I liked this book very much. It is the last of the Betsy "High School" books because the action takes place in The Crowd's senior year. During the year, Betsy becomes much more mature and reaches the edge of adulthood.

Betsy's relationship with Joe comes out into the open finally, but it is still not entirely smooth. I like the way that, all through these books, Mrs. Lovelace has described their frustrations, puzzlement, etc. as the two unknowingly orbit around each other. Betsy takes Joe on a quiet excursion: to see one of her favorite childhood places --- the tree avenue at the top of the "Big Hill" (which is also one of my favorite places in the books). This excursion is a far cry from Betsy's likely earlier ideas for fun activities. She has achieved enough self reflection to know that she has experiences, pleasures, etc. that she can choose to share and thereby reveal herself.

Betsy also chooses to spend the spring vacation on her own at a farm where she endears herself to her hosts. She rises to meet their simple expectations that, of course, she will provide some pleasure for them in the way of music.

Tacy remains a constant and, as usual, remains true to herself by falling for the guy that she, Tacy the individual, likes. He is an older guy, a working guy, and certainly not a person that members of The Crowd would once even have imagined to exist as a human. Tacy is really a very good friend and model for Betsy. Tib is still a bit of a cipher --- an antic and other-worldly creature. Perhaps, that is her function in the books --- to show that one's life can include persons whose background is entirely out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, Julia returns to attend Betsy's h.s. graduation and apparently for the whole summer. Julia is a suspicious, untrustworthy character in my mind --- highly driven, selfish, and a bad influence on Betsy. Her sway is made stronger by Mrs. Ray's obvious infatuation with her. Last, Betsy deals with her first death: the death of Mrs. Webb's adopted/foster son who had been B's correspondent from the Denver sanitarium.

I almost rated this five stars because I loved the ending so much, but Betsy was a punk in this book and she only deserves four stars. Betsy was so rude to Tony in this book and I'm very glad that Julia called her out on it. I definitely have a literary crush on Joe (move over, Mr. Darcy). You know he's the real deal because Betsy was willing to hold his hand.

A wonderful, wholesome book. A time when family and friends were so important. A great example of how to be a friend. A journey through Betsy's senior year in high school and all the ups and downs of life.

I really enjoyed the forward by Anna Quinlan. She points out how Betsy inspired her to be a writer.

A book for all ages youth, high school student and adults.

I wish I'd known about these before. Reminded me somewhat of Anne of Green Gables series. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

4.5 stars

BETSY RAY. Oh man, I love her but she was truly wearing her bad idea jeans in this book when it came to dealing with Tony. Which, I love him and choose to imagine a future where he and Margaret end up married some day. But this book definitely helped with what I was worried about with Betsy and Joe, which was that we weren't going to see enough of them together before they're together. I could have done without the misunderstanding with Tony, but I can live with it. Still, though. Joe Willard. I love you. You can stay.

Betsy is in her senior year of high school and finally Joe starts paying attention to her. But that creates a problem with Tony. Julia is away, studying opera in Germany, so can't help Betsy figure out what to do. It's remarkable how little discussion there is about what these kids are doing after they finish school. They seem so focused on the next party, they don't spare a minute for what will happen in June. Still, it's a triumphant year for Betsy, and she enjoys it.

Joe is a perfect beau :-) I adore Joe.

One of my all time favorite books - especially concerning first loves. A children's book I can still relate to.

I liked this one. The whole ‘too proud to talk to each other’ is a little frustrating, but I guess without it where would the story be? And the nice reunion. It does make me kind of mad that there is such a gap between the end of this book and the next one. I don’t want to miss any of Betsy’s life! We miss out on the excitement of Julia’s marriage, and Betsy’s time in California, her triumph in writing that good story, and her time at college. Why, Maud? Why?

Once again I re-read this book and had the same great sentiments! I love this book! Betsy and Joe finally start going together during their senior year at high school. However, it isn't too easy to start off with. There are things in the way of Betsy and Joe going together. One of the things is Joe's job that keeps him busy and another thing is his Plan for his life and what Betsy feels is the biggest problem is a person standing in the way. This book is a perfect little romantic story on courting in the early 1900s. Additionally, this book is a favorite for Betsy-Tacy series fans who jump up and down when they read this book because Betsy and Joe are starting to be a couple at last! I know I'm one of the people that reacted that way! :)

All of Shakespeare's heroines are essentially human. Somehow, it never fails to make me laugh. *g*

Lots of stuff going on in this one. I love Betsy and Joe. I'd forgotten how fantastic Joe is - he's right up there with Gilbert Blythe, in my mind. They are just so perfect together, and after four long years (for them *g*), it was wonderful seeing the start of their happy ending.

Tacy is quite interesting. I'd really love to see how other people read her and this storyline. The Harry romance is intriguing to me, after four years of Tacy not liking boys. I'm not really sure how I'm meant to take it all - she had boys going after her, like Tom. She was comfortable with Tom and he pursued her, but she had no interest in dating at all. I think it's quite easy to see Tacy as a lesbian. But then along comes Harry and in one night, he's set her at ease, gotten her interested in dating and swept her off the market before she was ever really on it. So did she prefer an older man? Was she just waiting for the right man, Harry? Did he get under her skin and persuade her like he did Mr. Ray and the knitwear? Did she see him as the easiest road to the end she wanted, which was always to have children? It's kind of odd that Tacy didn't share any of her romance with Betsy. I know that she and Harry pop up in later books, but I don't remember in how much detail, so I can't wait to keep reading. *g*

8-12-08

These Betsy-Tacy books give such a rich picture of what it was like to grow up in small town Minnesota in the early years of the 20th century. They follow Betsy Ray (actually semi-autobiographically author Maud Hart) from her early days as a small child to, with this book, her high school graduation. There are two more books in the series which presumably continue with her emergence into adulthood. (A good bet, since the titles are "Betsy and the Great World" and "Betsy's Wedding").

This book, as befits Betsy's greater maturity, is a bit less harum-scarum and more serious. I especially enjoyed reading the extra pages at the end of this edition which listed the real people vs. the fictional characters which were base upon them. They also gave some insight as to what had happened to the people in real life, especially appropriate because I presume that many of the minor characters will disappear from the books as they too moved on to other places and other friends.

Review eventually may be penned, but for now I just wanted to leave a note that this book taught me there are actually words that go with the standard "clock chime" tune:

Oh, Lord our God
Be thou our guide
That by thy help
No foot may slide.