This was the last of the Betsy-Tacy books I read. I don't think I discovered it until this century. This one centers around Emily, a recent high school graduate who is not able to go on to college like her classmates. More serious in tone than any of the other books; Emily deals with the challenges of what happens when you must provide for yourself after graduation. Unlike Betsy who enjoyed the luxury of a father funding college and trips to Europe for his daughter, Emily is on her own.
If you gave the Betsy-Tacy books a try and found them frivolous, this is the one for you. And of course, if you already like/love all things related to Betsy-Tacy; you'll want to track this one down too.

This book is a little old-fashioned, but so refreshing. Compared to the current books for the 9-12 year old girls, this one is uplifting and motivating. It definitely doesn't have the intense plotline of more modern children's books, but is still an engaging story. Also, like the Little House on the Prairie books, it gives good insight to the culture of America (just set in the early 1900's).

I loved Emily's story so much! I love Betsy Ray, OF COURSE, but Emily is in some ways a more sympathetic character. She has more obstacles in her way, more to overcome, and she's not as socially popular as Emily. So, in many ways it made her story more compelling. I loved her devotion to her grandfather, her social conscience that led her to advocate on behalf of the Syrians in her community and helped along her growth from girl to woman. What a wonderful, wonderful story!

I'm kind of on the fence about this book. On the one hand, I loved the way Emily has to learn to craft a life for herself after all her friends go off to college. She eventually does a good job of it--as one of her former teachers says to her:

"You've discovered, I see, that we have to build our lives out of what materials we have. It's as though we were given a heap of blocks and told to build a house..."

That's a message that really resonates with me and I enjoyed watching Emily grow. What I didn't enjoy as much was her odd obsession with Don, who from the beginning seemed like a real jerk, and the slightly preachy tone of the story. I appreciated Emily's zeal to help the Syrians, but the romanticized, one-dimensional portrayal of them was ridiculous (borderline insulting, really), and at times I felt the author was more interested in pushing a political agenda than in telling a story. That is (emphatically) not what I'm looking for in a novel. I read, re-read and loved the Betsy-Tacy books as a girl, but for me, this book doesn't quite measure up.

If I wasn't borrowing this book, I would reread the book so many times that it would be falling apart, I fricken loved it

The Christmas scenes were so lovely and I enjoyed the turn taken by the end. Emily’s sorrows helped her to mature. It was sweet to see all turn to joy by the end.

This is the best companion book to the Betsy-Tacy series, as well as being a terrific "stand alone" book if you are unfortunate enough to not be acquainted with B-T. I believe I read that this is Lovelace's fave of all the books she wrote, and I can understand why. It's pretty fab.

I am so glad I finally read this lovely story. I adore the Betsy-Tacy books so it was fun to return to their world but with a new and fresh main character. I liked Emily as a character though I sometimes found her infatuation with Don a little much. And while it rang true that she would feel as she did for him, I did want her to just get over it.

What I did really appreciate was how she took charge of her circumstances. Unable to attend college as all of her friends are, she initially succumbs to a depression but she figures a way out of it herself by finding ways to continue to learn and grow. I found that such an admirable quality.

I may have given this 5 stars had I not read it on the heels of The Blue Castle which has a heroine who also takes her life and makes it into what she wants it to be but in a slightly more complex and dynamic way. But I did love returning to Deep Valley and Emily’s coming of age story was very enjoyable.

Such a good book! I'd give it 12 stars if I could! To me it's the perfect kind of story, about real people living simple but meaningful lives, dealing with struggles and joys and trying to find their way through it all.

I discovered this author and her Betsy-Tacy books when I was in grade school. Our small school library had most of the series and every fall when we went back to school I'd reread them all. I wanted to be Betsy Ray, growing up in Minnesota at the turn of the century. I wanted her warm, loving family and dear friends, her adventures and failures and loves. But about all we had in common was that we both loved to read and dreamed of being writers when we grew up. Still I've always been devoted to those books and when I had a daughter I named her Betsy. :) I didn't find out Lovelace had written other books until much later, and I've still not been able to read them all, as some are quite hard to find. I own this in the original hardback, and am happy to see it available in ebook, too, with the charming original chapter illustrations!

Emily of Deep Valley is a girl a bit younger than Betsy, growing up in the same town, who lives a very different life; it's a different style of book but still delightful. Unlike Betsy, Emily doesn't have a warm family circle. Instead she lives with her loving grandfather, and that's it. She also doesn't have a wide circle of friends, being a shy, quiet girl who lives on the fringes of her class. She's an excellent student, though, and the only girl on the High School champion debate team. Like a lot of very good girls, Emily has a bit of a crush on a popular boy who isn't all that nice. In this book we see her cope with High School graduation, staying behind while most everyone else goes on to college. How she implements the values of her favorite role model, Jane Adams, and finds her own place in the world is a sweet, clean, delightful story. I'm happy that it's now available in e-book form, so fans don't have to track down a hoarded copy to read it. Because I'm giving all my hardback copies to my own Betsy. :)

This book deserves more stars. It’s so lovely and it also makes you think.
Everyone should read it.
I wish Maud Hart Lovelace was talked about more. Her books are absolute classics.

Emily of Deep Valley takes place in 1912. Emily is graduating from high school and will not be able to attend college with her friends. Emily is a quiet, serious young woman, interested in the politics of the day and deeply patriotic to her country. She is crushed that she will have to stay home and tend house for her elderly grandfather. Then she decides to embark on a private study club, take dancing lessons and assist the local Syrian refugees.
Maud Hart Lovelace provides detailed descriptions of Emily’s clothes, the music she listens to, the books she reads, the plays she attends, the meals she cooks and the politicians she supports. There are beautiful descriptions of Deep Valley, Minnesota’s countryside, flowers and birds. And of course Emily has a couple of love-interests.
If I had to use one word to describe Maud Hart Lovelace’s books, it would be timeless. I remember reading the Betsy/Tacy books over 50 years ago - and Betsy and Tacy put in a small appearance toward the end of this book. I may have to go back and read some of the Betsy/Tacy books so I can visit in Deep Valley again!

Emily is a kindred spirit. Except when it comes to Don. She is insufferably stupid about him. Thank goodness for Jed!