This was a re-read.
Wow, there is just nothing like the nostalgia and pure escapism of the Betsy-Tacy series! I read this book in two days and it reminded me of how much I love this world. There is just something about these books.

I only discovered these books in adulthood. The describtions of fun, home life, delicious food & all the joys of child to teenagehood in the early 20th century are just delighful. This latest I read is a complete joy! Have read in order so far and delightful to see Betsy and the other characters grow. I have high hopes for Betsy and Jo inthe next book...

I really enjoyed this installment in the Betsy-Tacy series. I wasn't the biggest fan of the first 2 high school books, but this one grabbed my love again.

Like the rest of the series, this novel verges on redundancy—we basically go through the same scenarios and it even feels as though the same lessons are learned (I feel like, throughout her entire high school experience, Betsy resolves at the end of each book to not be so frivolous and then promptly rewinds and does the whole thing again). This book had the advantage of a decidedly somber final chapter, though, which is almost frustrating because it hints at a deeper poignancy than the series often chooses to engage in, preferring to stick with the sugary sweet parties and Sunday afternoon get-togethers of the Crowd. Which, make no mistake, are nice enough to read about for a bit of escapism—but I’m still waiting for a certain “oomph” that comes with most series where characters grow up, and it hasn’t arrived yet (if it ever will). It’s all so…idyllic.

Highlights include the criticism of Greek life at college (which was actually surprisingly slow and subtle), Betsy and her friends’ last-minute scramble to finish a biology project (haven’t we all been there?), and Tacy’s steadfast refusal to stop wearing her hair in braids even though it isn’t “fashionable” (seriously, Tacy knows what’s up).

The irrepressible Betsy Ray begins her junior year of high school full of resolve. She will do better in school. She will get Joe Willard to like her. She will be more responsible now that her big sister Julia will be leaving home to attend university.

The good news is that Tib is back in town from Milwaukie. And Betsy is popular and well liked--at least at first. The bad news is that Betsy cares more about her hair style and stylish clothes than she does about being a good person, taking care of her family, or doing her schoolwork.

After Julia comes home for a visit and reports that several sororities want her to join and the sisters at university are wooing her hard, Betsy comes up with the idea to start a sorority at Deep Valley High School. It seems like a brilliant idea but ends up leaving a lot of people out, creating a lot of hard feelings, and estranging her from her good friend Tony. Betsy is having a lot of fun being a junior in high school, flitting from party to party, but that's the problem. Fun seems to be the only thing she cares about.

Betsy doesn't even care that Joe Willard does not notice her. She's so busy being frivolous and self-centered that she even neglects her little sister Margaret in what is the most heartbreaking chapter in the book.

She's not a very likable character in this book and the long descriptions of her dresses, hair styles, and parties get a little tiresome. This is probably my least favorite Betsy-Tacy book so far. I was relieved that at the end of the book Betsy takes a critical look at her own behavior, realizing that growing up should not be only about having fun. But it feels like a little too little a little too late...

Reading this series with Laurel.

Betsy was kind of a shit in this. The most unlikable she's been in the series, honestly. I'm glad Tib is back, though her giggling dumb act is really fucking annoying too.

Honestly, Tacy was the most sensible person in this book. Someone please tell me she grows up to be a lesbian.

I feel exhausted from all the parties in the book, and while reading, thought to myself, I'm really going to have to take a break before I start the next one. It feels kind of like a sugar overdose. But my fingers are already itching to reach for Betsy and Joe.

3.5 stars

This is one in the series I go a little back-and-forth on. Obviously I still like it, but I'm not quite sure I love it. Not even with this re-read. The Okto Delta thing still bothers me a little, even though I do realise this is something Betsy and her group needed to go through to see why or how it wasn't a very good thing to do.

I was never Tony's biggest fan. I know everyone else seems to love him dearly, but I never warmed to him the way I did to Cab and Dennie and the Humphreys in earlier books. The foreshadowing in this book, therefore, doesn't work too well for me.

But of course there are things I adore. Tib being back, the herbariums they finish in one night, Betsy realising they are all growing up because Cab's father passes away, etc. On the whole, though, this is not a favourite.

Betsy and Joe on the other hand...I've been looking forward to re-reading that one.

*Read: 11 December 2011, 11 February 2015

Rereading Betsy is like visiting an old friend and I love sharing them with my daughter. We've loved reading them aloud together.

I picked this up at a library sale because my library didn't have this one of the series when I was kid. I forgot how much I liked these books. Still fun even though I'm not 7.

These books are just such old-fashioned fun. I am very glad to have discovered them. I particularly enjoyed this one (better than the prior 2).