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Betsy-Tacy #6
Betsy in Spite of Herself
A high school sophomore sets out to fashion a new personality for herself when a handsome new boy joins their crowd in school
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 1946
15 people are currently reading
1814 people want to read
About the author
Maud Hart Lovelace
45 books730 followersMaud Hart Lovelace was born on April 25, 1892, in Mankato, Minnesota. She was the middle of three children born to Thomas and Stella (Palmer) Hart. Her sister, Kathleen, was three years older, and her other sister, Helen, was six years younger. “That dear family" was the model for the fictional Ray family.
Maud’s birthplace was a small house on a hilly residential street several blocks above Mankato’s center business district. The street, Center Street, dead-ended at one of the town’s many hills. When Maud was a few months old, the Hart family moved two blocks up the street to 333 Center.
Shortly before Maud’s fifth birthday a “large merry Irish family" moved into the house directly across the street. Among its many children was a girl Maud’s age, Frances, nicknamed Bick, who was to be Maud’s best friend and the model for Tacy Kelly.
Tib’s character was based on another playmate, Marjorie (Midge) Gerlach, who lived nearby in a large house designed by her architect father. Maud, Bick, and Midge became lifelong friends. Maud once stated that the three couldn’t have been closer if they’d been sisters.
Maud’s birthplace was a small house on a hilly residential street several blocks above Mankato’s center business district. The street, Center Street, dead-ended at one of the town’s many hills. When Maud was a few months old, the Hart family moved two blocks up the street to 333 Center.
Shortly before Maud’s fifth birthday a “large merry Irish family" moved into the house directly across the street. Among its many children was a girl Maud’s age, Frances, nicknamed Bick, who was to be Maud’s best friend and the model for Tacy Kelly.
Tib’s character was based on another playmate, Marjorie (Midge) Gerlach, who lived nearby in a large house designed by her architect father. Maud, Bick, and Midge became lifelong friends. Maud once stated that the three couldn’t have been closer if they’d been sisters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
April 5, 2020
Oh, what a friend I've found in Betsy... and how dearly I love escaping to Deep Valley (especially now!) These books are such a comfort, with all the warmth and coziness of Betsy's happy, close-knit family and her cheerful Crowd of dear friends. Much is charmingly old-fashioned and yet, at heart, Betsy's journey is so deeply honest, it rings so true even today. Put aside the crank-start automobiles and pompadours and there's so much that's contemporary here. I think most teen girls even in recent decades could relate to Betsy's attempts to fine-tune who she thinks she ought to be to impress the people she thinks she ought to impress... though perhaps today that is a bit more complicated than changing the color of your hair ribbons and walking with a dramatic stoop like Ethyl Barrymore -- Betsy even dares to begin signing her name "Betsye" oh my! ;-) Betsy longs to be dramatic and mysterious and impress dashing Phil Brandish with his posh manners and his gorgeous car. Personally, I wasn't as enamored with Phil as Betsye was, and, like her dear old chums in the Crowd, I was eager for her to get back to being just Betsy. So, I didn't enjoy all of this *quite* as much as Heaven to Betsy. That said, I really have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book. It is wonderful and I still love it five stars worth. Especially charming are the chapters when Betsy goes to visit Tib in Milwaukee. I loved the German Christmas celebrations! So sweet that the Rays let Betsy go to Milwaukee over the holidays, when they are so close-knit -- and so sweet that Betsy missed them in spite of her wonderful new adventures. Betsy's family is wonderful. They are one my favorite families in children's literature. It’s funny that I used to think the parents had no distinct personality in the first few Betsy-Tacy books because now I love Mama and Papa Ray! I love how Mama and little Margaret snuggle up in Betsy's or Julia's room to hear about the girls' parties, and how all the Crowd so loves the family they congregate at the Ray's house on Sunday afternoons. How I wish I had Mr Ray to make me some onion sandwiches or put on a pot of coffee when I get overwhelmed these days! I love seeing how Julia and Betsy's relationship has evolved from the somewhat antagonistic big-sister/little-sister squabbles of the first few books and how close they are now. The sense of poignancy at Julia's graduation just squeezed my heart. I love that these books have such wonderful "morals" without being the least bit preachy. Betsy is so organic... she stumbles but always finds her footing. I'm so glad Betsy stayed Betsy, in spite of herself and look forward to her future adventures! ;-)
April 25, 2019
I think I have firmly established my friendship with Betsy Ray at this point. I love her. I love her family. And I need more Joe Willard in my life. When will I get more Joe???!?
April 11, 2010
Unlike Heaven to Betsy, I liked this book immediately. I suppose I was already used to the high school aged Betsy. I am eager to read the rest of Maud Hart Lovelace's books. Heaven did grow on me, but this book felt cozy to me almost as much as did the first four books in the series, and I liked it almost as much as the first four books.
Not one false note! There isn’t anything that rings false in any of these Betsy-Tacy books. This book, along with all the others in this series, is so well written; the descriptions are so vivid. I also liked all the German words included in this story.
These books make me way too hungry though; the food is plentiful and always sounds so delicious, even the stuff I would never eat and the stuff I wouldn’t even like and never would have liked.
I really enjoyed Betsy’s trip to see Tib and hearing about Julia’s trip to see opera, I would have appreciated more of Tacy but liked what was included, and I love Joe. I can tell I’m going to be delighted with Joe.
I found it interesting that the kids have to buy their schoolbooks for public school!!! I was interested in so much about how life was then. This is wonderful historical fiction.
I don’t like the illustrations that much; the teenagers look like adults in some of them and, even when they look their age, they’re not my favorite, but having illustrations did add to the book.
I’d been so sure I’d read Heaven to Betsy and this book when I was about ten, thinking they were the only two Betsy books, and not enjoying them enough to read them more than once, but I didn’t remember anything as I was reading and that isn’t typical for me, so now I’m not certain. Thanks to Goodreads friends, I’m now thoroughly enjoying this series. I’ve reserved Betsy Was a Junior at the library and intend to get to all the books by the end of 2010, including hopefully a biography of the author.
Not one false note! There isn’t anything that rings false in any of these Betsy-Tacy books. This book, along with all the others in this series, is so well written; the descriptions are so vivid. I also liked all the German words included in this story.
These books make me way too hungry though; the food is plentiful and always sounds so delicious, even the stuff I would never eat and the stuff I wouldn’t even like and never would have liked.
I really enjoyed Betsy’s trip to see Tib and hearing about Julia’s trip to see opera, I would have appreciated more of Tacy but liked what was included, and I love Joe. I can tell I’m going to be delighted with Joe.
I found it interesting that the kids have to buy their schoolbooks for public school!!! I was interested in so much about how life was then. This is wonderful historical fiction.
I don’t like the illustrations that much; the teenagers look like adults in some of them and, even when they look their age, they’re not my favorite, but having illustrations did add to the book.
I’d been so sure I’d read Heaven to Betsy and this book when I was about ten, thinking they were the only two Betsy books, and not enjoying them enough to read them more than once, but I didn’t remember anything as I was reading and that isn’t typical for me, so now I’m not certain. Thanks to Goodreads friends, I’m now thoroughly enjoying this series. I’ve reserved Betsy Was a Junior at the library and intend to get to all the books by the end of 2010, including hopefully a biography of the author.
July 18, 2021
This is a cute little story, and part of a series about the life of a high school girl around 1908. Published in 1946, it arrived in my childhood home in the 1970’s. A relative gave it to my sister, then I thought I wanted to read it. Flash forward to now, and it fulfills the reading challenge prompt of the book that has been on your TBR the longest.
While the main character does “enjoy her freedom” when she breaks up with her boyfriend, she also shares many cringey thoughts, like the understanding that girls must subordinate their conversational interests to those of boys. Also, the young teacher dating a student…NO.
Times have changed, and I realize that. The ultimate message was that girls should be true to themselves, not change for boys. That’s a good message, but I wouldn’t recommend this book for today’s girls. The writing and grammar were excellent. I loved the vocabulary and the history and culture that were woven into the story.
While the main character does “enjoy her freedom” when she breaks up with her boyfriend, she also shares many cringey thoughts, like the understanding that girls must subordinate their conversational interests to those of boys. Also, the young teacher dating a student…NO.
Times have changed, and I realize that. The ultimate message was that girls should be true to themselves, not change for boys. That’s a good message, but I wouldn’t recommend this book for today’s girls. The writing and grammar were excellent. I loved the vocabulary and the history and culture that were woven into the story.
June 6, 2017
My least favorite of the series, even though I adore the Christmas in Milwaukee part. I find the whole Phil Brandish episode too heavy-handed.
April 17, 2025
This sixth novel in Maud Hart Lovelace’s series featuring best friends Betsy Ray, Tacy Kelly and sometimes Tib Muller is the first which has not gotten five stars from me. Why not?
Betsy has been boy-crazy since the previous book Heaven to Betsy, but she seems to have forgotten everything she learned at the of her freshman year. It’s 1907, and Betsy’s a sophomore, and she decides she’s going to change herself to attract the richest boy at Deep Valley High School, a handsome but shallow junior who owns a red Buick and can’t think of much else. Betsy does take a two-week trip to Milwaukee to spend Christmas with Tib, and I adored every minute of their reunion. That’s mostly what accounts for the four stars rather than even lower.
Betsy has been boy-crazy since the previous book Heaven to Betsy, but she seems to have forgotten everything she learned at the of her freshman year. It’s 1907, and Betsy’s a sophomore, and she decides she’s going to change herself to attract the richest boy at Deep Valley High School, a handsome but shallow junior who owns a red Buick and can’t think of much else. Betsy does take a two-week trip to Milwaukee to spend Christmas with Tib, and I adored every minute of their reunion. That’s mostly what accounts for the four stars rather than even lower.
December 11, 2019
Betsy Ray enters "The Winding Hall of Fate" in this sixth installment of Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy~Tacy series, which opens just as she is about to become a sophomore at Deep Valley High School. As fun-loving and popular as ever, she is soon caught up in an eventful new year, replete with many firsts: dining at the fancy Moorish Café for her parents' wedding anniversary, visiting Tib in Milwaukee for Christmas, and spending time with wealthy newcomer Philip Brandish. As she struggles to reconcile her desire to be someone else - the mysterious "Betsye" - and her need to just be herself, Betsy eventually comes to see the wisdom of Shakespeare's immortal words, "To thine own self be true."
I was a little surprised at how thoroughly I enjoyed Betsy In Spite of Herself, after my somewhat ambiguous feelings regarding the previous installment. Once again, Betsy sells herself short, whilst in pursuit of a boy, and although she does not sacrifice her writing this time around (thank goodness!), her time with Tacy and the rest of "The Crowd" suffers. But although there is a pronounced similarity in theme between this, and her freshman experiences in Heaven to Betsy, somehow I found that my reaction here was one of sympathy with Betsy, rather than annoyance.
I too experienced that longing to be someone else, as a teenager, and this sense of fellow-feeling undoubtedly made me more tolerant: yes, Betsy's a bit of an idiot about Phil and his famous red auto, but weren't we all rather foolish, at that age? Also, the shock of the new boy-crazy Betsy (so prevalent in Heaven to Betsy ) had worn off by this point, and I was no longer mourning the passing of the little girl depicted in earlier books, from Betsy-Tacy to Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown , or longing for Lois Lenski's illustrations. In fact, I discovered that I enjoyed Vera Neville's pretty drawings immensely, and although I will probably always prefer Lenski as an artist, can see that her style would not have suited Betsy's older years.
As for the story itself, it was fun and refreshing, with enough real human emotion and drama to make it "real," without being too serious. I really enjoyed reading about Betsy' trip to Milwaukee, with all the German Christmas traditions, the history of the German immigrants to that part of the world, and the many phrases in German (which I am able read). And of course, like Betsy, I was thrilled at the news that Tib might be returning to Deep Valley - I shall hope to see her in Betsy Was a Junior! I also like that Betsy really made an effort in the essay-writing contest this time, and appreciated the added insight given into Joe Willard's character.
All in all, an immensely entertaining installment in the series, one that has me eager to continue!
I was a little surprised at how thoroughly I enjoyed Betsy In Spite of Herself, after my somewhat ambiguous feelings regarding the previous installment. Once again, Betsy sells herself short, whilst in pursuit of a boy, and although she does not sacrifice her writing this time around (thank goodness!), her time with Tacy and the rest of "The Crowd" suffers. But although there is a pronounced similarity in theme between this, and her freshman experiences in Heaven to Betsy, somehow I found that my reaction here was one of sympathy with Betsy, rather than annoyance.
I too experienced that longing to be someone else, as a teenager, and this sense of fellow-feeling undoubtedly made me more tolerant: yes, Betsy's a bit of an idiot about Phil and his famous red auto, but weren't we all rather foolish, at that age? Also, the shock of the new boy-crazy Betsy (so prevalent in Heaven to Betsy ) had worn off by this point, and I was no longer mourning the passing of the little girl depicted in earlier books, from Betsy-Tacy to Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown , or longing for Lois Lenski's illustrations. In fact, I discovered that I enjoyed Vera Neville's pretty drawings immensely, and although I will probably always prefer Lenski as an artist, can see that her style would not have suited Betsy's older years.
As for the story itself, it was fun and refreshing, with enough real human emotion and drama to make it "real," without being too serious. I really enjoyed reading about Betsy' trip to Milwaukee, with all the German Christmas traditions, the history of the German immigrants to that part of the world, and the many phrases in German (which I am able read). And of course, like Betsy, I was thrilled at the news that Tib might be returning to Deep Valley - I shall hope to see her in Betsy Was a Junior! I also like that Betsy really made an effort in the essay-writing contest this time, and appreciated the added insight given into Joe Willard's character.
All in all, an immensely entertaining installment in the series, one that has me eager to continue!
October 31, 2022
Second reading, October 2022:
Still one of my very favorite books in the Betsy-Tacy series! Chapter after chapter of humor, fun, warmth, and charm. I love it.
January 2021:
It took me two months of fits and starts to read Heaven to Betsy, and two days to read this sixth book in the series, Betsy in Spite of Herself. This one was so good! Pure delight from start to finish, with all the family, friendship, humor, and amusing eventfulness I loved in the early Betsy-Tacy books. I couldn't put it down and now I can't wait to start reading the next book.
Still one of my very favorite books in the Betsy-Tacy series! Chapter after chapter of humor, fun, warmth, and charm. I love it.
January 2021:
It took me two months of fits and starts to read Heaven to Betsy, and two days to read this sixth book in the series, Betsy in Spite of Herself. This one was so good! Pure delight from start to finish, with all the family, friendship, humor, and amusing eventfulness I loved in the early Betsy-Tacy books. I couldn't put it down and now I can't wait to start reading the next book.
May 1, 2017
This book, which recounts Betsy's sophomore year in high school really stands out for two things: the absolutely magical visit to Milwaukee to visit Tib at Christmas, and Betsy's attempts to change herself into someone more 'dramatic' and 'mysterious' who could attract a rich guy like Phil Brandish. All of Betsy's friends, and certainly the reader, know that Betsy is most appealing when she is just being her natural, true self. But then these books are about adolescence, and the sometimes tough experience of figuring out who you are, and it is entirely natural that someone with an imagination like Betsy's ends up experimenting. One of the (many) things that I love about this series are the 'life lessons' (still relevant to middle-aged readers) that MHL imparts with such grace. Betsy 'likes' Phil for all of the wrong reasons, and over times she realises - with no one else's intervention - that he is not the right person for her. He does not make her happy, and he does not bring out the best in her - or even recognise it when he sees it.
I probably didn't consider the parents much when I first read this series, but I'm really struck as I reread it about how wonderful they are. Letting Betsy go to Milwaukee for Christmas, when they are such a tight knit family, was a typically generous gesture. I also admire the way they let Betsy figure out her various follies by herself, although Mr. Ray is not adverse to the judicious comment or tease. Betsy leads a charmed life, and that is part of the appeal of these happy books, but she is definitely not perfect - and her flaws and mistakes are truly the points of identification and empathy.
I probably didn't consider the parents much when I first read this series, but I'm really struck as I reread it about how wonderful they are. Letting Betsy go to Milwaukee for Christmas, when they are such a tight knit family, was a typically generous gesture. I also admire the way they let Betsy figure out her various follies by herself, although Mr. Ray is not adverse to the judicious comment or tease. Betsy leads a charmed life, and that is part of the appeal of these happy books, but she is definitely not perfect - and her flaws and mistakes are truly the points of identification and empathy.
January 24, 2024
i love spending all morning reading betsy-tacy and ignoring my homework. truly the coziest escapist fantasy of all time.
May 1, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Betsy is a sophomore in high school. I love her friendship with Tacy and how it has developed. As they have gotten older their differences are more and more pronounced, but their care and love for each other is so great. I love Mr Ray and the rest of the Ray family, but especially Mr. Ray. He just warms my heart. Phil, I could have done without Phil and his pretentious ways, but that storyline was important for Betsy to recognize and love qualities in herself that others already love. And Joe, let's not forget Joe! I can't wait for more Joe on the pages!!!
May 19, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
August 8, 2015
8/2015 I came to this book for comfort but found a mirror instead.
9/2012 Oh, Betsye! Sophomore year, Betsy learns a lot about being true to herself. There are tantalizing glimpses of Joe Willard here, and this time through the whole Grand Opera bit made me cry. But now I have to read Betsy Was a Junior and that's the hardest one for me.
12/2009 Betsy is a sophomore here, and though she learned some important lessons her freshman year, she is certainly not finished tripping herself up. She gets an opportunity, about half-way through the book, to spend Christmas in Milwaukee with Tib. She chooses to use this time to re-invent herself, but we as readers are privileged to be immersed in the uniquely German holiday customs of the early part of the last century. It's a brilliant bit of writing, and never fails to transport me utterly. Again, I never noticed until I was grown what an incredible writer Lovelace is. She captures adolescence so perfectly!
9/2012 Oh, Betsye! Sophomore year, Betsy learns a lot about being true to herself. There are tantalizing glimpses of Joe Willard here, and this time through the whole Grand Opera bit made me cry. But now I have to read Betsy Was a Junior and that's the hardest one for me.
12/2009 Betsy is a sophomore here, and though she learned some important lessons her freshman year, she is certainly not finished tripping herself up. She gets an opportunity, about half-way through the book, to spend Christmas in Milwaukee with Tib. She chooses to use this time to re-invent herself, but we as readers are privileged to be immersed in the uniquely German holiday customs of the early part of the last century. It's a brilliant bit of writing, and never fails to transport me utterly. Again, I never noticed until I was grown what an incredible writer Lovelace is. She captures adolescence so perfectly!
February 13, 2017
This book is just so amazing! The main theme is 'to thine ownself be true.' Well, Betsy really needs to learn this lesson, as she starts out this book deciding to be a 'new and improved Betsy.' Or should I say Betsye? Anyway, she puts on new clothes, new perfume, and a new personality ... and goes out to catch a new boy! And she gets him ... though, of course, not as Betsy ... as 'Betsye.' xD
Here we have more hard lessons and more hilarious situations and more cuteness. Honestly, it's just the best!
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
Here we have more hard lessons and more hilarious situations and more cuteness. Honestly, it's just the best!
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
October 28, 2012
NEVER ENOUGH JOE.
March 7, 2017
Man, I didn't love Betsy in this one and Phil sucks.
October 15, 2022
3.5 stars
this book was....... so cozy. maud hart lovelace really knows how to capture what it's like growing up <3
(i will admit that i was a bit bored when betsy went to visit tib - i skipped most of those chapters *hides*)
the to all the boys i've loved before vibes were immaculate 💛 and oh my stars i ship betsy and joe so much~ they lowkey remind me of anne and gilbert ;)
this book was....... so cozy. maud hart lovelace really knows how to capture what it's like growing up <3
(i will admit that i was a bit bored when betsy went to visit tib - i skipped most of those chapters *hides*)
the to all the boys i've loved before vibes were immaculate 💛 and oh my stars i ship betsy and joe so much~ they lowkey remind me of anne and gilbert ;)
April 3, 2018
I need this book.
April 21, 2025
Cab is the OG chad
Also what an awesome name Cab is... I am going to name a child Cab for sure.
Also what an awesome name Cab is... I am going to name a child Cab for sure.
August 10, 2025
Truly just a good time!!!
October 6, 2017
This book was really fun to read. This book was relatable since it was about Betsy's high school years. It was really fun to watch Betsy go to her first dance, get her first boyfriend, and try to change her personenality. The book was a very good addition to the Besty-Tacy books.
December 6, 2024
11-2024:
So much good stuff here.
09-23-2012:
With this latest VSC, we had a good discussion about how much Betsy has grown since her freshman year.
A new favorite Tib moment, after Betsy and Tib leave church and discover that it had been snowing:
"Fresh soft snow covered the steps, walks and lawns. It lay in mounds on the lacy branches of the evergreens. Still uplifted by the service, Betsy looked around.
'It seems like a miracle!' she cried.
'We should have worn overshoes.' [replied Tib]
9-23-08:
"You might as well know...I don't hold hands. I just don't hold hands."
Re-read this for the NY VSC meeting. Because I don't think of it as a favorite, I had almost forgotten just how wonderful it is. I was really struck, this time, by what a tough year it was for Joe.
The Leap Year Dance chapter is one of my favorite chapters out of all the Tomes.
So much good stuff here.
09-23-2012:
With this latest VSC, we had a good discussion about how much Betsy has grown since her freshman year.
A new favorite Tib moment, after Betsy and Tib leave church and discover that it had been snowing:
"Fresh soft snow covered the steps, walks and lawns. It lay in mounds on the lacy branches of the evergreens. Still uplifted by the service, Betsy looked around.
'It seems like a miracle!' she cried.
'We should have worn overshoes.' [replied Tib]
9-23-08:
"You might as well know...I don't hold hands. I just don't hold hands."
Re-read this for the NY VSC meeting. Because I don't think of it as a favorite, I had almost forgotten just how wonderful it is. I was really struck, this time, by what a tough year it was for Joe.
The Leap Year Dance chapter is one of my favorite chapters out of all the Tomes.
June 24, 2016
To thine own self be true, Betsy ("Betsye") girl! I love this one so much. All of us women and girls can identify with Betsy's challenges to be something different than who and what she is. I love how sweetly and compassionately Maud Hart Lovelace writes about Betsy's growing pains.
I also love this book because Betsy gets to visit Tib in Milwaukee over Christmas and I love reading about all the German customs and which Grandparents like the Kaiser and which ones don't and why--after all, it's Christmas 1907 and things are heating up in Germany.. ...
I love how after all the New Year's celebrations for the 1908 Leap Year, Betsy and Tib stay up all night drinking coffee and talking about all the changes they are going to make in their "personalities" as they sit by the window looking out at the purple snow and starlight.
I also love this book because Betsy gets to visit Tib in Milwaukee over Christmas and I love reading about all the German customs and which Grandparents like the Kaiser and which ones don't and why--after all, it's Christmas 1907 and things are heating up in Germany.. ...
I love how after all the New Year's celebrations for the 1908 Leap Year, Betsy and Tib stay up all night drinking coffee and talking about all the changes they are going to make in their "personalities" as they sit by the window looking out at the purple snow and starlight.
September 15, 2024
I've been reading the Betsy books where she's in a specific year of high school while I start that specific year of high school.
Last year, I remember thinking, "Well, some of this is going to be similar, but there's no way that three of my closer friends (two of which happen to be siblings) would leave." 🥲
This year will probably not be as similar, but if there is a Phil Brandish situation, the red auto is going to be a cybertruck.
Last year, I remember thinking, "Well, some of this is going to be similar, but there's no way that three of my closer friends (two of which happen to be siblings) would leave." 🥲
This year will probably not be as similar, but if there is a Phil Brandish situation, the red auto is going to be a cybertruck.
November 4, 2019
I rather enjoy the childishness of Betsy. Teenagers don't really get a chance, anymore, to be this goofy and, yet, so mature (in some ways) at this time of life. In any case, I'm really enjoying the slow pace.
December 31, 2018
Love: ALMOST EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE. ESPECIALLY JOE.
Dislike: Phil Brandish and his sister Phyllis.
Enough said.
Dislike: Phil Brandish and his sister Phyllis.
Enough said.
December 16, 2018
By book 5, I was losing steam. Rather than enjoying Betsy's high school years more than her younger years, as I thought I would, I'm finding them hard to get through. The never-ending goings-on of The Crowd doesn't interest me particularly.
So I started book 6 and then put it aside for a while. Finally finished it today. It is fine, so sweet and tame. Phil getting "spoony" by trying to hold her hand. Ha! She's not that sort of girl. It's fascinating that good girls didn't hold hands, but no one bats an eye at high school senior Julia going around with Harry and then--Betsy's teacher!
It is an oft-written story about a girl who tries to change herself for a boy, and then the boy doesn't like the real her, and then she's better off for it. But all that doesn't happen until the last chunk of the book.
It's too bad that Betsy is told that she's better off having tried to change herself because now she looks better and acts better, and that she needs to keep her new skills for future men. Ah well.
So I started book 6 and then put it aside for a while. Finally finished it today. It is fine, so sweet and tame. Phil getting "spoony" by trying to hold her hand. Ha! She's not that sort of girl. It's fascinating that good girls didn't hold hands, but no one bats an eye at high school senior Julia going around with Harry and then--Betsy's teacher!
It is an oft-written story about a girl who tries to change herself for a boy, and then the boy doesn't like the real her, and then she's better off for it. But all that doesn't happen until the last chunk of the book.
It's too bad that Betsy is told that she's better off having tried to change herself because now she looks better and acts better, and that she needs to keep her new skills for future men. Ah well.
April 11, 2019
In this book, Betsy's adventures into "The Great World" include a meal at The Moorish Café (oo la la!), a trip to visit her dear friend Tib in a very German city called Milwaukee, and springtime jaunts in a shiny red car at the breathlessly exhilarating speed of 20 miles per hour. The Betsy that I know and love is back in this book and, even though she experiments (unsuccessfully) with transforming herself into a different person, someone "Dramatic and Mysterious", her sincerity and warmth and kindness always shine through. I'm back in the Betsy-Tacy fan club.
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