Heaven to Betsy

Rating:
Summary: A Excellent Book,
Review: "Heaven To Betsy", is the best book in the Betsy-Tacy series that I've read so far. It makes you wish that you could go to Deep Valley High yourself! I CAN'T WAIT to read the other Betsy-Tacy books as Betsy grows up.

Rating:
Summary: It's actually painful for me to return them to the library!
Review: I've been part of Betsy and Tacy's world since I was about six years old and just discovering Deep Valley. I've read all the books several times since then, and when it comes time to take them back to my tiny local library, I actually feel like I'm losing a friend! Betsy, Tacy, Tib, Carney, Bonnie, Tony, Cab, Winona, and the rest of the Crowd are all part of my life, it seems. . .and don't even start me on Joe!

I've acquired the first four books in the series, and I'm now on a hunt for older versions of the high school books. I simply can't let go of the Deep Valley Crowd!

(Oh, and it may be just me, but was anyone else unbearably sad when the Ray family moved to Minneapolis?)

Rating:
Summary: The Betsy-Tacy Series
Review: The Betsy-Tacy book series is fantasic, to say the least. When I was little, my mother read them aloud to my brothers and I. That's not to say they're only for children. Anyone will love these timeless classics. They feature Betsy Warrington Ray, a young aspiring writer, who's character is actually based closely upon author Maud Hart Lovelace's Life. In the first book, 'Betsy-Tacy', Betsy has her 5th birthday party and invites her new neighbor, 5-year-old Tacy Kelly. Soon to make their twosome a threesome, Tib Muller moves to the neighborhood from Milwaukee. They become great friends and the books take the girls through high school and beyond. The books in the Betsy-Tacy series are:

Betsy-Tacy, Betsy, Tacy and Tib, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, Heaven to Betsy, Betsy in Spite of Herself, Betsy was a Junior, Betsy and Joe, Betsy and the Great World, and Betsy's Wedding.

I recommend these books highly; everybody should read them.

Rating:
Summary: A story that is timeless
Review: This is a wonderful series of books, which I prefer to return to than the "Little House" series. I was introduced to these rather late (hey, I wasn't alive in the 50s, okay?) I find them charming and timeless. Even though the skirts are ankle-length, the boys don't swear, and Daddy doesn't get any mouthing off from the kids, the people in it seem modern in their feelings. And it takes a darn talented writer to have various girls patting on beauty products and not make them look vain...

We follow teenage Betsy, along with best friend Tacy, through the tangle of young adult life. Accompanying them are Betsy's sister the budding singer Julia, her warm and kind parents, and a new character: the Ray family cook. Amid the flurry of friendships and incidents therein, Betsy is courted (courted, not dated. It meant walking her to school) by at least two boys -- Joe and Tony; she is also competing against Tony in an essay competition.

Though many of the events in the book are fairly lighthearted, there are also serious topics. Among them is the growing attraction of the Episcopalian church for Julia and Betsy, who are Baptists. The question of how they can tell their father of their wishes was a very mature and intriguing plot device, and I was genuinely relieved at the conclusion of it.

Despite the various "edgy" books put out now, this is a book that is far more appealing -- sweet and bright, but never sugary or sentimental. The writing style is surprisingly modern and descriptive, without overdoing anything. The speech patterns are GREAT.

This book falls into the same category as "Meet Me In St. Louis," a nice world with nice people. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are wise and kindly -- not just to their kids, but all kids. Betsy is a great character, strong and independent and remarkably free in her thinking, considering these events took place near the turn of the century.

Be sure to read this book! (And all of Lovelace's books...)