Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

What a fun month I've had re-reading the last of the Betsy-Tacy books as well as discovering and enjoying some of Maud Hart Lovelace's lesser-known, but equally good novels!

It is my hope that by hosting the first Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge I have encouraged new readers to the Betsy-Tacy series (and its author) to give them a try and in turn sparked an interest in the books, which I believe will naturally grow into a love for them. As for readers who've enjoyed the books in the past, it is my hope that this challenge gave them a chance to become reacquainted with Betsy, Tacy, and Tib or perhaps to discover some of the other wonderful stories that Maud penned during her lifetime.

Personally I came into this reading challenge already a fan of the Betsy-Tacy books, having read and enjoyed them as a teenager, but now as the challenge comes to a close I realize my enjoyment has grown into a deeper love for the books and a great admiration for the author. I cannot explain the special connection I feel to Betsy Ray and her world, but I can feel it. I will treasure these books all my life and I excitedly await the time when I can share them with my daughter.

To recap my reads for the MHL reading challenge: I read 7 books (6 by and 1 about MHL) during the month+ reading challenge (September 28-October 31), but for the sake of those new to the books I am going to link up all the reviews I've posted about Maud's books, including those from earlier in the year. For those looking for more facts about MHL check out my More About Betsy, Tacy, Tib and Maud Hart Lovelace post. And for those looking to post your own links scroll on down to the Mr. Linky. I cannot wait to read what you have to say!

Books read by MHL:
Betsy-Tacy
Betsy, Tacy and Tib
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown
Heavens to Betsy
Betsy in Spite of Herself
Betsy Was a Junior
Betsy and Joe
Betsy and the Great World
Betsy's Wedding
Winnona's Pony Cart
Carney's House Party
Emily of Deep Valley
The Trees Kneel At Christmas
One Stayed At Welcome (with Delos Lovelace)
The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen (biography of MHL)

What about you, what did you read? Link to your own reviews, MHL related posts, or your own MHL reading challenge wrap up post here:




In closing, please leave a comment and let me know if you would like to see a return of the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge next fall, giving you a chance to read more of her books or short stories.

More about Betsy, Tacy, Tib and Maud Hart Lovelace

Before we reach the end of October and in turn the end of the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge I thought I'd share a few quotes, facts, and links about these books and their much beloved author. Enjoy!

Did you know?

- The real Betsy (Maud), Tacy (Bick), and Tib (Midge) were all present in Mankato for the celebration of Betsy-Tacy Day, October 7, 1961.

- The first four books in the Betsy-Tacy series (Betsy-Tacy, Betsy, Tacy and Tib, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, and Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown) increase in reading difficulty so that the child reading can grow up along with Betsy, Tacy and Tib. Likewise each of the last six books in the series (Heavens to Betsy, Betsy in Spite of Herself, Betsy Was a Junior, Betsy and Joe, Betsy and the Great World, and Betsy's Wedding) increase both in vocabulary difficulty and in content.

- The Betsy-Tacy series began in the form of bedtime stories that Maud told her daughter, Merian.

- Maud titled the third Betsy-Tacy book Betsy, Tacy and Tib are Ten, but the publisher didn't like the title. It was instead titled Over the Big Hill and later changed to Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill. Likewise the fourth book was first titled Downtown and later changed to Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown.

- Maud originally planned to stop the series after Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, but her husband, Delos and daughter, Merian changed her mind. It happened around 1944 when Maud received from her parents a box of her high school memorabilia, which included her diaries. Initially Maud was embarrassed and found them silly and "full of slang and boys, boys, boys." She immediately dismissed the idea of using any of them for potential story plots, but eventually changed her mind after one evening when she overhead Delos laughing. She went into the living room to see what was so funny and discovered him reading her diaries. He said to her: "Maudie, these are rich. You must take Betsy through high school."

(Note: the house pictured above-right is where Maud and Delos lived at the time she was writing the Betsy-Tacy books. All the books, but Betsy's Wedding were written and published while at this home.

- According to the original publisher of Betsy In Spite of Herself, "the Betsy-Tacy series might never have been written if Mrs. Lovelace were not, among other things, one of the most unflagging diarists since Pepys..." (The Betsy-Tacy Companion, page 174)

- Maud titled her diaries "Comedy of Errors" for her freshman year in high school, "Much Ado About Nothing" for her sophomore year, "As You Like It" for her junior year, and "All's Well That Ends Well" for her senior year. They were all subtitled "Monkeyshine of Mankatoman."

- Even though nearly all of the people, places, details and adventures contained within the Betsy-Tacy books are based on facts and actual people, places and events in Maud's life there is a variance between the fictional world and the real world. For example, Betsy meets Joe when they are both entering their freshman year of high school. But in real life she didn't meet her husband until they were both adults. Click here to learn more about The People of Deep Valley(a.k.a Mankato), Minnesota. Or click here to learn more about The Places in Deep Valley (a.k.a. Mankato).

- The working title of Betsy's Wedding was actually Mrs. Betsy.

- And speaking of Betsy's Wedding, the book was dedicated to a Lillian Wakefield, the real-life Eleanor Hawthorne. Both Delos and Maud worked for Mrs. Wakefield just as Joe and Betsy worked for Mrs. Hawthorne. It was Lillian who introduced and lead to the matchmaking of Delos and Maud.

- It was well noted by friends and family that Maud and Delos had an extraordinary successful marriage. A couple days after their 14th wedding anniversary Maud was quoted as saying:

"Delos and I are mutually agreed that marrying each other was giving the perfect answer to life."

- Maud considered a few times about writing another Betsy-Tacy book to follow Betsy's Wedding. Maud was quoted as saying once, "In Betsy's Wedding, Betsy's husband went off to the First World War and many letters have begged me to bring him safely home. The letters even offered me titles for another book, obviously in the friendly assumption that when a writer has found a title he is over the hump. Welcome Home, Joe! was suggested by one. Many have asked for Betsy's Baby. And some have even hit upon the title I have selected myself, Betsy's Bettina." Unfortunately though she tried to research and write another book in the series it just never worked out and by the 1970s Maud gave up the idea entirely. In the end she said, "I have always felt that the last lines in Betsy's Wedding were a perfect ending for the series." The only other documented time that Maud might have played around with adding to the series was in 1971 when she penned a two page short story (unpublished) titled, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Ocean: The Last Story.

- For those wanting to know what happens to Betsy and Joe after the war, Maud cleared things up:

"Most of the letters I get ask two questions. And I always answer them personally to tell the girls that Joe does come back from the war and they do have a daughter they call Bettina." (Maud Hart Lovelace, Minneapolis Tribune, August 25, 1965)

- Although both Maud Hart Lovelace and her husband, Delos W. Lovelace were both authors (Maud short stories and novels and Delos newspaper articles, short stories, novels and biographies) it is Maud whose name is most recognized by today's readers. That being the case it might come as a surprise to learn that Delos not only authored a number of books, but was the author of one of the most infamous thrillers, King Kong. The novel King Kong was written and published in 1932 as a tie-in to the 1933 film by the same name. For a time the novel was credited as being authored by Edgar Wallace and Merian C. Cooper (who were both involved in the making of the film), but today Delos receives credit for his role in making a gigantic ape one of the world's most famous monsters.

- As a side note, Merian C. Cooper was a close friend of Maud and Delos, he and Delos had roomed together in college. The Lovelace's were so certain their second child born in 1931 would also be a boy that they did not pick out a girl's name. (Their first child, a boy born in 1925, died a few hours after birth.) When they discovered they had a daughter, but no name they settled on naming her Merian, after their friend Merian Cooper.

- The Lovelace's once entertained Rose Wilder Lane, daughter of another Minnesota author, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Maud served jellied chicken.

(Note: The picture to the right of Mrs. Lovelace was taken in 1948 while in the midst of writing the Betsy-Tacy books. It is said to be Mrs. Lovelace's favorite portrait of herself.)

Want to know more about Maud Hart Lovelace and the world of Betsy, Tacy and Tib?

First, if you own any of the recently reprinted Betsy-Tacy books you will find some wonderful tributes to the books and their author in the form of Forwards by well-known 21st century authors such as Ann M. Martin, Judy Blume, Frances Hurwitz and the like. The books also include a Post Script section complete with photographs, biographical information, and a "where are they now" section.

Next readers should be sure to check out the Betsy-Tacy Society website. Contained therein is a wealth of information, but if you're looking for basic information check out the short biography of Maud Hart Lovelace, which contains a few photographs, and the Maud Hart Lovelace/Betsy-Tacy Timeline.

Or if you want more details be sure to check to see if your library has copies of the following:
* The Betsy-Tacy Companion: A Biography of Maud Hart Lovelace by Sharla Schanell Whalen
* Maud Hart Lovelace's Deep Valley by Julie A. Schrader

* A Tribute to The Young At Heart: Maud Hart Lovelace by Ken E. Berg (published for ages 9-12)
* Between Deep Valley and the Great World: Maud Hart Lovelace in Minneapolis by Amy Dolnick
* Future in a Handbasket: The Life and Letters Behind Carney's House Party by Amy Dolnick
* Betsy-Tacy in Deep Valley: People and Places by Carlienne Frisch
* The City at Their Feet: Maud and Delos in Manhattan.

Several of those books can also be found at the Besty-Tacy Society Gift Shop. And speaking of which, the Society's online Gift Shop is the place to go for anything Bety-Tacy-Tib or Maud Hart Lovelace related. From books by or about Maud Hart Lovelace to t-shirts, jewelry, stationary and book marks, and a slew of other memorabilia. All proceeds go to the future maintenance of the Betsy-Tacy museum.

And last, but certainly not lest. For the parents, teachers, or book club leaders out there who are looking for help in sparking discussions about the Betsy-Tacy books with young readers or members of a book club, be sure to check out HarperCollins Publishers website. They have posted reading guides to the first two books in the Betsy-Tacy series: Betsy-Tacy and Betsy, Tacy and Tib. The reading guides include story summaries and questions.

The above picture is a copy of the wall mural that can be found in the Maud Hart Lovelace wing of the Minnesota Valley Regional Library in Mankato, Minnesota. As described in Ken Berg's book, A Tribute to the Young At Heart: Maud Hart Lovelace, the mural "depicts Deep Valley and Betsy-Tacy characters as envisioned and painted by Marian Anderson."

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Disclaimer: Please note that the content of this post is a combination of some original content by the author of this blog and a great deal of compiled quotes and facts from various Betsy-Tacy and Maud Hart Lovelace sources, including some of the above listed titles. The photographs likewise were compiled from various sources, but mostly from the Internet, and do not belong to me. The author of this blog received no compensation for this post, it was done purely for the fun of sharing the information with other readers and helping keep alive the treasure that is the Bety-Tacy series.

The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen

514 pages
Copyright 1995
Portalington Press
Whitehall, PA

I did not think I could complete my own Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge without first reading a biography of Mrs. Lovelace and without a doubt the best biography out there is The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen.

The Plot:
"The Betsy-Tacy Companion is a biography of the author Maud Hart Lovelace. Lovelace is best known for her children's books, the Betsy-Tacy series. These books are strikingly autobiographical, and the Companion focuses on the people and events from the series, revealing the counterparts in Lovelace's own life. Betsy was Lovelace herself, Tacy was her best friend, Frances Kenney, etc.

The Companion begins by describing the time period shortly before that in which the first book, Betsy-Tacy, is set - the years 1883 to 1896. Companion chapters then cover, one by one, each of the Betsy-Tacy books, representing Lovelace's childhood (starting in 1897), taking her through high school a trip to Europe before the First World War, and to the early years of her marriage in Minneapolis, Minnesota. the last two chapters detail Lovelace's later adult life and writing career...

The Companion discusses not only similarities between the fictional Betsy and the real Maud, but equally importantly, reveals events in the author's life which were carefully omitted from the series. An overall picture of Lovelace as a woman and an author results." (Summary courtesy of the publisher, inside dust jacket flap)

My Thoughts:
I thought I had read The Betsy-Tacy Companion several years ago when I was reading through the Betsy-Tacy high school years for the first time, but when I picked it up for the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge I quickly realized I had not. Perhaps I just flipped through the book and looked at the pictures? At any rate this was my first time reading about the life of Maud Hart Lovelace and how closely it was tied with her alter-ego, Elizabeth (Betsy) Warrington Ray.

At 514 pages The Betsy-Tacy Companion is chocked full of details, pictures, and sketches about Maud, her life in Minnesota and elsewhere, and of course the people, places and events within the Betsy-Tacy series. Of course this is probably much more than the average reader would care to know, but for me a life long fan of the series, I found it absolutely fascinating.

Most of the notes I made while reading I have compiled in a final Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge post which will appear later this week, but for now I have just a few thoughts I want to mention.

Learning more about Maud not only strengthened my love for her books, but also my opinion of her as an author and a person. Like any of us, Maud wasn't perfect, but from all accounts she appears to have been a loving and intelligent woman, who had a strong faith in God.

Towards the end of the biography Mrs. Whalen includes an excerpt from an article that Maud wrote about prayer. I'm including a quote from it here because I think it is an excellent example of who Maud was and what she believed:

"I believe in praying as I believe in breathing. An involuntary procedure, prayer runs along with the day, following the convolutions of work and play, duties, problems, and delights... It is my way to turn to God at any hour, with a small joy as well as with a sorrow, with plans, hopes, thanks - even wishes. Not that I expect Him to stay the course of the planets while He grants my often misguided petitions. But since He is love and is everything, 'nearer than hands and feet,' one may share everything with Him, and there is a blessed release in doing so. What He gives, I earnestly believe, in response to such spontaneous prayers, is strength, insight, appreciations, serenity, but above all a continuing reassurance of His presence..."

In addition to this example of her faith, I found numerous examples of Maud displaying love and kindness to her family, friends and even her fans! Case in point, at one time late in her life Maud considered writing a memoir Living with Writing, but "between answering her ever-arriving fan mail and the many interests she and Delos pursued together, Maud never completed another book." (TBTC, Chap. 14, pg. 475)

Initially I was disappointed to know that Maud had started, but didn't finish a book of memoirs. What rich reading they would have made! But then I realized two things, first as The Betsy-Tacy Companion subtly reveals, the Betsy-Tacy series was in a way her memoirs. Second, I think it says a lot about Maud that she would take the time not only to spend each day with those she loved, but to take the time to respond to those who loved her books. What a treasure those letters must have been to the readers who received them. I wish I had had such a chance.

In closing I want to add the following. The Betsy-Tacy Companion is not for everyone, but it is definitely a fun and extremely interesting read for those who have read and loved Maud's books. I particularly enjoyed getting a closer look at her relationship with Delos -- the real life Betsy and Joe and finding the "Then What Happened" part of Maud/Betsy's story post-Betsy's Wedding.

My only regret in reading and enjoying The Betsy-Tacy Companion so much is that it is not readily available. Published nearly 15 years ago it has fallen out of print and is only available in the form of expensive used copies. Of course I checked with my local libraries, but the only copy they had was listed as "reference" and thus could not be checked out! In the end I was fortunate enough to find a copy at a library near my husband's work that he could borrow for me. All that to say, don't give up if your library doesn't have a copy, or the only copy is catalogued as "reference." Check the ILL system or other libraries within your state.

Betsy's Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace

260 pages
First published 1955, reprinted 1996
Harper Trophy
A Division of HarperCollins Publishers

NOTE: A word of warning to newcomers to the Betsy-Tacy series. There is not really any feasible way for me to properly review Betsy's Wedding (the tenth and last book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace) without giving away a key point to the end of the series, who Betsy marries. If you don't yet know and don't want to know who Betsy ends up with until you get to this book yourself, then STOP reading from the end of this paragraph and skip down to the "In Summary" section of this review. By doing so you will miss the spoiler. If you don't mind knowing ahead of time, then read on my friend!

The Plot:
When Betsy Ray arrives in New York after a tour of Europe, her old flame Joe Willard is waiting at the dock. Before he even says hello, he asks Betsy to marry him. They've been separated for a year, and they're determined never to be apart again. But as Betsy discovers, marriage isn't all candlelight, kisses, and roses. There's cooking, ironing, and budgeting as well--not to mention forging her career as a writer! For Betsy, the writing part comes naturally, but cooking is another matter. It's even harder than algebra--and much messier. Luckily Betsy Ray--make that Betsy Willard--has always thrived on challenge. Her name may have changed, but her life remains as full of love and laughter as it's been since she was a little girl living on Hill Street..." (Summary courtesy of the publisher.)

My Thoughts:
I love, love, love this book. Aside from Betsy and Joe, which is my favorite of Betsy's high school years, Betsy's Wedding is definitely my all-time favorite book in the BT series. When I picked it up to read last weekend I hadn't read the book in over ten years, I loved it then, but I think if it's possible, I enjoyed it even more this time around.

As most readers familiar with the BT series know, Maud Hart Lovelace patterned the characters and happenings in each story after people she knew and things she experienced, including herself and her husband, Delos. The only catch was that unlike Betsy, who meets Joe when they are entering their freshman year in high school, Maud didn't meet Delos until she was 25. So while she patterned the high school version of Joe after what she learned Delos was like at that age, it wasn't until Betsy's Wedding that Maud was able to really base the character of Joe after her own experience and relationship with Delos. And while I think Joe has always been one of my favorite characters in the series he is stellar in this book. As others have said of Betsy's Wedding, "Joe practically walks right off the page."

There are so many aspects of Betsy's Wedding that I love. I find the story both highly romantic and yet very realistic. I love watching Betsy's and Joe's relationship grow deeper and stronger. I love how Betsy, as is the case in all her stories, grows and blossoms. I love that I get a chance to see my favorite characters from the series find happiness and finally reach some of their long desired goals. And while I'm sad that Betsy's Wedding is the last book in the series, I am happy to find that Maud wrapped up her lose ends and I believe she ended the book (and the series) in the best way possible. It leaves the reader room to imagine the future for Betsy and Joe and avoids the heartache and grit that would be addressed had the series continued on into 1917 and the worst of World War I for Americans.

If asked what my favorite part of the book is I'd have a difficult time deciding. This book is a fresh, entertaining, and heart-tugging story of life, love, and the wonderful first few years of marriage. But that said, I think one of my favorite scenes is when Joe and Betsy are in New York City and Joe finally puts into words how he feels about Betsy:

"Betsy,' he said at last, 'I love you. I love you from that cloudy dark hair down to your slender feet. I love your eyes, and your soft hands, and your sweet voice, and the way your laugh chimes out. Everything about you is enchanting to me. But Betsy, it's lots more than that... I can always talk to you,' he said 'I can make plans, or puzzle out ideas, or build castles in the air. I don't need to think what I'm saying or guard my words. You understand my high moods and my low ones. You understand me, I guess. I want to be married to you and have you around all the time. I want to come home to you after work and tell you about my day. I want to hear you humming around doing housework. I want to support you. I want to do things for you. If we were married and I was coming home to you tonight, I wouldn't care if we had just bread and milk. You know, Betsy, we never quarrel when we're together. We never will, I really believe, when we are married. But if we aren't, something might come between us again. Betsy, you fit into my life as perfectly as a rose fits its stem. You and I match like the pieces of a broken coin.' After a long pause, he said, 'Love me always, Betsy! I have given my whole heart to you.' " (Chapt. 2, page 22-23)

In Summary:
I love Betsy's Wedding. There's no doubt that this book rates a 5 out of 5 (excellent) in my opinion. It is the creme to top off the series. Each book builds upon the story and I believe the reader is rewarded for their devotion. What might begin as a curious reader reading about two imaginative five year-olds Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly, will eventually turn into a devoted fan of the series by the time the girls grow into beautiful and accomplished young women. Yes, the devoted fan is a life-long friend to Betsy, Tacy, Tib... and Maud Hart Lovelace.

I had bittersweet feelings about finishing the last book in this series. I was saddened because I felt like I was leaving behind very dear friends when I closed the last book, but at the same time I was happy because I had enjoyed revisiting them this year as I re-read through the series. The best part of all is the fact that they are never more than a hand's reach away on my bookshelf. Now that's a classic.

Want to read Betsy's Wedding? You can! If your library doesn't have a copy be sure to check out your local bookstore or shop online. HarperCollins Publishers has reprinted Betsy's Wedding along with Betsy And the Great World and they can be purchased in one paperback for $10-15.

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Related Reads:
Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy series, 1897-1898)
Betsy, Tacy and Tib (BT, 1900-1901)
Winnona's Pony Cart (Deep Valley series, around 1900)
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill (BT, 1902)
Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown (BT, 1904-1905)
Heavens to Betsy (BT, 1906-1907)
Betsy in Spite of Herself (BT, 1907-1908)
Betsy Was a Junior (BT, 1908-1909)
Betsy and Joe (BT, 1909-1910)
Carney's House Party (DV, 1911)
Emily of Deep Valley (DV, 1912-1913)
Betsy and the Great World (BT, 1914)
Betsy's Wedding (BT, 1914-1917)

Betsy And the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace

321 pages
Harper Trophy
A Division of HarperCollins Publishers
First published 1952, reprinted 1996

Betsy And the Great World is the ninth book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Betsy And the Great World is a little special as it has a completely different setting than the books preceding it in the series. The story is not set in Minnesota, but instead in Europe. The only Deep Valley/Minneapolis character that make an appearance is Joe Willard, albeit very briefly. The rest of Betsy's friends and family members only appear in the story through the form of letters to/from Betsy and her conversations with the people she meets and her own internal thoughts.

The Plot:
"It's the trip of a lifetime. Betsy Ray, 21 years old, is heading off for a solo tour of Europe. From the moment she casts off, her journey is filled with adventure--whether she's waltzing at the captain's ball, bartering for beads in Madeira, or sipping coffee at a bohemian cafe in Munich. It's rich fodder for a budding young writer, and Betsy's determined to make the most of the experience. If only she could stop thinking about her ex-sweetheart, Joe Willard... Then a handsome, romantic Italian goes overboard for Betsy, and she has a big decision to make. Marco Regali is passionate, fascinating, and cultured. Could it be that Betsy's heart belongs in Europe instead of Minnesota?" (Summary courtesy of the publisher.)

My Thoughts:
Of course I enjoyed Betsy And the Great World, why wouldn't I? It's a Betsy-Tacy book and I love the series! But I can't say it's my favorite in the series. To me it's a little like what Anne of Windy Poplars is to the other books in the Anne series. A story that is entertaining and interesting, but lacking something of the snap that the previous or forthcoming books contain. In the case of Anne of Windy Poplars I really missed Anne's interaction with Gilbert. In the case of Betsy and the Great World I really missed the Deep Valley crowd and her interaction with the Joe! I really missed Joe.

Still, I think Betsy And the Great World plays a vital role in the Betsy-Tacy series. Betsy has left her high school life and faces the "what next" moment that so many people similarly face. This book provides a bridge from her childhood and high school years to her adult life.

Like Emily Webster in another of Maud Hart Lovelace's books: Emily of Deep Valley, Betsy feels she must attend college after high school, after all everyone else is. But after starting college Betsy encounters some unforeseen difficulties that set her back a year. With her friends a year ahead of her she starts to lose focus of what she really wants and makes some foolish choices, including one that costs her the loss of Joe Willard. Thankfully Betsy's very sensible and loving father encourages her to learn from her mistakes and move on to something else rather than continue spending time and money doing something she isn't meant to do. This results in Betsy taking a tour of Europe where she learns that she doesn't have to study books to become a better writer. She can better herself and her writing through the experiences of one-on-one contact with historical sites, foreign languages, and the unique people and cultures of foreign countries.

Betsy And the Great World is a story filled with entertainment, adventure, and history. When the novel opens it is 1914 and Betsy is seeing ancient historical sites as well as modern (i.e. early 20th century) sites. She is seeing Germany pre-World War I. For a reader from the 21st century I find this absolutely fascinating! I love the depth of detail that Mrs. Lovelace includes in the story. It gives me, the reader, not just an understanding of what it was like, but the feeling of actually having been to Europe with Betsy.

And how very different it was to travel in 1914 than it is today! Not to mention the amount of luggage that Betsy can travel with (albeit by boat not plane). Then there's whole bath/shower aspect. At one point in the story Betsy has to go several weeks (or maybe it's a couple months) without a bath (and showers didn't exist). Eww! And on a lighter note, I couldn't help but laugh when towards the end of the book when someone asks Betsy if she has her passport with her and Betsy replies in the negative as "very few people bothered with passports for a mere trip to Europe." (Chpt. 21, pg. 313) Yes, how very different from today when you not only must have a passport to go from the USA to Europe, but also from the USA to Canada! I also noticed the amount of freedom that Betsy has in her travels. Traveling through Europe in 1914 appears to have been both simplistic and quietly beautiful. The cities still had their hustle and bustle, but not the noise and high-paced life that travelers of this century meet. No bumper-to-bumper traffic, no tourist traps, no cell phones, Web-cafes, and jumbo jets with hundreds of people cramped in tiny seats after paying a large sum of money to check their one bag. Of course, there was a downside to the lack of technology. When she was homesick Betsy couldn't just pick up a phone and call her family and a return trip to the United States took six days instead of the current six hours. Still, I think the experiences Betsy had are harder to come by as a traveler today and, in a way, that's a shame.

Another subject addressed briefly in the book is World War I, at least the beginnings of it. In the closing chapters of Betsy And the Great World war breaks out between Germany, Russia, France, and Belgium. Betsy faces the choice of staying in England experiencing things first-hand that she could write about or heading for the safety of her home back in Minneapolis. While keeping the story historically accurate, Mrs. Lovelace still manages to tactfully keep the grit of the war to a distance. For Betsy and her friends back in the United States the idea of a world-wide war was just not something they considered reality, at least not in 1914 even though it was quickly becoming a reality for people in Europe.

In Summary:
Betsy and the Great World is a wonderful mix of fiction and history. I am so glad I took the time to re-read it. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate it a 4.5. I loved the book, it's a definite must read for the series, but the best (in my opinion) is yet to come. Stay tuned!

Want to read Betsy And the Great World? You can! If your library doesn't have a copy be sure to check out your local bookstore or shop online. HarperCollins Publishers has reprinted Betsy And the Great World along with Betsy's Wedding and they can be purchased in one paperback for $10-15.

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Related Reads:
Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy series, 1897-1898)
Betsy, Tacy and Tib (BT, 1900-1901)
Winnona's Pony Cart (Deep Valley series, around 1900)
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill (BT, 1902)
Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown (BT, 1904-1905)
Heavens to Betsy (BT, 1906-1907)
Betsy in Spite of Herself (BT, 1907-1908)
Betsy Was a Junior (BT, 1908-1909)
Betsy and Joe (BT, 1909-1910)
Carney's House Party (DV, 1911)
Emily of Deep Valley (DV, 1912-1913)
Betsy and the Great World (BT, 1914)
Betsy's Wedding (BT, 1914-1917) -- Review coming soon!

Carney's House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace

275 pages

Published 1949, reprinted 2000

Harper CollinsPublishers

New York, NY

Carney's House Party is the second of three Deep Valley Books by Maud Hart Lovelace. Although each of the Deep Valley Books takes place in the same town as the Betsy-Tacy books they are not linked any more than to have Betsy Ray make a guest appearance. Instead, as stand-alone novels, each book tells the adventures of a central character and her close friends and family within the much loved town of Deep Valley, Minnesota.

As a side note for those interested, you can read my review of the first Deep Valley Book, Winona's Pony Cart, which I reviewed earlier this year. And watch for my upcoming review of the last book, Emily of Deep Valley.

The Plot:

Carney's House Party takes place over the summer of 1911. As the story opens Carney Sibley has finished her sophomore year at Vassar College and is getting ready to leave the East Coast and return home to the Middle-West and more specifically, Deep Valley. Carney is excited because it is promising to be a wonderful summer as her parents have agreed to let her host a month-long house party with some of her best friends, including old chums Betsy Ray and Bonnie Andrews (recently returned from Paris) and her college roommate, the mysterious yet beautiful, Isobel Porteous.

And the summer is indeed is filled with adventure and fun for Carney and her friends as they frolic together enjoying picnics, swimming, boating, and fishing, dances and parties, or just hanging out and laughing together. To add to this, there are two surprises for Carney. First a new member is added to the crowd, the wealthy and unkempt, but endearing Sam Hutchinson, who appears to take interest in Isobel, and second, the return of Larry Humphreys (Carney's high school sweetheart) who moved to California four years prior. Love is in the air, but what everyone wants to know is -- will Larry and Carney get engaged?

My Thoughts:

For some reason I never got around to reading Carney's House Party when I was reading through the Betsy-Tacy books as a teenager. I wish I hadn't waited so long to look for a copy since it is now out of print and very expensive to purchase. Thankfully I was able to track down a copy through my local library and finally satisfy my curiosity about some of the unanswered questions I've always had. Questions like what happens to Larry and Carney? And what happened in Betsy's life between her senior year at Deep Valley High School in Betsy and Joe and her traveling Europe in Betsy and the Great World?

Over all I really enjoyed Carney's House Party. It is a fun, entertaining, and romantic read that, in my opinion, is equally as good as the Besty-Tacy stories. That said, Carney's House Party has its differences. Instead of spanning an entire year as is the case in the Betsy-Tacy series, this book covers just a summer. Because of this it tends to put a little more detail into the development of characters and the house party activities. Readers should not expect Carney's House Party to be an extension to Betsy and Joe, because after all the story is Carney's and is told from her perspective. I guess you might liken it to what the Road of Avonlea books are to the Anne of Green Gables series.

As is the case with her other works, Carney's House Party isn't just another romance set in the early 1900s. Mrs. Lovelace also manages to weave in subtle lessons and interesting historic details. I noticed several of these in Carney's House Party, but there were two that particularly stood out to me.

First, at one point in the story there is a casual reference made to a newspaper reporting that the Mona Lisa had been stolen from the Louvre in Paris. I love it when Mrs. Lovelace includes these little details because I'm always compelled to dig for more information when it's something I don't know much about, or in this case, I don't know at all. Another example is in Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown when a references is made to the Carnegie Libraries.

Second and on a deeper note, I found it interesting to note the worldview that Carney and her friends have towards college and careers and love and marriage. Life in 1911 was so much different for young women than it is in 2009. While more and more women were attending college they still did not have the right to vote and their futures were limited to a few careers or settling down to raise a family. What I like about the characters that Mrs. Lovelace created in her books is how balanced they always are. For example, Carney and her girlfriends have hopes and dreams that include a higher education and travel, but none of them are men-hating feminists, nor are they milk-toast women content to let others tell them how to live. It is clear throughout the book that Carney not only loves the challenge of attending a college like Vassar, but that she is excelling in her studies. She also believes in a woman's right to vote, yet dreams of one day herself becoming a wife and mother.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Carney's House Party a 4.5. If you've read the Betsy-Tacy series, but never taken the time to read this book you are missing out. Hopefully now that Harper CollinsPublishers reprinted the entire Betsy-Tacy series they will turn their attention to reprinting the Deep Valley Books.

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If you have read and enjoyed Carney's House Party, you might also enjoy Future In a Handbasket: The Life and Letters Behind Carney's House Party by Amy Dolnick.

Betsy And Joe By Maud Hart Lovelace

256 pages
Copyright 1948
Thomas Y. Crowell Company
New York, NY

"Say, you told me you thought Les Miserables was the greatest novel ever written. I think Vanity Fair is the greatest. Let's fight." ~ Joe Willard to Betsy Ray (Chapter 4, page 47)

Betsy and Joe opens during the summer of 1909, just months from the beginning of Betsy’s senior year at Deep Valley High School. Once more Betsy and her family (sans Julia who is traveling abroad) are vacationing at the lake where Betsy spends her days relaxing, swimming, writing letters and stories (she's determined to get published before the summer is over), and planning out her last year of high school.

Betsy learned a lot during her junior year and she is resolved to continue this pattern of growth and maturity as she starts the school year. For starters, she is determined to be a steadier and more loving individual. Betsy also plans to help more around the home, study harder, spend more time reaching out to others, and most of all -- rescue her long-time friend, Tony Markham, who has fallen in with a bad crowd. But what Betsy doesn't plan for ends up being the biggest surprise of her summer -- Joe Willard and she will finally get their chance to be together…

I think it's safe to say Betsy and Joe is my all-time favorite book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. It's the culmination of the high-school years and the reader finally gets to find out more about the handsome yet mysterious Joe Willard. And yet, it's not just another chapter in the "Betsy high school saga," for as is true with any of the books in the series, Mrs. Lovelace weaves a story that is both entertaining and endearing with subtle lessons and the adventures and tragedies that are found in real-life.

I find this coming-of-age novel romantic and yet still very realistic. It’s both entertaining and heart wrenching. Love is lost, love is gained, and love is even found where it's not expected. Betsy has to make a choice whether to help another or to follow her heart. Her faith is stretched as she watches those around her lose loved ones and yet carry on. She faces challenges head on, she's improved, she's matured... and yet she still makes mistakes. But I find her flaws and virtues just make her a more realistic and lovable heroine. She's not perfect, but you don't want her to be.

Yes, Betsy and Joe is definitely the culmination of the books following Betsy’s childhood and youth, but it's not the end of her story. Mrs. Lovelace drops various hints to the reader as to the future course of many of the characters in the book and the reader has the delightful opportunity of two more books about Betsy as she enters the Great World.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Betsy and Joe a 5. This is an excellent read and well worth your attention.

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Note: As I mentioned in my last Betsy review, Betsy loves to read. I noticed her novel of choice in this book was Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, which I read and reviewed this summer.

Mark Your Calendar! The Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge begins here at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind on Monday, September 28.

Betsy Was a Junior by Maud Hart Lovelace

248 pages
Copyright 1947
Thomas Y. Crowell Company
New York, NY

I actually read Betsy Was a Junior in August, but delayed my review because I wanted to post it after my announcement about the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge. I'm planning on one more Betsy-Tacy review this month, but then the rest of the books I read by Mrs. Lovelace will be saved for the reading challenge.

The Plot:
Betsy Was a Junior opens, as do all the high school books in the series, during the last few weeks of summer. While Betsy, now 16 going on 17, has had a wonderful summer at the lake with her family she is excited to get back home to Deep Valley and to school. She's made big plans for the upcoming year, which include capturing the attention of the mysteriously aloof, but very handsome Joe Willard, getting better grades, winning the coveted Essay Contest cup, and joining the committee to work on the Junior-Senior Banquet. If all goes to plan she expects to have the best school year ever!

And at first it seems like it will be the perfect year, especially when Betsy learns her childhood friend, Tib Mueller, has moved back to Deep Valley and the girls in the crowd form the first ever sorority at Deep Valley High. But then a few things go wrong and Betsy's plans start to fall apart or backfire. Before she realizes it she (and the crowd) are headed for trouble. If something doesn't change soon it could end up being Betsy's worst year ever!

My Thoughts:
As is the case with the other books in the series I found Betsy Was a Junior amusing, entertaining, and endearing. And of course it should come as no surprise, to those who've read my other reviews of the Betsy-Tacy series, that I loved this next installment of Betsy's high school years.

One thing I've noticed during my re-reading of this series is the fact these aren't stories filled with fluff. Yes, Betsy lives during a golden age and her life is filled with fun, fashion, and some frivolity, but none of the characters are one-dimensional. Mrs. Lovelace always manages to weave important details and principles into the story that adds a richness and make the characters come alive on the pages. Betsy has endearing qualities, but she she is not perfect. During her junior year she makes some good choices and some not so good choices, which lead to some tough consequences. But she faces them head on and comes out the other end no worse for the wear, but definitely a wiser and better individual. To me, this is the type of character the draws the reader in and gives them a reason to care what happens next in the story.

Another aspect that I love about the Betsy-Tacy books is how Mrs. Lovelace celebrates and honors not only the family and family traditions, but also faith, friendships, and just the little things that make life in a small town during the early 1900s so unique. It's the compilation of all these details that make the Betsy-Tacy books timeless treasures. Yes, a lot has changed in the last century, but the heart of the stories in the Betsy-Tacy books remain as applicable today as they were 50 years ago when the books were published, or 100 years ago at the time the stories were set.

My Summary:
On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Betsy Was a Junior a 5. I love this novel. So much happens and it is a truly enjoyable read, you have to read it!


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P.S. Throughout the series the reader sees mention of various books Betsy has read or is reading. I made a fun discovery while reading Betsy Was a Junior. At one point in the story it is mentioned that Betsy reads aloud to her girlfriends from The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I found this amusing because I just read and reviewed that same book in March. And in case your curious, Betsy has good taste in books... I loved The Shuttle.

Extra, Extra Read All About It: Library Hospital to Host First Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge

I have some exciting news! A Library is a Hospital for the Mind is hosting our first ever reading challenge...

I have made it no secret, I am a longtime and ardent fan of the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Earlier this year I began to re-read through the series and was ecstatic to learn that several of the books, which have been out of print for a decade, are to be reprinted and available for purchase on Tuesday, September 28 thanks to HarperCollins Publishers!

What better way to celebrate this great occasion then by hosting the first ever Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge on my blog! So for all of your readers out there -- whether you've read Mrs. Lovelace's books long ago, or only recently heard about them -- this challenge is for you!

Here's how to participate:

1. Start now by planning out which Maud Hart Lovelace books you most want to read. You don't have to read the Betsy-Tacy series, though I highly recommend them. In addition to the ten Betsy-Tacy books, Mrs. Lovelace also wrote three books as part of the Deep Valley series and twelve individual books on a variety of topics. Click here to see a full bibliography. (Almost all of the books are available through local libraries and book sellers, so be sure to check around if you can't find what you're looking for.)

2. Come back to A Library is a Hospital for the Mind the week of September 28 thru October 3 and sign-up to participate in the reading challenge using the Mr. Linky in my introductory Reading Challenge post. Be sure to post your name and link to your own post listing which of Mrs. Lovelace's books you plan to read, or even to your own introductory post. Be sure to use the permalink (link to the actual post, not just your blog.) This challenge is supposed to be lots of fun, so feel free to change around your list throughout the month if you feel the need.

3. Sit back, relax, and enjoy reading!

4. Come back on Saturday, October 31, 2009 and link up whichever of your Maud Hart Lovelace related reviews/posts that you wish to share. Be sure to use the permalink (link to the actual post, not just your blog.)

6. Visit around the other Reading Challenge participants' blogs and see what they have to say or which of Mrs. Lovelace's books they chose to read. Feel free to dialog with me or with them through blog comments or email. Find out what they like and why. Have fun!

That's it. So SPREAD THE WORD and I will see you back here on Monday, September 28th! In the meantime, you can copy the HTML code that is posted on the right-hand column of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind and use it to link your blog to the challenge. The direct link for the challenge is: http://libraryhospital.blogspot.com/search/label/Maud%20Hart%20Lovelace%20Reading%20Challenge.

Betsy In Spite of Herself by Maud Hart Lovelace

272 pages
Copyright 1946, reprint in paperback 1980
Harper Trophy
New York, NY

I'm on a roll... After reading the first four books in the Betsy-Tacy series I finally reached my favorite books in the series -- the high school years, which begin with Heavens To Betsy and eventually lead into Betsy's early adult years and the end of the series. Of course now that I've begun re-reading them I don't want to stop. And so only a day after finishing Heavens to Betsy I found myself reading, Betsy In Spite of Herself.

The Plot:
As Betsy in Spite of Herself opens it is the summer of 1908. Betsy is 15 and heading into her sophomore year at Deep Valley High School. Even though Betsy and her life-long friend Tacy still underclassmen they are "important members of 'the Crowd,' which is the center of all the exciting happenings in the school. But all the interest in examinations, dates, parties, and school games vanishes when Phil Brandish joins the Crowd, for Phil is new and handsome and has a b right red auto. Betsy decides she has to change her personality to fit her new sophisticated role, and a trip to Milwaukee gives her the opportunity. Whether or not she succeeds, things begin to happen after she returns home, and her great decision about herself is made at her first dance." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
As I said above, I love these books. Not only are they a part of my childhood (or rather teenage years -- as I read them and enjoyed them when I was about the same age as Betsy and Tacy), but they remind me so much of... well, me as a teenager.

At 15 years I was a budding author. I'd actually written and sold one story and I dreamed of becoming an best selling author and maybe even traveling the Great World. I loved having fun with my friends, attending parties, and even cheering at the occasional school basketball game. And like Betsy, I thought for a time that if I changed who I was -- in looks, dress, and personality, then I might draw the attention and companionship of those who I thought were "cool". But also like Betsy, in time I came to realize how silly that was.

As some readers may know (particularly if you're a reader of this blog) the Betsy-Tacy books are based off of the author's (Maud Hart Lovelace) own childhood and teenage memories and experiences. Most, though not all, of Betsy's friends and family are based off real-life friends and family members of Maud's. I think this fact makes the series that much more interesting. It's not just another historical fiction series, it's based on facts and thus in a very small way a biographical historical fiction series.

Between my own personal connection with Betsy's character and the knowledge that a real person just like Betsy actually lived, experienced, and felt the same things that I have makes the series so endearing to me.

But emotions aside. Heavens to Betsy is educational too. There are two things I've noticed while re-reading the Betsy-Tacy series. First, lessons are learned by Betsy and her friends, but their aren't presented in a preachy or lecturing way. Mrs. Lovelace weaves the story in such a way that any foolish decisions reap realistic consequences and the characters and readers are left to draw their own conclusions from such happenings. Unlike say... The Elsie Dinsmore books.

Honestly, I was never a fan of the Elsie Dinsmore series. I just couldn't stand Elsie's -- or the author's for that matter -- "goody-goody" attitude and preachiness (or so I viewed it). So when I came across the following paragraph in Betsy In Spite of Herself I almost laughed out loud:

"For a moment Betsy wondered wildly whether she should refuse to go. Elsie Dinsmore, she remembered, had refused to play the piano on Sunday; she had fallen off the piano stool instead. But Betsy had never thought much of Elsie Dinsmore..." (Chapter 12, page 127)

Second, without realizing it a reader can have a nice history and social studies lesson just by reading a Betsy-Tacy novel. I had forgotten how much attention Mrs. Lovelace gives to not only the exciting and unusual details, but also to the seemingly mundane and simple details.

The reader learns much about life in the early 1900s just by reading about Betsy's home, school, religious, and social life doings. And then there is the social and political comments that Betsy, her family and friend's make and observe throughout the books just as naturally as any family does today. When Betsy takes a trip to Milwaukee to visit her childhood friend, Tib the reader learns a great deal about what life was like for German immigrants to the United States prior to both World Wars. I found this aspect particularly enlightening considering the current status of international immigrants in America. It was indeed a very interesting read.

My Summary:
These books aren't just fluff. They bring out the best of my memories and I guess that's why I treasure them so. On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Betsy In Spite of Herself a 5. This is a great follow-up to Heavens to Betsy. But I warn readers... once you start you won't be able to set the series aside until you reach the end.

Stay tuned for further thoughts and interesting facts when I review Betsy Was a Junior and an exciting announcement concerning this blog.

For more details about the reprinting of the Betsy-Tacy series or to see my other Betsy-Tacy reviews click on the Betsy-Tacy label.

Heavens To Besty by Maud Hart Lovelace

268 pages
Harper Trophy
A division of Harper Collins Publishers
Copyright 1948, reprinted 1980

Heavens to Betsy is the fifth book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This story opens in the summer of 1906, which leads up to Betsy and Tacy's freshman year in Deep Valley High School.

It doesn't take long for the reader to realize Betsy is quickly growing up to be a lovely young woman. At fourteen she's wearing her hair up (instead of in braids), her skirts are longer (nearly covering her ankles), she's taking on new challenges, including writing contests, joining choir, and exploring a new church. And then there's the social realm of her life -- Betsy's friendships expand to create "the crowd" who together enjoy dozens of parties and festivities throughout the year. She's even falling in love for the first time... to a tall, dark stranger (T.D.S!) All this definitely makes Heavens to Betsy a fun read.

As I've mentioned in the past, the Betsy-Tacy books are a childhood favorite of mine. Perhaps that accounts for the warm fuzzy feelings I get whenever I'm reading a book from the series. Betsy's world, including life as a freshman in Deep Valley High School, is just so interesting, exciting, and entertaining that I actually found myself almost wishing I had been a teenager in the early 20th century and lived in a town like Deep Valley... almost.

I've always been fond of the Betsy's family, but became even more so after reading Heavens to Betsy. Mr. and Mrs. Ray exemplify marriage, parenthood, friendship, and hospitality at its very best and it in turn is carried on by Betsy and her sisters. And even though the Ray family members do have their differences they always work things out with love and respect. Their house is a home to all who enter, filled with love, laughter, and even intellectual discussions. The Ray home is the type of home I wish to have -- loving, supportive, entertaining, and a haven to all.

In addition to the wonderful characters, interesting setting, and entertaining plot, I also find Lovelace's writing style enjoyable to read and easy to follow. Her books always have interesting story plots with subtle, but important lessons, and are so full of detail that it is never a problem to imagine every day life in Deep Valley in 1906 as clearly as if I'd seen it myself.

As you can tell I loved re-reading Heavens To Betsy. I don't know that it is my favorite book in the series, but it definitely ranks up near the top. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Heavens to Betsy a 5. I just love this book.

The only objections a reader might have with this book has to do with the casual and lighthearted use of a Ouija board by Betsy and her friends during some of their Christmas parties. Although I don't know a whole lot about life in the early 1900s I will venture a guess that the use of Ouija boards by families like the Rays was more as a form of entertainment than anything serious. Still some readers may object, but I think this shouldn't stop them from reading and enjoying this book.

Personally I don't think I can over emphasize how much I love this series and that readers who have never read the series should be sure to add it to their TBR lists. If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, Emily of New Moon, and the like, I can pretty much guarantee you will really enjoy these books.

While my first reading of the series was by way of library copies I did purchase the entire series about 10-13 years ago when Harper Collins Publishers was reprinting, since then the books have slipped back out of print. While I treasure the copies I have I hate the cover art (see above) as it poorly represents the books. The interior artwork (at the beginning of each chapter) by Vera Neville is far superior.

Readers who wish to obtain their own collection of Betsy-Tacy books may be able to find used copies through used book sellers and Amazon (editions and prices vary from low to high). Some readers may even get lucky and find copies at their local library, but there is some good news.

For the first time in over a decade Harper Collins Publishers is republishing the last six books in the Betsy-Tacy series! The print release date is set as September 29, 2009. For more information check out the Harper Collins Publishers website. (And note the cover art, it's by Vera Neville!)

Please note: the books are being combined with two novels per publication (i.e. Heavens to Betsy/Betsy In Spite of Herself cover Betsy's freshman and sophomore year, Betsy was a Junior/Betsy and Joe cover her junior and senior years, Betsy And the Great World/Betsy's Wedding cover the years following graduation.) The books will be selling for $14.99 and will be in paperback. This is indeed exciting news for all Betsy-Tacy fans.

~ O di immortales!

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Previous reviews: Betsy-Tacy, Betsy, Tacy and Tib, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, and Winona's Pony Cart.

Tuesday Teaser

"He hardly looked at her, but keeping his finger in the partly closed book... it was, she noticed, The Three Musketeers... asked what he could do for her in a tone that implied he hoped she would answer, 'Nothing. I'm just looking.'

"Nothing, thanks. I'm just looking," said Betsy obligingly. Then, realizing that she really had to buy five presents even though it meant delaying D'Artagnon's greatest feat she added, "That is, I can look around a few minutes if you're in an exciting place."

The boy grinned. "Oh, I've read it six times. Swell book!"

(Heavens to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace, Chapter 2, page 13-14)

Winona's Pony Cart by Maud Hart Lovelace

107 pages

copyright 1953

First Harper Trophy edition, 2000

Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.

New York, NY

In addition to the ten books that make up the Betsy-Tacy series, Maud Hart Lovelace also wrote three more books about life in Deep Valley during the turn of the last century. The three books include Carney's House Party (c)1949), Emily of Deep Valley (c)1950) and Winona's Pony Cart (c)1953). Although I have long been a fan of the Betsy-Tacy series until last week I had never read any of the Deep Valley books.

And so, having just recently finished Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, I thought it as good a time as any to pick up and read Winona's Pony Cart. (Especially since the next book I'm to read in the Besty-Tacy series takes the girls from their childhood and into the world of high school, football games, and house parties.)

Winona's Pony Cart is set some time between Betsy, Tacy and Tib (when the girls are 7 going on 8) and Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill (when the girls are 8 going on 9). Readers of the Betsy-Tacy series will most likely remember Winona Root from her appearance in Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, when she becomes friends with the threesome and invites them along to view a matinee at the Deep Valley Opera House.

In this book the story centers on Winona Root and her well-to-do family. It is autumn in Deep Valley; the trees are bursting forth in beautiful color and Winona is very much looking forward to her eighth birthday. At first she is hoping for a miniature printing press, like what is used at the Deep Valley Sun newspaper where her father works. But then she decides she wants a life-sized baby doll, which sounds perfect.... Until she realizes what she really wants above all is her very own pony! But even though her father says no to the pony Winona is still hopeful. In fact, she's so hopeful that she starts to believe that she IS getting a pony and even tells her classmates, including Betsy, Tacy, and Tib about the gift; never stopping to think what might happen if she is wrong. To add to this mess, Winona decides to extend party invitations to her classmates and acquaintances even though her mother has set a limit of fifteen, all of whom have already been invited. As the party day approaches Winona has two things on her mind... What will she name her pony? And what will her mother say when all the extra children show up? What happens next makes for quite a story. The end result is another sweet story by Mrs. Lovelace that is both whimsical and comical.

But as much as I enjoyed Winona's Pony Cart I just didn't like it quite as well as the Besty-Tacy books. I think a big part of it has to do with the fact that Winona Root is a spoiled child. While she is a nice child, she has some annoying habits, including bragging to her friends and getting carried away with her expectations. Still the story turns out all-right and lessons are learned. Overall I found it to be a clean and entertaining story that works great as a read aloud to young children, or a read-alone for young readers.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Winona's Pony Cart a 4. It's a great story by Mrs. Lovelace, but just not quite as good as her other works. (Maybe I'm just prejudiced to the Besty-Tacy books?) One bonus is the illustrations by Vera Neville, they are simply beautiful. In closing, fans of the Besty-Tacy books who are looking for some more Deep Valley stories shouldn't miss the Deep Valley books.

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Note: I don't remember where I got my copy, it was bought some years ago and is the only Deep Valley book that I own. Unfortunately all the Deep Valley books are currently out of print, but used copies can be found on a varying scale of prices for those interested.

Betsy And Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace

180 pages

Copyright 1943, renewed 1971

Published 1979 First Harper Trophy edition

New York, New York

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown is the fourth book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Besty, Tacy, and Tib are growing up. At 12 years-old they permitted to do lots of things on their own including trips together or alone to downtown Deep Valley. Even Julia and Katie (Betsy's and Tacy's older sisters) are growing up. They are in high-school and have boys carrying their books. It won't be long before before Betsy, Tacy, and Tib leave their childhood behind and follow the older girls into Deep Valley High. In a way, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown is the perfect story to segue between the girls adventures as children and the adventures they have as young ladies. I think because of this and because of the books strong focus on the arts (literature, theatre and music) Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown is my favorite book covering Betsy's early years.

As is the case with the three previous novels, Mrs. Lovelace packs the short novel with many exciting experiences and has the girls uncovering wonderful surprises. It would spoil some of the fun if I were to list them all here, so I will only mention a few such as... making surprising new friends, matinees at the Deep Valley Opera House (theatre), riding in the first horseless carriage (automobile) to arrive in Deep Valley, and (my personal favorite) exploring the new Carnegie Library.

I found a few details of Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown quite amusing. For starters, as the story opens the girls have discovered dime novels, which are in general frowned upon by the girls' parents. What made me laugh was which book it is that causes the ruckus in the Kelly and Ray homes -- none other than Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret (1862). I laugh because in 2009 that book is considered a classic right alongside the works of Dickens, Austen, and Wilkie Collins, yet in 1901 it was still considered "cheap literature" and a sensational or controversial read that is by no means equal to Dickens or Shakespeare. It is interesting to see how public opinion and literary tastes/opinions change over time. And interesting too that it is a book I really enjoyed. What does that say of my literary tastes? Hmm...

Another aspect that I enjoyed was Betsy's introduction to the new Carnegie library. During the first two decades of the 20th century the millionaire philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie funded over 1,680 public libraries in the United States in order to further self-improvement in citizens through reading. One such library came to Deep Valley (the fictional town version of Mankato, MN) and Betsy's parents encourage her self-improvement by letting her spend every other Saturday at the library on her own. Some of my favorite quotes from Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown are found in the chapters where Betsy first visits the library:

"She thought of the library, so shining white and new; the rows and rows of unread books; the bliss of unhurried sojourns there and of going out to a restaurant, alone to eat." (Chapter 6, page 78)

"The Children's Room was exactly right for children. The tables and chairs were low. Low bookshelves lined the walls, and tempting-looking books with plenty of illustrations were open on the tables. There was a big fireplace in the room, with a fire throwing up flames and making crackling noises. Above it was the painting of a rocky island with a temple on it, called The Isle of Delos. 'That's one of the Greek islands,' said Miss Sparrow. Miss Sparrow was the young lady's name; she had told Betsy so. 'There's nothing more classic than Greece,' she said. 'Do you know Greek mythology? No? Then let's begin on that.' She went to the shelves and returned with a book. 'Tanglewood Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Mythology. Classic,' she said. She went back to the shelves and returned with an armful of books. She handed them to Betsy one by one. 'Tales from Shakespeare, by Charles and Mary Lamb. Classic. Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes. Classic. Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift. Classic. Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain. Classic, going-to-be.' She was laughing and so was Betsy. 'You don't need to read them all today,' Miss Sparrow said." (Chapter 7 page 84-85)

As you can guess, I just loved Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown. It was a fun story and filled me with warm happy memories as I read; especially of my childhood libraries. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown a 5. This is definitely a series to buy verses borrow. The good news is the early years (books 1-4) are still available in paperback and I've read that the later years (books 5-11) will once again be available in paperback later this year.

For more information about the earlier Besty-Tacy books check out my reviews here. And for the later books, stay tuned. Reviews to come.