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The Blythe Girls #2
The Blythe Girls in Margy's Queer Inheritance
Margy inherits a bizarre assortment of items, including a can of flour, from Aunt Margy Blythe. Margy is instructed to use the four to bake biscuits and breads. Once the flour is completely gone, Margy will receive further information regarding her inheritance.
Soon after the arrival of Aunt Margy's things, a prowler enters the Blythes' apartment. Curiously, the only possessions targeted by the man are the things that had belonged to Aunt Margy. Is it possible that Aunt Margy's seemingly worthless possessions have a hidden value? The girls face quite a mystery as they seek the answer to this question while they await word on Margy's inheritance.
Soon after the arrival of Aunt Margy's things, a prowler enters the Blythes' apartment. Curiously, the only possessions targeted by the man are the things that had belonged to Aunt Margy. Is it possible that Aunt Margy's seemingly worthless possessions have a hidden value? The girls face quite a mystery as they seek the answer to this question while they await word on Margy's inheritance.
222 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1925
About the author
Laura Lee Hope
630 books81 followersLaura Lee Hope is a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for the Bobbsey Twins and several other series of children's novels. Actual writers taking up the pen of Laura Lee Hope include Edward Stratemeyer, Howard and Lilian Garis, Elizabeth Ward, Harriet (Stratemeyer) Adams, Andrew E. Svenson, June M. Dunn, Grace Grote and Nancy Axelrad.
Laura Lee Hope was first used in 1904 for the debut of the Bobbsey Twins, the principal characters of what was, for many years, the Stratemeyer Syndicate's longest-running series of children's novels. Other series written under this pseudonym include: The Outdoor Girls (23 vols. 1913-1933), The Moving Picture Girls (7 vols. 1914-1916), Bunny Brown (20 vols. 1916-1931), Six Little Bunkers (14 vols. 1918-1930), Make Believe Stories (12 vols. c. 1920-1923), and Blythe Girls (12 vols. 1925-1932).
The first of the 72 books of the Bobbsey Twins series was published in 1904, the last in 1979. The books related the adventures of the children of the middle-class Bobbsey family, which included two sets of mixed-gender fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, who were 12 years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who were six.
Edward Stratemeyer himself is believed to have written the first volume in its original form in 1904. When the original series was brought to its conclusion in 1979, it had reached a total of 72 volumes. At least two abortive attempts to restart the series were launched after this, but in neither effort was the popularity of the original series achieved.
Speculation that Stratemeyer also wrote the second and third volumes of the series is believed to be incorrect; these books are now attributed to Lilian Garis, wife of Howard Garis, who is credited with volumes 4–28 and 41. Elizabeth Ward is credited with volumes 29–35, while Harriet Stratemeyer Adams is credited with 36–38, 39 (with Camilla McClave), 40, 42, 43 (with Andrew Svenson), and 44–48. Volumes 49–52 are attributed to Andrew Svenson, while 53–59, and the 1960s rewrites of 1–4, 7, 11–13, and 17, are attributed to June Dunn. Grace Grote is regarded as the real author of 60–67 and the rewrites of 14 and 18–20, and Nancy Axelrad is credited with 68–72. Of the 1960s rewrites not already mentioned, volumes 5 and 16 are credited to Mary Donahoe, 6 and 25 to Patricia Doll, 8–10 and 15 to Bonnibel Weston, and 24 to Margery Howard.
--from Wikipedia
Laura Lee Hope was first used in 1904 for the debut of the Bobbsey Twins, the principal characters of what was, for many years, the Stratemeyer Syndicate's longest-running series of children's novels. Other series written under this pseudonym include: The Outdoor Girls (23 vols. 1913-1933), The Moving Picture Girls (7 vols. 1914-1916), Bunny Brown (20 vols. 1916-1931), Six Little Bunkers (14 vols. 1918-1930), Make Believe Stories (12 vols. c. 1920-1923), and Blythe Girls (12 vols. 1925-1932).
The first of the 72 books of the Bobbsey Twins series was published in 1904, the last in 1979. The books related the adventures of the children of the middle-class Bobbsey family, which included two sets of mixed-gender fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, who were 12 years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who were six.
Edward Stratemeyer himself is believed to have written the first volume in its original form in 1904. When the original series was brought to its conclusion in 1979, it had reached a total of 72 volumes. At least two abortive attempts to restart the series were launched after this, but in neither effort was the popularity of the original series achieved.
Speculation that Stratemeyer also wrote the second and third volumes of the series is believed to be incorrect; these books are now attributed to Lilian Garis, wife of Howard Garis, who is credited with volumes 4–28 and 41. Elizabeth Ward is credited with volumes 29–35, while Harriet Stratemeyer Adams is credited with 36–38, 39 (with Camilla McClave), 40, 42, 43 (with Andrew Svenson), and 44–48. Volumes 49–52 are attributed to Andrew Svenson, while 53–59, and the 1960s rewrites of 1–4, 7, 11–13, and 17, are attributed to June Dunn. Grace Grote is regarded as the real author of 60–67 and the rewrites of 14 and 18–20, and Nancy Axelrad is credited with 68–72. Of the 1960s rewrites not already mentioned, volumes 5 and 16 are credited to Mary Donahoe, 6 and 25 to Patricia Doll, 8–10 and 15 to Bonnibel Weston, and 24 to Margery Howard.
--from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 23, 2024
These three sisters are growing on me :) The life obstacles, adventures, and the sister's love continue.
October 27, 2019
The three Blythe sisters - artistic Helen, practical Margy, and ebullient Rose - continue to make their way through 1920s New York City in this second installment of the twelve-volume series devoted to their adventures, each one struggling in some different way to contribute to the family economy. Helen continues to work on her painting, branching out into more original work, while Rose once again confronts an unpleasant floorwalker whilst working at the Lossar-Martin department store. Margy, in the meantime, continues to work for eccentric Miss Pepper, whilst also confronting a mystery involving an inheritance left to her by a distant great aunt of the Blythe girls. Sent some antique furniture, as well as a massive can of flour, which she is instructed to use in baking - a process that will lead her to more information about the inheritance - Margy and her sisters eventually discover that they are not the only ones interested in these items. As a persistent burglar begins to break into the girls' apartment, often leaving chaos in his wake, they find that Margy's inheritance has exposed them to danger...
Like its predecessor, I enjoyed reading Margy's Queer Inheritance, particularly as it is set largely in Manhattan, where I currently live and work. The period details are charming - something I usually enjoy in vintage series of this sort - and although the solution to the 'mystery' of Margy's inheritance is glaringly obvious - I guessed immediately just why Margy had to work her way through the flour-can, and knew from the first that the intruder was no random burglar - it still made for an enjoyable read. The outdated ideas of gender to be found in the first book - the girls are often rescued by their male friends, who are also often conveniently on hand to hang pictures and uncrate furniture for them - are also evident here. Rose's friend Joe Morris, who helped expose the dishonest floorwalker in the first book, here takes a hand in defeating the mean-spirited man who replaced him, despite not working at the department store himself. Still, this is nothing unusual for stories of this period, and often struck me as more amusing than offensive. Mileage will vary, of course, but regular readers of vintage children's fare are unlikely to discover anything particularly egregious in this respect. I was far more struck by the description of the new floorwalker - hired after the harsh (and apparently corrupt) Mr. Goos was fired - as a "splendid, upstanding young American." A little strange - weren't the previous two floorwalkers American? - this throwaway remark seems indicative of a low-level xenophobia, particularly when one considers the characterization of the sneak-thief 'Frenchy' - so named because he is a Frenchman - who attempts to steal Joe Morris' car at one point. These are fairly minor elements in the story, and didn't ruin the reading experience for me, but they are definitely something for the reader to be mindful of. Recommended to readers of vintage girls' series, particularly if they have read the first installment featuring these characters.
Like its predecessor, I enjoyed reading Margy's Queer Inheritance, particularly as it is set largely in Manhattan, where I currently live and work. The period details are charming - something I usually enjoy in vintage series of this sort - and although the solution to the 'mystery' of Margy's inheritance is glaringly obvious - I guessed immediately just why Margy had to work her way through the flour-can, and knew from the first that the intruder was no random burglar - it still made for an enjoyable read. The outdated ideas of gender to be found in the first book - the girls are often rescued by their male friends, who are also often conveniently on hand to hang pictures and uncrate furniture for them - are also evident here. Rose's friend Joe Morris, who helped expose the dishonest floorwalker in the first book, here takes a hand in defeating the mean-spirited man who replaced him, despite not working at the department store himself. Still, this is nothing unusual for stories of this period, and often struck me as more amusing than offensive. Mileage will vary, of course, but regular readers of vintage children's fare are unlikely to discover anything particularly egregious in this respect. I was far more struck by the description of the new floorwalker - hired after the harsh (and apparently corrupt) Mr. Goos was fired - as a "splendid, upstanding young American." A little strange - weren't the previous two floorwalkers American? - this throwaway remark seems indicative of a low-level xenophobia, particularly when one considers the characterization of the sneak-thief 'Frenchy' - so named because he is a Frenchman - who attempts to steal Joe Morris' car at one point. These are fairly minor elements in the story, and didn't ruin the reading experience for me, but they are definitely something for the reader to be mindful of. Recommended to readers of vintage girls' series, particularly if they have read the first installment featuring these characters.
May 23, 2021
This book is nearly a hundred years old so quite dated (the girls have a horror of being in the newspaper that I’m sure would be utterly alien to today’s teens). But I loved this contemporaneous peak into 1920s New York City. And there are even bonus department store scenes!
December 21, 2024
This series is so good! if anyone knows a good place to get them please tell me:) This book is just sublime, and made me laugh, ugh, literally no complaints 4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews