Dead Tree Reading 2016 #5
Mar. 13th, 2016 10:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
desertvixen So this post's theme is pretty much "vintage teen stuff" because I love it. (I scored on a visit to a used book store this weekend, so there will be more coming...)
18. Polly Perry, TV Cook by Ethel M. Bangert (1959) - This is another of the ones I looked up after reading Pink Think. It was pretty good, and I liked that the main character not only had a personality, but actually learned from events in the story, after quite a few falls.
19 & 20. Hostess in the Sky and Senior Hostess by Margaret Hill (1955 and 1958) - These two books complete the trilogy about Beth Dean, stewardess (or as her airline prefers, "hostess") from DTR 2016 #4. They were both pretty good, with learning from mistakes, some entertaining situations, and a hint of romance to end the trilogy. These are different from the Vicky Barr novels, in which Vicky's career is more of a vehicle for her to solve a mystery. Instead, these books are about being an air hostess - Beth is the type of person who gets very interested in people's problems and trying to help them. There are plenty of interesting moments, including when a passenger dies on the flight and the hostesses have to keep everyone else from panicking. The third book, Senior Hostess, has a fun setup, when Beth (previously the junior hostess who had a bit of a knack for getting in trouble) gets assigned to be senior hostess to a junior hostess who also has a knack for trouble.
21. Judy Bolton #34 The Puzzle in the Pond by Margaret Sutton - I treated myself to this after taxes, and it was an enjoyable read, tieing back to the beginning of the series and showing Judy following her detective instincts and helping people. The later books in the series after Peter joins the FBI are kind of hit or miss for me, but this one was good. It's an Applewood trade reissue in the blue cover, very nice presentation.
22 - 24. A New Life for Peggy, Open Doors for Peggy, and More Answers for Peggy by Dorothy Martin - These three books are part of a teen series published by Moody Press in the 1960s, and my interest was sparked after a discussion on a board I frequent. They're published by Moody Press, which apparently lived in a world where almost no one is a REAL Christian, almost no one is REALLY saved, and there's a bunch of worldly people who just go to church. (So far, no characters have been identified as Catholic or Jewish.)
One of the books actually has this line - "What's a Christian?" Sally asked. "Is that like your nationality"
The main character is actually pretty realistic - a teenager trying to deal with difficult family situations and just being a teen - but the preachy factor is a bit much. However, I was able to score most of the series off Paperback Swap, so I'll be working through them.
Also, the MV and I read Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, and apparently not a moment too soon.
DV
18. Polly Perry, TV Cook by Ethel M. Bangert (1959) - This is another of the ones I looked up after reading Pink Think. It was pretty good, and I liked that the main character not only had a personality, but actually learned from events in the story, after quite a few falls.
19 & 20. Hostess in the Sky and Senior Hostess by Margaret Hill (1955 and 1958) - These two books complete the trilogy about Beth Dean, stewardess (or as her airline prefers, "hostess") from DTR 2016 #4. They were both pretty good, with learning from mistakes, some entertaining situations, and a hint of romance to end the trilogy. These are different from the Vicky Barr novels, in which Vicky's career is more of a vehicle for her to solve a mystery. Instead, these books are about being an air hostess - Beth is the type of person who gets very interested in people's problems and trying to help them. There are plenty of interesting moments, including when a passenger dies on the flight and the hostesses have to keep everyone else from panicking. The third book, Senior Hostess, has a fun setup, when Beth (previously the junior hostess who had a bit of a knack for getting in trouble) gets assigned to be senior hostess to a junior hostess who also has a knack for trouble.
21. Judy Bolton #34 The Puzzle in the Pond by Margaret Sutton - I treated myself to this after taxes, and it was an enjoyable read, tieing back to the beginning of the series and showing Judy following her detective instincts and helping people. The later books in the series after Peter joins the FBI are kind of hit or miss for me, but this one was good. It's an Applewood trade reissue in the blue cover, very nice presentation.
22 - 24. A New Life for Peggy, Open Doors for Peggy, and More Answers for Peggy by Dorothy Martin - These three books are part of a teen series published by Moody Press in the 1960s, and my interest was sparked after a discussion on a board I frequent. They're published by Moody Press, which apparently lived in a world where almost no one is a REAL Christian, almost no one is REALLY saved, and there's a bunch of worldly people who just go to church. (So far, no characters have been identified as Catholic or Jewish.)
One of the books actually has this line - "What's a Christian?" Sally asked. "Is that like your nationality"
The main character is actually pretty realistic - a teenager trying to deal with difficult family situations and just being a teen - but the preachy factor is a bit much. However, I was able to score most of the series off Paperback Swap, so I'll be working through them.
Also, the MV and I read Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, and apparently not a moment too soon.
DV
no subject
Date: 2016-03-18 04:19 pm (UTC)Some others you might not've come across:
Rosamond duJardin
Lenora Mattingly Weber
Madeleine L'Engle, especially the Austin series
If the MV's getting ready for some sf, H. M. Hoover wrote the best ya sf ever; Tamora Pierce says so. [Speaking of whom, the MV will probably be up for her in a few years.]
The Donna Parker & Robin Kane mysteries are also very good; I'm assuming you're already up on Trixie Belden.
Andre Norton wrote several ya novels worth looking into, some with an sf element, & some not. Would you like some recs?
no subject
Date: 2016-03-19 01:21 am (UTC)I picked up several ideas while reading Pink Think. I shall look at your recs. Please share more!
I haven't seen Donna Parker but have read one or two Robin Kanes. They didn't really stick with me. I'm up on Trixie (although one of the series where I like the supporting cast better than the main character).
no subject
Date: 2016-03-19 01:30 am (UTC)E. D. Baker has a fun fairy-tale series that starts with _The Frog Princess_.
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Date: 2016-03-19 01:57 am (UTC)She is *almost* 10.
The vintage teen is for me, YA is for her.
no subject
Date: 2016-03-18 04:28 pm (UTC)Joan Aiken is solid, but you have to watch out, since some of her stuff veers off into horror. The Arabel & Mortimer books [a girl & her raven have lots of adventures] are good & funny.
Does the MV like dragons, ghosts, witches, goblins, kings, queens, etc.? Ruth Manning-Sanders has over 2 dozen collections of tales, each with a specific theme. Best of all, most of them are illustrated by Robin Jacques. They're usually over in folklore [398.2], or so.
If she's a big reader, you might try her on _Little Women_, maybe an abridged version to start. There's always Frances Hodgson Burnett's _The Secret Garden_.
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Date: 2016-03-19 01:23 am (UTC)She loves the Wimpy Kid series, Big Nate, and we're trying to get her into more stuff. She has her own "To read" pile.
no subject
Date: 2016-03-19 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-03-19 01:58 am (UTC)We're reading the Westing Game now.
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Date: 2016-03-19 01:19 pm (UTC)Catherine Storr--Lucy Runs Away is a fun one I got from Scholastic at about that age.
Alexander Key is always good. _The Forgotten Door_ should be readily available, as should _Escape To Witch Mountain_. _The Magic Meadow_ is one of my favorites.
Jane Yolen has written ya on all age levels. It varies, so you might want to check it out first, especially as the MV may feel herself too old for picture books.
Have you tried the d'Aulaires yet? They have lots of mythology books, biographies, etc., all with the most fabulous artwork! Doug Muir's a big fan, iirc.
no subject
Date: 2016-03-19 07:06 pm (UTC)She has some of d'Aulaire's (Greek and Norse) and ironically I was just pre-reading one of the Yolen/Harris young hero books (Odysseus and the Serpent King), which I really enjoyed.
no subject
Date: 2016-03-20 01:05 am (UTC)