The Education of Bet [Hardcover]

Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 2010

When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they’ve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But not all is well in their household. Because she’s a girl, Bet’s world is contained within the walls of their grand home, her education limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. Will’s world is much larger. He is allowed—forced, in his case—to go to school. Neither is happy.

 

So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: They’ll switch places. She’ll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 6-10–Orphaned at four, Bet and Will have been brought up by Will's great-uncle. They were raised together, but not equally, since Bet's mother was a maid who worked for Will's parents. Still, the young people have come to think of each other as siblings. Now that they are 16, Bet wants to attend school and Will seeks to join the army. But in 19th-century England, this is not going to be easy. Will is an underage gentleman–he is expected to go to preparatory school. And as a young woman of no means, she cannot attend a school. But clever Bet hatches a plan so that they can both get their desires–they will swap places. Will joins the army and Bet cuts her hair, binds her breasts, and enrolls in his school–as Will. Baratz-Logsted's writing has broad characterizations; a cheerful, modern tone without overt anachronisms; obvious plot points; a quick pace; and a tidy ending. This makes for a fun read without much depth. By the third page, readers know that Will and Bet share a father, even if the characters do not. As the story progresses, any hiccups in Bet's plan are smoothed over with a minimum of fuss, and all loose ends are tied up neatly by the end. There is a long literary tradition of girls passing themselves off as boys to get further in the world, and while this is a pleasant enough version of that trope, it is not an essential addition to the canon.–Geri Diorio, The Ridgefield Library, CT. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

In nineteenth-century England, 16-year-old Bet lives with wealthy, elderly Paul Garner, for whom her mother had worked as a servant until her death. Paul’s great-nephew Will, also an orphan, shares the house. Bet yearns to attend school, something Will takes for granted, but her situation, coupled with societal gender restrictions, prevents her. When she learns that Will wants to join the military, the duo devises a plan, and Bet poses as Will at his new boarding school. There, she faces unexpected challenges, from concealing her period to dealing with bullies, and hiding her gender becomes more difficult as she develops feelings for her roommate, James. As the scheme unravels, new possibilities appear, including love. With nods to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Isaac Bashevis Singer’s “Yentl the Yeshiva Boy,” Bet’s descriptive, intimate, first-person narrative incorporates historical details and diverse characters, including adult female allies at school. Despite some improbable elements, historical-fiction fans will likely find Bet an appealingly lively heroine as she pursues her dreams and makes unexpected discoveries in learning, life, and love. Grades 8-11. --Shelle Rosenfeld

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; None edition (July 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547223080
• ISBN-13: 978-0547223087
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,339,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was an independent bookseller and buyer for 11 years before deciding to take a chance on myself as a novelist. While trying to sell my books, I worked variously as a Publishers Weekly reviewer, a freelance editor, a sort-of librarian, and a window washer. My first novel, The Thin Pink Line, about a woman who fakes an entire pregnancy, was published by Red Dress Ink in 2003 as their own first-ever hardcover. They've since published two more of my books, Crossing The Line (a sequel) and A Little Change Of Face. In September they'll publish a fourth: How Nancy Drew Saved My Life, a comic gothic that's equal parts Nancy Drew, Jane Eyre and Chick-Lit. 2006 will also see the publication of two other of my novels: Vertigo, a literary novel set in the Victorian era with erotic and suspense undertones, from Bantam in October; and Angel's Choice, an earnest YA about teen pregnancy from Simon & Schuster in December. I'm also a contributor to the Jane Austen fiction/nonfiction anthology Flirting With Pride & Prejudice and editor/contributor of the anthology This IS Chick-Lit, due out from BenBella Books in the fall. I live in Danbury, CT, with my wonderful husband Greg and my equally wonderful daughter Jackie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Young Adult Novel, July 6, 2010

By 

William D. Curnutt "Pastor Dan" (Wichita, KS, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Education of Bet (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Not a new idea, but a great story none the less. Elisabeth, "Bet", wants an education and her friend Will doesn't, he wants to join the military. So Bet devises a plan where she will take his place at a new school while he goes off to join the military. Based in the 1,800's this is a time in England where only young men were allowed to go to school. How will a young girl pull off living amongst 500 young men who are all seeking an education?

Well, the story is well written and is a very quick read. You will be drawn into the characters immediately. They are easy to get to know, well described, very detailed and very realistic.

I think that while the stories plot line is a girl impersonating a boy the real story is different. The real story is this, our dreams do not always become our reality. Bet dreams of school as being an idealistic place where boys go to gain their education and that is the sole reason they are there. She is shocked to find out that "boys will be boys" and that means that education may be the furthest thing from their thoughts and daily actions. The details of the daily life at the school are well played out. The problems of bullies and weaklings is also well spelled out.

Will on the other hand finds that the Military is not as glorious as he thought it would be. His dreams of greatness and valor are not exactly what he finds.

The story spends very little time with Will (actually we only know about him through a letter). He doesn't really come back into play until the very end.

But, Bet is who we fall in love with, we love her determination, her desire to learn, her willingness to show loyalty and valor to those that she befriends in the school. Not to mention there is a good bit of tension in living arrangements as Bet learns that she has to room with another boy!

Well, enough said. The plot is easy to follow, but you will be drawn into the story easily and not want to put the book down. I found it an easy read on a very raining 4th of July!

Enjoy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A clever, eloquent story with felicitous plot twists and a developmental environment that encourages scrupulous morals, July 22, 2010

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Education of Bet (Hardcover)

Bet comes into the world with the odds already stacked against her. Her mother is an unmarried maid in a 19th-century English mansion. When she is just four years old, her mother falls ill with typhoid and dies. But Bet isn't the only one in the house who is orphaned from typhoid. Four-year-old Will, the son of the master of the house, loses both of his parents. When Will's great uncle arrives to adopt him, he learns of Bet and decides to adopt her as well, saving her from the horrid orphanage. Bet's future finally begins to brighten.

Bet and Will are raised like brother and sister in Will's rich great uncle's home. When they get older, Will must attend boarding school, while Bet takes on some of the household chores, like polishing silver. She is the lowly daughter of a maid, after all. But her benefactor refuses to group her in with the servants, preferring instead to keep her close and have her read to him as his eyesight gradually worsens. Bet loves to read and dreams of learning more. She is envious of Will's schooling opportunities, but unfortunately society frowns upon the education of women.

Then Will gets expelled from yet another boarding school. He detests school and would prefer the adventurous life found in the military. But following that dream would only break his great uncle's heart, so he tries to face starting the next term at another new school. Then Bet has an ingenious idea, one that would allow them both the chance to pursue their dreams. Will would enlist in the military, while Bet takes his place at school --- disguised as a young man. Neither is prepared for the challenges and hurdles they are about to face, especially when Bet starts to fall in love with her roommate. Following one's dreams can take a person to the most unsuspected --- and amazing --- destinations.

THE EDUCATION OF BET is clever, fun and spirited, and Lauren Baratz-Logsted has done an excellent job creating this memorable work of historical fiction. She has a wonderful writing talent that places the right words in just the right places for a magical flow. Throughout the story, she introduces essential ideas, like the importance of pursuing one's dreams, working and playing hard, never giving up, and standing by one's friends. She creates the perfect character to pursue these ideas with the high-spirited Bet, who is determined, intelligent, friendly, ambitious, courageous, funny and likable, even in her failures and shortcomings. The words and pages fly by with ease, with this enticing story coming to an end far too quickly.

The novel offers suspense, romance, danger, deceit and humor all wrapped up in a cleverly written package. Three cheers for Lauren Baratz-Logsted and her latest effort; this one's a keeper!

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A historical novel with a twist, May 2, 2011

By 

Jennifer Rummel - YABookNerd (Norwich, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Education of Bet (Paperback)

Bet lives with family, but she's not quite family but not quite a servant either. She's in between and for the most part she's happy. However, she longs for a chance to become educated.

While Will comes home disgraced from yet another school, Bet attempts to understand why he doesn't like formal education. When she asks him, he confesses that he'd like to join the army. Immediately, Bet recognizes a golden opportunity for both of them to achieve their dreams.

As Will must attend a new school after summer, she volunteers to go in his place leaving him free to join the army. Bet and Will spend the summer turning into a boy. Then they go their separate ways.

Will forgot to mention a few nuggets of information such as roommates, and bullies. Bet must figure out how to fool her roommate, not let the bullies intimidate her, and study without drawing attention to herself and giving away her secret identity. Can she pull off the biggest scam, especially when she falls for her roommate?

My Thoughts: This reminds of Amanda Bynes' movie She's the Man -but without the soccer. I loved this book - Bet was clever, funny, and willing to take her life into her own hands. I found myself laughing at her snarky remarks and rooting for her all the way. I also really loved the nurse.