I didn’t quite finish Betsy in Spite of Herself in time to complete the Maud Hart Lovelace Challenge hosted by A Library is a Hospital for the Mind, but I am hoping Sarah will forgive my tardiness.
Once again I was completely enchanted by Betsy Ray. Betsy in Spite of Herself follows Betsy through her sophomore year of high school. She faces challenges at school, a trip to the big city of Milwaukee to visit Tib, and her First Big Love Affair (as Tacy calls it). She makes great attempts to change her personality throughout but the real Betsy comes shining through.
Again, I am struck by the similarities of Betsy’s high school life in 1908 to mine in 1998. Apparently the passing of almost a century is not enough to change the high school experience of boys, friends, parties, grades, and the self-conscious worries all teenage girls must have.
Reading the Betsy-Tacy books is like curling up with a blanket and a big mug of hot chocolate on a cold night. Even though I didn’t read them when I was younger, there is something comforting about it. I can’t believe I let an entire year pass between reading Heaven to Betsy and Betsy in Spite of Herself. I will not make that mistake again, so stay tuned for more Betsy-Tacy posts this winter. In the meantime, you can read the other challenge posts here.
my books. my life. 
You’re making me want to pick up these and read them again too. I might just have to. 🙂 You are so right, they are just like curling up with a blanket and big mug of cocoa. They are the perfect cozy books for late fall/winter.
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I’ve got to find time to sit down with Betsy and Tacy.
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I love the Betsy-Tacy books! I only have two left to read, and what I’m finding most endearing as that Lovelace perfectly captures the universal feelings associated with growing up.
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These have been my favorite books since I first read them as a child. They are wonderful! Exquisitely written, timeless in capturing the feelings of growing up. I cannot recommend them highly enough and am jealous of anyone reading them for the first time!
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I’m really looking forward to reading on with this series and seeing the familiar characters grow and change.
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