Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
131st out of 246 books
—
77 voters
Betsy in Spite of Herself (Betsy-Tacy #6)
Good-by Betsy...
Hello, Betsye Betsy Ray is now a sophomore, and she and her Crowd are in the thick of things at Deep Valley High. Between parties, exams, and her duties as class secretary, Betsy's got her hands full. But she's not too busy to notice the new boy in town -- the oh-so-cosmopolitan Phil Brandish. If only she could make "him "notice "her"
Then Betsy's old friend...more
Hello, Betsye Betsy Ray is now a sophomore, and she and her Crowd are in the thick of things at Deep Valley High. Between parties, exams, and her duties as class secretary, Betsy's got her hands full. But she's not too busy to notice the new boy in town -- the oh-so-cosmopolitan Phil Brandish. If only she could make "him "notice "her"
Then Betsy's old friend...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
April 2nd 1980
by HarperTrophy
(first published 1946)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
2,288)
Oct 04, 2009
Abigail
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Betsy-Tacy Fans
Recommended to Abigail by:
They Know Who They Are
Shelves:
childrens-fiction,
maud-hart-lovelace
Review Temporarily Removed.
5 likes · like · see review
view all 14 comments
Unlike Heaven to Betsy, I liked this book immediately. I suppose I was already used to the high school aged Betsy. I am eager to read the rest of Maud Hart Lovelace's books. Heaven did grow on me, but this book felt cozy to me almost as much as did the first four books in the series, and I liked it almost as much as the first four books.
Not one false note! There isn’t anything that rings false in any of these Betsy-Tacy books. This book, along with all the others in this series, is so well writt...more
Not one false note! There isn’t anything that rings false in any of these Betsy-Tacy books. This book, along with all the others in this series, is so well writt...more
3 likes · like · see review
Sep 19, 2012
Melody
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
comfort-read,
favorites
9/2012 Oh, Betsye! Sophomore year, Betsy learns a lot about being true to herself. There are tantalizing glimpses of Joe Willard here, and this time through the whole Grand Opera bit made me cry. But now I have to read Betsy Was a Junior and that's the hardest one for me.
12/2009 Betsy is a sophomore here, and though she learned some important lessons her freshman year, she is certainly not finished tripping herself up. She gets an opportunity, about half-way through the book, to spend Christmas...more
12/2009 Betsy is a sophomore here, and though she learned some important lessons her freshman year, she is certainly not finished tripping herself up. She gets an opportunity, about half-way through the book, to spend Christmas...more
3 likes · like · see review
Oct 21, 2012
Emilia P
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kids-stuff,
real-books
Betsy visits Tib in Milwaukee for Christmas! She gets to ride the train there (I've done that!). She has a possessive boyfriend who tries to take her to the Moorish Cafe and puts his hand in her pocket! This is called "getting spoony". Julia, her older sister, gets to go to the Grand Opera (a whole week in Minneapolis!). And graduates. Betsy loses the essay competition to Joe Willard again. Get it together Betsy! You're too smart to be going around with boys! There's hope for you yet though.
The...more
The...more
My younger daughter and I read these stories before bed. And although Betsey is now much older that she is, she still loves the stories. This chapter in Betsey's story is just as charming as the previous ones. Betsey decides to change herself to catch the eye of a boy with a red auto. She walks with a shoulder droop, douses herself with Jockey Club perfume, and stops hanging out with The Crowd. But this is just a twist in Betsey's "winding hall of fate." She realizes, of course, that it is impor...more
I sometimes flatter myself by thinking that Betsy and Tacy were me and Shaye in a previous life.
Dec 11, 2009
Glorious.Clio
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone, especially young impressionable teenage girls
This may very well be my favorite High School book. Truly, the journey of self discovery is so true to Betsy, and to high schoolers everywhere. Even in an age when there was one telephone per house, most people still drove horses instead of cars and made fudge and sang, Betsy is a heroine with which girls can identify with. She struggles with trying to get boys to like her, even to the point of CHANGING herself to get a guy, but discovering that what she is sacrificing isn't worth it for what li...more
Mar 03, 2012
Marie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Classics, Children's, Fans of Little House on the Prairie, Fans of Anne of Green Gables, History
Recommended to Marie by:
Heather Vogel Frederick
Shelves:
read-for-book-club
I read this book a week ago, so (sadly) my review will be short.
Let me just touch on the main points. Okay well, I hated the entire time Betsy was going with Phil Brandish, because it's SO NOT HER! I just wanted her to hurry up and marry Joe, as I know she will from the titles of future books. The best part of this book for me was the end and listening to what has seened to be an annual event: Betsy realizing what a mistake she made throughout that school year and resolving to do better in the n...more
Let me just touch on the main points. Okay well, I hated the entire time Betsy was going with Phil Brandish, because it's SO NOT HER! I just wanted her to hurry up and marry Joe, as I know she will from the titles of future books. The best part of this book for me was the end and listening to what has seened to be an annual event: Betsy realizing what a mistake she made throughout that school year and resolving to do better in the n...more
Jan 26, 2010
Heidi
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Heidi by:
Saralyn
Shelves:
2010-book-challenge,
2010-ya-book-challenge,
fiction,
historical,
humor,
i-want-to-own,
series,
ya-12-19,
biography
Another great book in the series. I didn't like her sophomore year as much as her freshman year in high school because I love The Crowd so much and was almost heart-broken to see them not come as much to the Ray home just because of Phil--whom I never liked. I was very happy with Betsy's great lesson that she got by the end. I liked how she came by it, how she accepted it, and what she did about it. It's something everyone needs to have in their life, more than once if necessary.
Other things I l...more
Other things I l...more
As I anticipated, I didn't enjoy this one all that much, although to be fair it *did* improve along the way.
I'm not sure if it's because I missed out on the whole teenage/high school culture or what, but I just can't relate to a bunch of frivolous, silly teenagers acting the way they act in this book. So concerned with hair and clothes and flirting with boys and all that.
I did find it a bit confusing with all the characters at the beginning and apparently the Rays moved. I missed a book or two s...more
I'm not sure if it's because I missed out on the whole teenage/high school culture or what, but I just can't relate to a bunch of frivolous, silly teenagers acting the way they act in this book. So concerned with hair and clothes and flirting with boys and all that.
I did find it a bit confusing with all the characters at the beginning and apparently the Rays moved. I missed a book or two s...more
In the end, I recalled reading about Phil before, as well as the end results of the Essay Contest. But I guess my first read through, lo those many years ago, didn't make much of an impression. I think possibly because it was so boy-focused and I was more of a Tacy.
This had some really funny parts (loved Cab honestly saying he had finished page 536 of Ivanhoe the night before, without mentioning how he skipped 1-535), but it seemed to lack the charm of the last book for me. Loved increased Tacy...more
This had some really funny parts (loved Cab honestly saying he had finished page 536 of Ivanhoe the night before, without mentioning how he skipped 1-535), but it seemed to lack the charm of the last book for me. Loved increased Tacy...more
Betsy in Spite of Herself is a chronicle of Betsy Ray's sophomore year of high school, in which she decides to shed her wholesome image in favor of a more Dramatic and Mysterious one. This involves putting her hair up into a pompadour, wearing green, spraying herself with perfume, and a host of other beauty regimens.
Although these efforts allow her to ensnare rich, handsome Phil Brandish, Betsy soon discovers that she's pretty bored acting as a trophy girlfriend. By the end of the book, she's b...more
Although these efforts allow her to ensnare rich, handsome Phil Brandish, Betsy soon discovers that she's pretty bored acting as a trophy girlfriend. By the end of the book, she's b...more
This (nearly autobiographical) book, covering Betsy's sophomore year, is the 6th of the 10 Betsy-Tacy books. (The series begins when Betsy is turning 5, and the last book covers Betsy's wedding.) I loved these books when I was young. I read this to my 14-year-old and 11-year-old. We all laughed over the "Ivanhoe" incident and appreciated the lesson to "be yourself" instead of acting like someone else in order to get a boy to like you. It's fun to see how similar (to today) were high school and t...more
When I read these as a kid I really didn't care for this book. As an adult I think it may be my favorite of the High School books. The story rings the truest of all of them. As Betsy morphs into Betsye, I felt I could relate. As a teenager I was constantly seeking to change, and to push myself into a person who can only come with actual growing up. What I really enjoyed was how her sister affirmed her attempts, even though they failed horribly. Failure with a purpose.
I've been reading the Betsy-Tacy series for as long as I can remember; an aunt gave them to me for Christmas at some point in elementary school. I call the series my "comfort books." I frequently reread them when I'm visiting my parents, or when I need something to relax with. Fantastic children's chapter books--I'm going to curl up with this one for the afternoon. Like a piece of candy (that doesn't go straight to your hips, and teaches you about history!).
With this latest VSC, we had a good discussion about how much Betsy has grown since her freshman year.
A new favorite Tib moment, after Betsy and Tib leave church and discover that it had been snowing:
"Fresh soft snow covered the steps, walks and lawns. It lay in mounds on the lacy branches of the evergreens. Still uplifted by the service, Betsy looked around.
'It seems like a miracle!' she cried.
'We should have worn overshoes.' [replied Tib]
9-23-08:
"You might as well know...I don't hold hands. I...more
A new favorite Tib moment, after Betsy and Tib leave church and discover that it had been snowing:
"Fresh soft snow covered the steps, walks and lawns. It lay in mounds on the lacy branches of the evergreens. Still uplifted by the service, Betsy looked around.
'It seems like a miracle!' she cried.
'We should have worn overshoes.' [replied Tib]
9-23-08:
"You might as well know...I don't hold hands. I...more
I'm so glad I decided to read all the rest of the Betsy-Tacy books. This one was utterly delightful, what with Betsy's trip to see Tib in Milwaukee, and Julia's opera, and the Leap Year dance. I think everyone needs to go on more picnics and have Sunday night lunch where anybody can drop by for sandwiches and singing. *sighs*
I think these coming of age books - although set in 1910 - 1918 - are as relevant today to young people as ever. Beautiful, heart-warming stories based on the author's life and friends. I read them first in high school and am rediscovering them now.
The title says it all....in spite of herself Betsy is on her long path of finding how to be true to herself. Oh boy!! I love that food is embraced by everyone in such a luscious way..eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, buttered toast, coffee and cocoa (usually with mound of whipped cream)are a typical breakfast. Muffins out of the oven always for the first day of school, and Anna's homemade popovers "which helped any situation". Why don't they get fat? Oh yeh..no fast food and they walk everywhere!
Cute book, right along the lines of Ann of Green Gables but set in the US.
I jumped right in the middle of a series, and I felt it. There were some characters I knew I should have known but I didn't know who they were or where they fit. I guess I'll have to get cracking on the other books to find out. :)
I jumped right in the middle of a series, and I felt it. There were some characters I knew I should have known but I didn't know who they were or where they fit. I guess I'll have to get cracking on the other books to find out. :)
It is SO WEIRD to read about Milwaukee as a destination. But other than that being completely disconcerting, I loved it. I do not love Phil. And I despair about Joe ever getting enough bookspace. Onto the next.
I pulled this out last Advent and read it again (I don't know how many times I've read Lovelace's Betsy books) mainly to read again the story of Betsy's Christmas visit to Tib in Milwaukee. It was the Solstice and it seemed a good time of year to read about the overwhelmingly German city's celebrations of Christmas.
The book itself records Betsy's sophomore year of high school in which she tried to change herself into someone more "Dramatic and Mysterious" because she hasn't yet come to terms wit...more
The book itself records Betsy's sophomore year of high school in which she tried to change herself into someone more "Dramatic and Mysterious" because she hasn't yet come to terms wit...more
Nov 17, 2010
Krista
added it
Betsy expands her horizons and continues to mature during her sophomore year of high school. She has her first true romance, with dashing Phil Brandish, and visits her childhood chum Tib in Milwaukee. I admit that I've never longed to visit Milwaukee before, but Lovelace's descriptions may have changed my mind! The ultimate comfort reading.
betsy tries to impress a flashy boy with a red automobile, and succeeds! but then she learns how important it is to just be herself. she also visits tib in minneapolis!
i am so besotted with these books.
i am so besotted with these books.
Hard not to compare this one with Anne of the Island. But still, a good story in itself but I can't help just waiting for her to be with Joe, not Phil and whoever else comes her way.
Betsy longs to be different and transforms herself (she hopes) into dark and mysterious. I think everyone at some point longs to be different from themselves. Betsy makes some good and some silly "rules" to live by...keep your shirtwaist tucked in, always wear one kind of perfume, etc. In the end, like most people who attempt to pretend to be what they are not, Betsy is herself in spite of all her efforts to the contrary.
There was less fudge in this book than Heaven to Betsy, presumably because...more
There was less fudge in this book than Heaven to Betsy, presumably because...more
This book is a classic in so many ways. In every chapter there is a different story or tale of their life. They also go back to previous times in the book.
1 like · like · see review
Aug 05, 2011
Danielle Lentz
added it
I still love the Betsy stories-even though it has been nearly 40 years since I first read them! All young girls would enjoy this series!
I remember liking this one the best out of the whole series when I read it back in middle school. Still love these characters.
This is one of my favorite children's books and book series and I love rereading it. It's great historical fiction.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Maud Hart Lovelace was born on April 25, 1892, in Mankato, Minnesota. She was the middle of three children born to Thomas and Stella (Palmer) Hart. Her sister, Kathleen, was three years older, and her other sister, Helen, was six years younger. “That dear family" was the model for the fictional Ray family.
Maud’s birthplace was a small house on a hilly residential street several blocks above Mankat...more
More about Maud Hart Lovelace...
Maud’s birthplace was a small house on a hilly residential street several blocks above Mankat...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Isn't it mysterious to begin a new journal like this? I can run my fingers through the fresh clean pages but I cannot guess what the writing on them will be.”
—
43 people liked it
“When there are boys you have to worry about how you look, and whether they like you, and why they like another girl better, and whether they're going to ask you to something or other. It's a strain.”
—
18 people liked it
More quotes…
