My Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace Book Review on Goodreads

Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Okay, so I've been putting off writing this review for a while, but not because I didn't like it. This book was so amazing and there was so much I liked about it that I don't even know how to approach describing it. First thing's first: I really loved this book with all of my soul, and even took a late night to finish it.



This book was mainly a very lengthy description of Betsy's newfound popularity. She has a "Crowd" that she hangs out with every day. Betsy is now a mature young woman, who is into boys and social engagements of all sorts. I really enjoyed this book because it was so freshly relatable in comparison to all the other books. Now that Betsy is a more mature girl, you could really connect wih her on more levels.



Much of this book was about boys and parties. Betsy was such a busy person, and she dealt with heartache over a boy she fell head over heels for but loved another girl. I was really able to connect with her opinion on social engagements, her attitude towards being invited to one and being there. I was also able to reflect how similar her opinions were about boys.



I was also really able to relate to Betsy's love of writing, and competing with it. I always feel much the same way about my own writing when it is put up against other works. Betsy and I share that prideful feeling. I really took to heart Betsy's words at the end about, if she didn't exercise it, her writing would be lost to her forever. That part really inspired me to write more, because I haven't worked on my private works in over a year. I really want to take to writing poems and small works or observances like Betsy. I'm currently not to happy about my stories, which is kind of why I stopped (a bit of writer's block), but maybe I could just practice with mini works.



Anyway,this brings me to my main point, the essay contest. As I read this, it made me think about how I've been procrastinating on my 20 hours of history homework that I have to do, and the dire consequences that I could have as it had for poor Betsy. It made me realize that I can't just rush and do it, I'll need lots of time to create something good (like Betsy later realized). Which reminds me that I must work on it after I finish writing this.



Overall, this book was heartwarming and hard not to love. This book was superior to the rest so far because of how easy it was to connect and relate to the plotline and its even greater complexity than the previous.



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Reading Log for Week of 2/10/12-2/15/12

           Tuesday 2/14/12 1 hour Pgs: 11-66        











This is the most popular version for the series, it includes comparisons of characters to the book of people in real life, and shows you pictures of them. I'm reading from this one. For some background on the series, here's a YouTube video that a girl did on why she loves the Betsy-Tacy series and what they are about. Betsy Tacy Series Video
                                                                                                                                                                     
A pattern I have noticed throughout all the books is that a new adventure or topic is usually started every chapter, sometimes the climax of the event beginning at the start of the next chapter. The main pattern I have really noticed with this book in particular is that, in almost every chapter, two (occasionally 3 boys) will accompany her everywhere she goes. This pattern is semi-annoying because it is so repetitive and not really fresh/new.
                                                                                                                                                                       
"Curled and flushed, treading on air, a boy on either side, Betsy went out into the crisp September night (Lovelace 108)."
                                                                                                                                                                       
In this scene, Betsy is heading to a get-together of her Crowd, and two of her neighborhood boys are escorting her there. This was one of the main, more important times that these two boys {Caleb [Cab] Edwards and Herbert Humphreys (in real life Jab Lloyd and Helmus Andrews)} walked her somewhere. This is a pattern that is vital to the story to demonstrate Betsy's maturing and her love interests and advenures, but also a repetitive one.
                                                                                                                                                                       

 Wednesday 2/15/12 1 hour Pgs: 67-122                    

                                                                                                                                                                     
The big idea of this book is to show how much Betsy has matured since playing flying games on Hill Street Hill. This book's purpose is to describe Betsy's first year of high school, and what happened during that period of time that was a momentous occurence/event in her life. The goal of this book is to describe the sudden responsibilties Betsy has now that she is older, and help you see why they are important for Betsy to have.
                                                                                                                                                                      
" 'Look at you!' Tacy continued. 'Only in high school a month, and two boys on the string. You'll have this Tony too. See if you don't!' (Lovelace 134)"
                                                                                                                                                                      
In this quote, Tacy is talking about how much Betsy has accomplished already in high school, and how much more fun she's sure to have. "Tony" is a boy that's new in town who Betsy desperately wants to know better. Here, she is explaining what he's like to Tacy. In turn, Tacy is complimenting her talent for boys and encouraging her that she'll get the guy. This quote really sums up what the book is about for me. High school and the changes and challenges it brings and...boys. That's really it. This sentence made me pause and think, "Gee, that really is what this is about." The phrase "only in high school a month" hints to a sudden change or quick handling of a strange situation (which is exactly what Betsy did). Betsy now has to deal with trying to attract and keep boys as well as high school but, according to her friend Tacy, she's doing marvelously well and couldn't be faring better.



















Wednesday 2/15/12 1 hour Pgs: 67-122