Betsy in Spite of Herself

Betsy Ray enters "The Winding Hall of Fate" in this sixth installment of Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy~Tacy series, which opens just as she is about to become a sophomore at Deep Valley High School. As fun-loving and popular as ever, she is soon caught up in an eventful new year, replete with many firsts: dining at the fancy Moorish Café for her parents' wedding anniversary, visiting Tib in Milwaukee for Christmas, and spending time with wealthy newcomer Philip Brandish. As she struggles to reconcile her desire to be someone else - the mysterious "Betsye" - and her need to just be herself, Betsy eventually comes to see the wisdom of Shakespeare's immortal words, "To thine own self be true."

I was a little surprised at how thoroughly I show more enjoyed Betsy In Spite of Herself, after my somewhat ambiguous feelings regarding the previous installment. Once again, Betsy sells herself short, whilst in pursuit of a boy, and although she does not sacrifice her writing this time around (thank goodness!), her time with Tacy and the rest of "The Crowd" suffers. But although there is a pronounced similarity in theme between this, and her freshman experiences in Heaven to Betsy, somehow I found that my reaction here was one of sympathy with Betsy, rather than annoyance.

I too experienced that longing to be someone else, as a teenager, and this sense of fellow-feeling undoubtedly made me more tolerant: yes, Betsy's a bit of an idiot about Phil and his famous red auto, but weren't we all rather foolish, at that age? Also, the shock of the new boy-crazy Betsy (so prevalent in Heaven to Betsy) had worn off by this point, and I was no longer mourning the passing of the little girl depicted in earlier books, from Betsy~Tacy to Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, or longing for Lois Lenski's illustrations. In fact, I discovered that I enjoyed Vera Neville's pretty drawings immensely, and although I will probably always prefer Lenski as an artist, can see that her style would not have suited Betsy's older years.

As for the story itself, it was fun and refreshing, with enough real human emotion and drama to make it "real," without being too serious. I really enjoyed reading about Betsy' trip to Milwaukee, with all the German Christmas traditions, the history of the German immigrants to that part of the world, and the many phrases in German (which I am able read). And of course, like Betsy, I was thrilled at the news that Tib might be returning to Deep Valley - I shall hope to see her in Betsy Was a Junior! I also like that Betsy really made an effort in the essay-writing contest this time, and appreciated the added insight given into Joe Willard's character.

All in all, an immensely entertaining installment in the series, one that has me eager to continue! show less

Betsy visits a friend in Milwaukee, and decides to change herself into a more fascinating persona, with humorous results and only partial success, as the real Betsy keeps rising to the surface.

With each addition to this series, I find myself enjoying it more. The details from this period, a century ago, are intriguing, and add depth to the storyline, such as the porter brushing off Betsy's outer garments before she departs from the parlor car. I loved reading about the immigrant population's Christmas traditions, so similar to my own family's, drawn from my Germanic heritage. This was an entertaining read, and I am eagerly looking forward to the next book.

3.5 stars. Betsy in Spite of Herself is my least favorite book in the series so far, but even the worst Betsy-Tacy book is still a good book. I loved Betsy’s conflict with the aptly named teacher, Mr. Gaston, and it was great to encounter Tib again, but Phil Brandish was such a “blah” character that he leeched some of the fun out of reading this one.

This sixth novel in Maud Hart Lovelace’s series featuring best friends Betsy Ray, Tacy Kelly and sometimes Tib Muller is the first which has not gotten five stars from me. Why not?

Betsy has been boy-crazy since the previous book Heaven to Betsy, but she seems to have forgotten everything she learned at the of her freshman year. It’s 1907, and Betsy’s a sophomore, and she decides she’s going to change herself to attract the richest boy at Deep Valley High School, a handsome but shallow junior who owns a red Buick and can’t think of much else. Betsy does take a two-week trip to Milwaukee to spend Christmas with Tib, and I adored every minute of their reunion. That’s mostly what accounts for the four stars rather than even lower.

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 [b:Betsy Was a Junior|7901|Betsy Was a Junior (Betsy-Tacy, #7)|Maud Hart Lovelace|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165651581s/7901.jpg|10923] 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 in Milwaukee with Tib. She chooses to use this time to re-invent herself, but we as readers are privileged to be immersed show more in the uniquely German holiday customs of the early part of the last century. It's a brilliant bit of writing, and never fails to transport me utterly. Again, I never noticed until I was grown what an incredible writer Lovelace is. She captures adolescence so perfectly! show less

A charming story about being true to oneself that lacks the preachy, saccharine tone of other books marketed to girls. Refreshing!

I rather enjoy the childishness of Betsy. Teenagers don't really get a chance, anymore, to be this goofy and, yet, so mature (in some ways) at this time of life. In any case, I'm really enjoying the slow pace.