Customer Reviews

Betsy in Spite of Herself (Betsy-Tacy)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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No more than a year ago my best friend, Tacye, introduced me to this wonderful series. For a book to read on Friday night I bought Betsy In Spite of Herself. Two sentences got be hooked on the series for good. When Betsy said, "Where is romance? Is it in these unwritten pages?" I was a gonner. I'd fallen in love with two sentences. But, if the sentences are by Maud Hart Lovelace isn't that reason enough to fall? Betsy In Spite of Herself is a lovely story about issues that we deal with still 80 years later. I loved when Betsy took her trip to Milwaukee. Tib was so much fun to read about! Most of all I loved the chapters where Betsy turns from Betsy to Betsye to Betsye to Betsy. Now you have to read it! Go on! It great!

Betsy in Spite of Herself is a chronicle of Betsy Ray's sophomore year of high school, in which she decides to shed her wholesome image in favor of a more Dramatic and Mysterious one. This involves putting her hair up into a pompadour, wearing green, spraying herself with perfume, and a host of other beauty regimens.

Although these efforts allow her to ensnare rich, handsome Phil Brandish, Betsy soon discovers that she's pretty bored acting as a trophy girlfriend. By the end of the book, she's back to scribbing in notebooks, acting silly with Tacy, and penning ridiculous songs for the school recitals. Of course, she doesn't ENTIRELY abandon her new-found womanly wiles...after all, there's that cute Joe Willard to think about...

This book includes a thrilling description of Betsy's Christmas holidays with the Tib's family in Milwaukee. As beautiful as this city is, though, it's still no match for Deep Valley. Fortunately, Tib is hatching some secret plans to return to her childhood home, much to the delight of Betsy-Tacy readers everywhere.

Of course, you shouldn't read this book without reading the preceeding books in this series. WARNING: once you enter the beautiful world of Betsy-Tacy, you will be hooked for life!!!!

Growing up a child of the 70s, I read all the Betsey-Tacey books over and over again. I found this one when I was just entering Junior High school. I was so excited to find she grew up too, and had adventures with BOYS (but just as pals, of course!). Reading it, I was gratefully lost in her world. I think this series is highly under-read today, as I find many youngsters have not heard of them. But they are truly one of the best series for children I've ever found.

Betsy In Spite of Herself invites you to accompany Betsy Ray through her sophomore year. Even if this is your first exposure to the series, you will enjoy the book. Never too-sweet or too-wholesome, it draws you into the world of the Ray family and allows you to share Betsy's memorable Christmas in Milwaukee, and the mystical New Year's Eve when, with Tib, Betsy stays up all night and decides to acquire a new personality, "Dramatic and Mysterious." Girls of all ages will enjoy this, a chapter book, an excellent parent-daughter read. Can't believe it's so good every time I re-read it.

This is the book I reference when I'm selling the Betsy-Tacy series to high school girls. I warn them that after "Betsye" changes her style and hooks her targeted male, she has to break up with him because he's moving too fast--and wants to HOLD HANDS! The girls who respond to that end up adoring the series and coming to me for more reading guidance. YES!!

How many girls try to remake themselves as teenagers, only to find the whole thing come crashing down? Betsy- or Betsye- seems to know from pretty early on that Phil Brandish isn't really right for her, but she keeps on pursuing him and trying to be someone else. Betsy without writing or the fun times she was used to? Hardly! She learns some big lessons this year.

I loved these books as a child and an adolescent, and my daughter and granddaughter have loved them as well. I just began reading the high school titles again, and I am blown away by the amount of history and culture that are included in a highly readable form. In this title, Betsey visits Tib, and her German family, now living in Milwaukee. Ms. Lovelace has woven a great deal of pre-WW I history into this excusiAL. That history, of course,plays out to the history of WW II---and WW II was going on when she did her writing. As an English teacher who tries to keep current on Young Adult Literature, I am realizing how important the YLA of each age is, and the extent to which it can mark the culture of a time. What really blows me away is the sudden realization that Betsey, in real years based on the setting of the book, was the same age as my grandmother. That brings a patina of reality to many childhood memories!

I also love this book and the entire Betsy Tacy series and want to let everyone know that all six books from Heaven to Betsy through Betsy's Wedding will be back in print in September 2009! They will come in three 2-book omnibus editions: Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself; Betsy Was a Junior/Betsy and Joe; Betsy and the Great World/Betsy's Wedding. They will have forewords by Laura Lippman, Meg Cabot and Anna Quindlen, respectively! Here's a link to Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself.Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself (P.S.)

I don't think I realized it until now, but this book changed me as well as Betsye. I added an "e" to my middle name (boring old "Lynn" seemed so much exciting as "Lynne"). And I choose a signature scent that I still wear sometimes (Beautiful).

This book shows an important part of adolescence - trying on other behaviors, personality traits, colors, and haircuts. And of course, new friends and boyfriends. It's hard to figure out where your own personal limits are (especially at 14). Sometimes, I think it's hard for kids to even realize they are trying out a bunch of things to see what works, and not just doing stuff because it's "cool". Betsy presents a great example of going too far, and how it's ok to go back to home base.

I was pleased to be able to purchase this book. Even though it was obviously used the information I received about it before buying was accurate.It will be used in a library, so I am glad it is in good shape.