Picture of author.

Amelia Elizabeth Walden (1909–2002)

Author of My Sister Mike

44 Works 242 Members 4 Reviews

About the Author

Includes the name: Amelia Walden

Also includes: Walden (1)

Image credit: From jacket sleeve

Works by Amelia Elizabeth Walden

My Sister Mike (1956) 37 copies
Three Loves Has Sandy (1955) 33 copies
To catch a spy (1964) 17 copies
A Girl Called Hank (1951) 13 copies
Waverly (1947) — Author — 12 copies
A Spy Case Built For Two (1969) 10 copies
In Search of Ophelia (1966) 6 copies
Where Is My Heart? (1960) 6 copies
How Bright the Dawn (1962) — Author — 6 copies
Go, Phillips, go! (1974) 6 copies
A boy to remember (1960) 5 copies
The Spy on Danger Island (1965) 5 copies
So Near the Heart (1974) — Author — 5 copies
Heartbreak tennis (1977) 4 copies
Sunnycove (1948) 4 copies
Palomino Girl (1957) 3 copies
The Spy With Five Faces (1966) 3 copies
Walk In a Tall Shadow (1968) 3 copies
Skymountain 3 copies
my dreams ride high (1963) — Author — 3 copies
A Name for Himself (1967) 3 copies
I Found My Love (1956) 3 copies
Daystar (1955) 3 copies
Victory for Jill (1967) 2 copies
A spy called Michel-e (1967) 2 copies
Queen of the courts (1959) 2 copies
Gateway 1 copy
Escape on skis (1975) 1 copy
Shadow on Devil's Peak (1961) 1 copy
STAY TO WIN (1971) 1 copy
Race the Wild Wind (1967) 1 copy
My World's the Stage (1964) 1 copy
When Loves Speaks (1961) 1 copy

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Birthdate
1909-01-15
Date of death
2002
Gender
female
Nationality
USA
Birthplace
New York City, New York, USA
Place of death
Westport, Connecticut, USA
Places of residence
New York, New York, USA
Connecticut, USA
Education
Columbia University
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupations
teacher
young adult writer
novelist
playwright
Organizations
National Council of Teachers of English
Short biography
Amelia Elizabeth Walden was born in New York City. She graduated from Columbia University in 1934, and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. From 1935 to 1945, she taught English and Dramatics at Norwalk High School in Connecticut. In 1946, she married John William Harmon. In the same year, she published her debut novel, Gateway, one of the first American books aimed at a young adult audience.
She wrote, produced, and directed plays off-Broadway, and wrote than 40 novels in a variety of genres. The Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award, established by the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English (ALAN), is presented annually in the USA for a work of fiction that exemplifies literary excellence, widespread teen appeal, and a positive approach to life.

Her papers are held at the University of Oregon Libraries.

Members

Reviews

My tween self read this like four times
 
Flagged
JorgeousJotts | 1 other review | Dec 3, 2021 |
2 1/2 stars
Another low expectation book from Little Free Library
But I had to read this book. The title reminded me of a girl I knew in high school, who went by the name of Mike. I still picture her coming in the door to French class, carrying a book called Mrs. Mike.
So the story is told by Mike - the dull, boring younger sister of Pat who has lots of boyfriends. Mike only wants one. A particular one. But the only thing Mike is good at is basketball. One day, leaving the dressing room long after the game, the boy of her dreams (bohd) asks if she is really Mike Patterson, and when she says yes, he asks her for a date.
Her sister warns her that it's probably just an initiation prank, but Mike insists on going out with him anyway.
Her sister was right. Even worse the bohd already has a girl friend, and she's awfully possessive. Lots of teenaged lovelorn angst follows. I had difficulty relating the story to my own high school experience, but I was not like either Mike or Pat.
Mike decides to remake herself - clothes, makeup, mannerisms. Her new goal is to get lots of boyfriends. Well, two boys are really her friends - especially the one who challenges her new artificiality.
Happy ending all around.
It was a quick read, although rather out of date - first published in 1956. I wasn't yet in high school that year.
Book has been returned to Little Free Library.
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Flagged
CarolJMO | 1 other review | Dec 12, 2016 |
Walden wrote a lot of books, including mysteries and adult fiction, but her teen books often have to do with girls' sports, particuarly basketball. This is a very typical book for its era but also very enjoyable.

Hank (Henrietta) Baxter, a tomboy who's grown up playing basketball with four brothers, is the star of the team. Two plots develop: the attentions of Greg, who is on the school newspaper (he's on the college track, the book notes, while Hank, who wants to run her father's lumber company someday, nevertheless doesn't plan on anything beyond secretarial school) and the hiring of a new coach, Miss Dorn, a former tennis star from California. Hank gives Greg short shrift for awhile, but eventually succumbs to the attentions of her mother and sister-in-law and gets dressed up for a date with him. Miss Dorn, who has been hired in spite of the fact she seems to have no experience as a coach, lost her tennis career to a hand injury and is now a "bitter, twisted" person. She takes a dislike to Hank, and the feud between them divides the team.

The two plots resolve in satisfactory, if predictable, manners. Hank adds the ability to consider her own appearance to her formidable basketball skills, and, after grudging truce with Miss Dorn, learns the importance of zone defense and set plays. And in the final few pages, now that basketball season is over, the prospect of going to the prom is raised, as well as, yes, a wedding. Hank's love of basketball and her interest in being a businesswoman are so solidly established, however, that these seem more like tentative pipings than real indications of her future.

Reviewed on my blog: http://theparishat.blogspot.com/2012/02/title-girl-called-hank-author-amelia.htm...
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Flagged
Lcanon | Feb 6, 2012 |
From vintage scholastic cover: This year Sandy was a sophomore. That made her important in every way. The adjustments of the freshman year were behind her. She was at home in high school. She knew the kids and the teachers. The accepted her for what she was, a fun-loving girl with just two loves--softball and horses. She didn't think there would ever be a third.
 
Flagged
Sasha_Doll | Aug 3, 2007 |

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Works
44
Members
242
Popularity
#93,893
Rating
½ 3.6
Reviews
4
ISBNs
24

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