Customer Reviews

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown (Betsy-Tacy Books)

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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I recently came across a new edition of this book. I owned it as a child back in the sixties. The first thing that came back to me was that every year, after Thanksgiving, I would read the chapter in this book about Betsy, Tacy & Tib's Christmas, starting with the shopping trip up through Christmas day. To me, this seemed to describe a perfect holiday, before it became so commercialized. It always got me in the Christmas spirit. So, when this book came into our library, I took it home & re-read it, especially the Christmas part. And you know what, it still works! If you want to feel the true spirit of a magical Christmas, read this book!

When Maud Hart Lovelace first wrote the "Betsy-Tacy" series, did she know how much so many people, from children to adults, would love them? The series has at least one book that anyone of any age can relate to. 10-year-olds will love "Over the big Hill," high-schoolers will love the books about when Betsy was attending Deep Valley High, etc. And it doesn't end there! Even if you're not the age that Betsy was in one of the books, you can still love all of them! Maud has a way of capturing real feelings and experiences--even bad ones--and turning them into works of art. The "Betsy-Tacy" series really is a work of art, even if it was painted with a pen, not a paintbrush.

This book (and all the books in the Betsy-Tacy series) is a delightful look at the life of Betsy Ray and her best friends Tacy Kelly and Tib Muller in the early 1900s in Deep Valley, Minnesota. Based on the author's own childhood, this book takes the reader through the trials and joys of being 12 years old, growing up, becoming interested in boys, going to the theatre, and learning about the importance of family ties. Don't let Betsy pass you by!

If you're a fan of Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly, then you will definitely enjoy this tale of the two girls as they go on their first solo adventures in Deep Valley, Minnesota. This book is a lighthearted chronicle steeped in the innocence of youth in the early 1900's. I read it as a child and enjoyed it again at age 30. Filled with humor and warmth, it's easy to relate to these young heroines and their everyday adventures.

Mrs. Moses' Book Club Review

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown

Reviewer: Keith Dobson 3rd Grade

By Maud Hart Lovelace and illustrated by Lois Lenski. (HarperTrophy, 1943 ISBN: 0064400980. Paperback, 180 pages, $3.95) Ages 9-12

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown takes place in a small town called Deep Valley. These 12 years old girls have been friends for many years. They share their dreams, secrets, and adventures.

You will enjoy reading about their days in Deep Valley. Betsy Ray longs to be a writer. She writes short stories, plays and poems. She entertains her friends Tacy and Tib with her writings. They use their imagination because they don't have a television.

The girls also enjoy going downtown. They visit the stores and pretend to shop. They couldn't wait for the new library to open. Most of all they wanted to see a real play at the Opera House. They tried to trick Winona into sharing her comps. After a while she became a friend. They ended up doing more things in the theater then they ever imagined.

Mr. And Mrs. Poppy own the Opera House and they brought the first horseless carriage to town. One of the girls got to go for a ride. Mrs. Poppy likes the girls because they remind her of her dead daughter, Minnie. Mrs. Poppy even has a Christmas Party for the girls and gives them each a gift they wanted. They were shocked she knew about their pretend shopping trip.

You will enjoy reading about Betsy Ray and her friends Tacy and Tib. The times they have with Winona and Mrs. Poppy and wondering what happened to long lost Uncle Keith will keep you interested. Find out how Mrs. Poppy and Winona bring about a happy ending.

I'm a ten year old girl and I thought this book was Great. It's an older book but the characters are fun. an A+++ book. It's great because the way that they have so much fun and adventures makes me want to be their friend!

I love this series! It's a nice historical transition from the Little House on the Prairie books. In this one, the girls are 12, and venture into the world of theater, solo expeditions downtown, etc.

One note for moms of younger children: the characters may age beyond the interests of your children. At least, this is true for me. For instance, in this book, around p. 120, there's a discussion of whether Santa exists. It's a wonderful passage, except that in my house, we don't doubt Santa and we certainly don't want to introduce any doubts. While I was reading the book the other night, I had to skip over the Santa section - I was just glad it was me reading and not a guest reader, like Grandma, who probably would have read right through.

In the next books, Betsy and Tacy seem to get (I haven't read them) more interested in boys, etc., so I don't think my daughter will be able to relate. We'll take a break from this otherwise excellent series after we finish Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown.

We first meet Betsy, Tacy, and Tib's school friend Winona Root in this book, and the four of them make a wonderfully real crowd of friends. I especially enjoy Winona's addition to their group.
Where the first two BT books were almost little collections of stories, from Big Hill on, there are larger themes to them. Betsy's writing and her uncle, Keith Warrington, are tied up together along with her friendship with Mrs. Poppy in this story, giving a great purpose to the book.

These are the perfect books to read with my granddaughter. The times they lived in were much like my childhood. My granddaughter still relates to their adventures and it givbes her a glimpse of the world I grew up in.

I first read Betsy Tacy Go Downtown over 40 years ago. This book and all the Betsy/Tacy books have had a huge impact on my live. Imagine, finding out I was not the only one. Through the wonders of cyberspace I have found a whole communinty of Betsy/Tacy fans. There have been trips to "Deep Valley" and discussions of the books and characters. It is wonderful to find others who love the books as much as I do.

Betsy Tacy Go Downtown is a sweet book and colorfully paints a picture of a simpler, gentler time. These books have stood the test of time and are a wonderful read for all ages. I read them out loud to my daughter when she was 4, over 17 years ago. She enjoyed them and I am sure most people will.