Janet isn't happy with her lot, understandably so, and finds support from her father's cousin who provides Janet with a different perspective. That perspective shift changes Janet's life and, even more impressively, changes her community as well.
There are a lot of subtle lessons to be learned as the book shows Janet's growth from ages 15 to 18. That not being able to go to formal school doesn't mean we can't learn and continue our education, about being an entrepreneur even if you are a teenager, that rural life doesn't have to be something young people are anxious to escape, that there is beauty in nature, the value of neighbors and sharing your good fortune with others similarly struggling.
There is much to admire in Janet who has human failings and struggles to put the needs of others above her own desires. She goes from an unhappy girl to a strong, confident, admirable young women you'd be happy to know and have others emulate.
However, when a visiting cousin opens Janet’s eyes to the “treasure” all around her, Janet quickly becomes a thriving businesswoman. Despite a few setbacks, including a raging wildfire, Janet and her neighbors grow closer as a community through her business, gaining a greater appreciation for the beautiful land around them and the simple joys of their rural life."
This was an enjoyable read about rural life in MA in the 1920s. Janet is 15 when the book begins. Her mother has recently passed after a sudden illness and Janet is now responsible for the home, meals, and her 7 year old younger sister. She wants to go back to school but many different things come up that make that less and less likely. Janet isn't happy with her lot, understandably so, and finds support from her father's cousin who provides Janet with a different perspective. That perspective shift changes Janet's life and, even more impressively, changes her community as well.
There are a lot of subtle lessons to be learned as the book shows Janet's growth from ages 15 to 18. That not being able to go to formal school doesn't mean we can't learn and continue our education, about being an entrepreneur even if you are a teenager, that rural life doesn't have to be something young people are anxious to escape, that there is beauty in nature, the value of neighbors and sharing your good fortune with others similarly struggling.
There is much to admire in Janet who has human failings and struggles to put the needs of others above her own desires. She goes from an unhappy girl to a strong, confident, admirable young women you'd be happy to know and have others emulate.
Displaying 1 of 1 review