Betsy, Tacy, and Tib are twelve--old enough to do lots of things...even go downtown on their own. There they see their first horseless carriage... read full description
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Feb 15, 2010
Melissa
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Once again, Betsy and Tacy exceeded expectations!
In what I would call the final installment of the “childhood” portion of this series, “Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown” – the girls are now 12 years old and, according to them, “all grown up.”
Their escapades continue – riding in a horseless carriage (a car!), beguiling their new friend, Winona, going to the theatre, befriending an unexpected companion, acting on stage and discovering a long, lost relative!
So many thi More...
In what I would call the final installment of the “childhood” portion of this series, “Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown” – the girls are now 12 years old and, according to them, “all grown up.”
Their escapades continue – riding in a horseless carriage (a car!), beguiling their new friend, Winona, going to the theatre, befriending an unexpected companion, acting on stage and discovering a long, lost relative!
So many thi More...
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Jul 07, 2011
Cheryl in CC NV
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I think this is one I may have read as a child. I vaguely remember bits of it, and I feel influenced by the messages of making new friends in Mrs. Poppy and in Winona.
This time through, anyway, I was enchanted by Winona pretty early on. She's so smart, and she grins, and she does what she can to fend off loneliness. I caught a line near the end that I probably didn't before: "'I love to go in doors that say "Private, Keep Out,"' said Winona."
I lov More...
This time through, anyway, I was enchanted by Winona pretty early on. She's so smart, and she grins, and she does what she can to fend off loneliness. I caught a line near the end that I probably didn't before: "'I love to go in doors that say "Private, Keep Out,"' said Winona."
I lov More...
May 22, 2009
Abigail
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I think that Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown may be my favorite book yet, in Maud Hart Lovelace's series of children's novels devoted to the adventures of three young girls growing up in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Minnesota. Now twelve years old, Betsy, Tacy and Tib find their horizons expanding, as they venture into town on their own, see a horseless carriage for the first time, attend a thrilling performance of Uncle Tom's Cabin at the Opera House, and (in Betsy's case) discover th
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Aug 06, 2010
Katie
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The girls are now 12 and again I thought it would be too "old" for Mary Ann to understand. There was also a moment when the reality of Santa Claus was discussed and I was worried things were going to get pretty dicey and Mary Ann was going to get an unexpected shock, but luckily Betsy, Tacy, and Tip are very sensible girls and have agreed to believe in Santa Claus until they are at least out of high school. This was a very enjoyable story for me too, perhaps the best part for me was
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Nov 17, 2009
Megan
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Two things I noticed while reading this as an adult is that this book is the crucial transition text in the lives of the characters. By the next book they are in High School. This story captures them in a golden last breath of childhood. It is lovely. Second the story captures the genesis of an author. Betsy is caught reading dime store novels (gasp!) and is throughly chastened by her mom and dad. So they do what any good parent in 1911 would. They arrange for Betsy to make a weekly trip down to
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Feb 09, 2012
Marie
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One of my favorite books ever. As I mentioned in my review of Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill I thought that it would be hard for me to watch them grow up and yet still be little kids, at least until high school. I was wrong. I feel like that book was just an awkward transition book for me. I was still coping with the fact that they're not little kids anymore, but they're not quite grown either. This book was different. Even though they were still only twelve and not in high school yet, I f
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Oct 21, 2011
Audrey
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 18, 2010
Heidi
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I love that the books are growing up with the girls, including the people they meet and the town "expanding." It is just like childhood--everything broadened as I got older. I love the new characters. I love the experiences. The staring made me laugh. The play made me a bit jealous--I always wanted to do something like that when I was little. And the library? Well, how could I not love Betsy's joy of the library?!
So far, there really is only one thing I do not like about t More...
So far, there really is only one thing I do not like about t More...
Apr 19, 2010
Lawrence
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My visits to Deep Valley, Minnesota, continue. "Downtown" is the Betsy/Tacy book with the most depth so far. The girls are twelve years old, and have left behind their world of fantasy play in favor of the interests and pleasures of reality and relationship. Many themes crop up. First, there is the irony of the horseless carriage. We know it will eventually destroy Deep Valley, and Ms. Lovelace does briefly mention the "evil smell". But the residents of Deep Valley ---
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Sep 14, 2011
Jael
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This was one of my very favourite books when I was twelve. I'm not sure if that's just because that's when I got the book or because Betsy and her friends are also twelve in the book - I liked reading books about children who were my own age. I adored the theatrical thread running throughout the book, the section on Christmas that seemed to bottle up all I felt about Christmas so beautifully, and most of all Winona.
I have no idea what it is about Winona that I like so much, except th More...
I have no idea what it is about Winona that I like so much, except th More...
Oct 22, 2007
Carmen
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This is the last of the "younger" Betsy books, taking us to turn of the century Minnesota, horse-less carriages, and many wonderful new friends. BTGD introduces us to Winona Root, Mrs. Poppy, and some of the places and items we will know and love in the "high school" books. A wonderful look at the transition into adolecense. We also read about the tradition of the annual christmas shopping trip that Betsy and Tacy take together. On a personal note, this is a tradition that m
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Dec 22, 2009
Melody
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This is my favorite of the pre-high-school Betsy-Tacy books. Among the BT cognoscenti, whole weeks have been devoted to debating which books in the series are the best. This does sometimes devolve into name-calling and braid-tugging, but generally Down Town ranks near the top.
The girls are 12 and they don't quite fit anywhere- not with Julia and Katie who are being walked home from school by boys, and not with Margaret and Freddie who are rioting through the streets shouting. They wa More...
The girls are 12 and they don't quite fit anywhere- not with Julia and Katie who are being walked home from school by boys, and not with Margaret and Freddie who are rioting through the streets shouting. They wa More...
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Jul 29, 2008
Shelley
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And now these feel like novels, more like I remember them reading. Although, oddly, I don't specifically recall reading this one. Bits felt familiar, like with her uncle, and Margaret's doll, but the rest not. How odd.
Anyway, I loved it. I loved the girls growing up, and how so many fewer of Tib's lines had the tag, "Of course Tib would say that." 'Bout time we were allowed to know Tib without author intrusion. I also loved all the winter scenes, and Christmas, and Christm More...
Anyway, I loved it. I loved the girls growing up, and how so many fewer of Tib's lines had the tag, "Of course Tib would say that." 'Bout time we were allowed to know Tib without author intrusion. I also loved all the winter scenes, and Christmas, and Christm More...
Mar 05, 2010
Anne
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Okay, I know I said in my last review (the one I wrote of Betsy, Tacy and Tib that I wasn't really interested in reading the rest of the series. But Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill and this one are really charming, and of course quick reads. The next books in the series look somewhat more grown-up--I can't wait to see what Betsy, Tacy and Tib are like when they're teenagers!
Jan 24, 2012
Kricket
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I grew up with only the first three in the series, so it was kind of strange to read this book for the first time in my late twenties. B, T, & T make a new friend named Winona, who takes them to the theater to see Uncle Tom's Cabin. They also make friends with a fancy but lonely hotel-owner's wife named Mrs. Poppy, who reunites Betsy's family with a long-lost relative. So cute.
Feb 23, 2009
Lisa
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Once again, this fourth book in the Betsy-Tacy series is well written and full of emotionally lovely moments. As an adult reading it for the first time, I saw the story lines coming from a million miles away but I thoroughly enjoyed them anyway. Some of the more old-fashioned stuff such as the furs and performance of the play Uncle Tom’s Cabin (the latter of which I’m sure was ahead for its time) rubbed me slightly the wrong way, and I’d have loved to hear more about the new library and Betsy’s
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Jul 27, 2011
I saw one person's comment that the world of Betsy-Tacy probably doesn't exist in America, but I disagree. I can remember being old enough to go downtown without parents. Sharing it with a best friend or two made it even better. What makes Lovelace's books so great is that it was, and in a few special places still is, life in small-town America.
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Dec 28, 2010
Kim
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This book was more mature and included how not to beg for something you want really badly and also discovering the beauty of libraries. Also, that opening drawing of Betsy sitting in a tree writing makes me insanely jealous. Who doesn't want to be writing in a tree? Well, maybe a few people but I hope not too many :)
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Feb 05, 2011
Krista
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Somehow I missed the Betsy and Tacy books when I was growing up, but I'm so glad I've found them now! This one is my favorite so far, especially the chapter about their annual Christmas shopping trip. It makes me wish I had a little girl to share them with.
May 16, 2010
Marcy
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As they turn 12 B, T, and T branch out from their little neighborhood. Betsy really starts to explore her writing more seriously and earns the privilege to go downtown alone to discover the library and the joy of reading by the fire and checking out books for two weeks at a time. Currently many of my students don't go near the library...they say their parents will buy them books. So sad.
Feb 07, 2010
Carrie
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Full review at: http://dogearedandwellread.wordpress.com...
I enjoyed this Betsy-Tacy book immensely! Now that the girls are twelve, they are enjoying their freedom and learning more about themselves and other people...Maud Hart Lovelace had a real talent for writing the girls in a very honest way. They never act out of the ordinary for girls their age.
I enjoyed this Betsy-Tacy book immensely! Now that the girls are twelve, they are enjoying their freedom and learning more about themselves and other people...Maud Hart Lovelace had a real talent for writing the girls in a very honest way. They never act out of the ordinary for girls their age.
May 04, 2011
laaaaames
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There were two things in this book that nearly made me weep from happiness:
1. Betsy getting the trunk to write on
2. Betsy's parents working out a wonderful ritual of library visits
(read: 31)
1. Betsy getting the trunk to write on
2. Betsy's parents working out a wonderful ritual of library visits
(read: 31)
Dec 12, 2011
Julie
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This is my favorite one yet- so imaginative! I also liked how some of the chapters center around the girls Christmas festivities and also Betsy's first trip to the library.
Jan 03, 2010
Kelly
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This one actually made me tear up a bit! Lovelace somehow manages to write about a specific childhood in a specific time and place and yet make it about all childhoods. I loved it.
Mar 21, 2008
Kim
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I love the Betsy-Tacy books. So far this one is my favorite (probably because it is the last one I read).
We do TJed (see A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille) in our home and this book describes transition to scholar phase very well. I LOVE the way it discusses the importance of reading classics over dime store romance novels. There is, also, much fodder for discussion about personal mission and mentors in this story.
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We do TJed (see A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille) in our home and this book describes transition to scholar phase very well. I LOVE the way it discusses the importance of reading classics over dime store romance novels. There is, also, much fodder for discussion about personal mission and mentors in this story.
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Aug 14, 2009
Christina
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This is my favorite book in the childhood part of this series! It's just so heartwarming and fun!
Sep 21, 2010
Luisa
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God bless Sarah for introducing these books to me. I'm so glad to have another "old fashioned" book series about strong female characters to work my way through. Given my penchant for Anne of Green Gables and Laura Ingalls Wilder books when I was a kid, I can't believe I hadn't heard of these wonderful books until the end of 2009. As much as I love those aforementioned tales, Betsy somehow seems even more relatable as a heroine, perhaps because her daily life seems a little bit more
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