Book Description

There are lots of children on Hill Street, but no little girls Betsy's age. So when a new family moves into the house across the street, Betsy hopes they will have a little girl she can play with. Sure enough, they do--a little girl named Tacy. And from the moment they meet at Betsy's fifth birthday party, Betsy and Tacy becoms such good friends that everyone starts to think of them as one person--Betsy-Tacy.

Betsy and Tacy have lots of fun together. They make a playhouse from a piano box, have a sand store, and dress up and go calling. And one day, they come home to a wonderful surprise--a new friend named Tib.

Ever since their first publication in the 1940's, the Betsy-Tacy stories have been loved by each generation of young readers.

Reviews (21)

The wonderful first book of an enchanting children's series.
Hooray!!! I am so thrilled these books are in print again. I read them all (several times!) as a child growing up in the 1960's in a town 30 miles from "Deep Valley", (aka Mankato) Minnesota. I inherited them from my mother's childhood collection. But when I moved to California in 1969 no one had heard of them. My, now 14 year old daughter, read, and re-read the 3-generations-old books and loved them as well! She and I both rejoice to see these timeless stories enjoying a national rebirth. They've even made the movies...Meg Ryan's book store owning character in the 1999 movie "You've Got Mail" refers to Betsy, Tacy and Tib. Maud Hart Lovelace would be pleased and proud!!!

Charming!!!
Somebody said: It is never too late to have a happy childhood. Well, reading Betsy-Tacy will give anyone a good idea about what a nice childhood is about. This is the first book in a series of books about Betsy. The reader follows her from age five, as she is in this book. It is absolutely delightful! Betsy's life changes much to the better as a new girl her age, Tacy, becomes her neighbour and her best friend. Together, they play and explore the world around them. Reading this book is so enjoyable ... it leaves the reader with a nice feeling of satisfaction.

Fabulous Books...Buy a Set for Yourself & For Young Readers!
When I first discovered these books, I had to order them on inter-library loans...all over the state of California!! Then in about 1994 the books were reprinted!! What joy. I own all 10 of them and Carney's House Party (which I love) and the Horse Cart one (can't think of the name!!) Thanks to Harper-Collins for republishing them. So my advice buy a set for yourself and all the young readers in your life!! Buy them so they won't go out of print again! I love them for the warm homey life they portray and the friendship between the girls. I love the talking about food and picnicing and the family relationships. I am 44, but when I have a sick day, these are the perfect books to reread!

Wonderful stories
Girls just want to have fun. Betsy and Tacy know how. This series takes them from age 5 through high school. Any girl would enjoy reading it, and in the process she'd learn a great deal about friendship, family, school, and boys.

A difficult book to love today
It is not as if I wasn't primed for this book at an early age. As a child I was quite obsessed with any books that had the name "Betsy" in them. The excellent and little known, "Understood Betsy" by Dorothy Canfield was written in 1917 and remains one of the sweetest unsentimental children's stories today. Yet even young I consciously avoided the Betsy-Tacy books like the plague. I was aware from an off-hand flipping through them that these were not stories I would enjoy. They were about little girls who had rather wimpy (in my opinion then) adventures. Where were the exciting city scenes of the "All-of-a-Kind-Family" books? Or the beautiful descriptive passages of the "Little House" books? I was disappointed by these books as a child, and I am afraid my opinion has changed little since growing up. The books are maudlin and lacking in spunk. The most gripping scene in the book is found on page five when Tacy flees from Betsy. Spunk is not unknown to little girls in books from this time period. Girls in the books already mentioned had it. My beloved "Caddie Woodlawn" had it. Heck, "Anne of Green Gables" was fairly overflowing with it. Is this to say that every little girl in every book from the past should be spunky and wild? Not at all. But there must be some interest there. Something that a girl today can read and latch onto. Friendship is the overarching theme of this book, and it carries the story as far as it can. Just the same, I have my doubts that any child uninitiated into this series by an earnest parent would naturally gravitate to it in the library today. It would also not read aloud well to boys, I suspect. I may be incorrect and as I write millions of little girls are falling in love with these stories on their own daily, but it seems a little unlikely. ... Read more

Book Description

Betsy and Tacy are best friends. Then Tib moves into the neighborhood and the three of them start to play together. The grown-ups think they will quarrel, but they don't. Sometimes they quarrel with Betsy's and Tacy's bossy big sisters, but they never quarrel among themselves.

They are not as good as they might be. They cook up awful messes in the kitchen, throw mud on each other and pretend to be beggars, and cut off each other's hair. But Betsy, Tacy, and Tib always manage to have a good time.

Ever since their first publication in the 1940s, the Betsy-Tacy stories have been loved by each generation of young readers.

Reviews (12)

Three Girls Girls and Their Childhood Life
Betsy Tacy and Tib,three little girls growing up in Deep Valley,Minnesota.They have their laughs and they have their crys.Since this was based on Maud Hart Lovelace's life,you feel as if you are at the turn of the century,watching them have all the fun that children can possibly have.I have read every single book in the Betsy,Tacy,and Tib series and even all of Lovelace's other novels.I recommend this book to someone who likes books taking place in the "olden days"....but it doesn't seem very old fashioned!

A Wonderful Book in a Great Series!
Betsy, Tacy, and Tib is a wonderful book in a great series. Maud Hart Lovelace did a spectacular job writing these stories. My mother read the books and loved them, my sister and I read the books and loved them, and now my little girls are reading them and loving them. These books never seem to grow old even though they are set during the turn of the 20th century. As a child, I not only read them, I wore the books out! I read and re-read the books, I couldn't put them down. I talked about them so much to my friends, they started checking them out from the Library and we would play Betsy-Tacy during recess. Now set in a period of a hundred years ago, they are still captivating kids today. My husband read the first four books in the series to our kids (Ages 7, 5, 3, and 1 at the time) and they love them all. My oldest begged me to let her keep my copies in her room so she could read them herself.

There are many great books in the series, this one in fact is not the first in the series. Check out the other books in the series, Betsy-Tacy, Betsy-Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, Betsy-Tacy Go Downtown, Heaven to Betsy, Betsy in Spite of Herself, Betsy was a Junior, Betsy and Joe, Betsy and the Great World, and Betsy's Wedding. The books take Betsy through grade school and high school, to Europe right before the 1st world war, then back to America for her wedding and the joys and troubles of married life. Some other books not in the Betsy-Tacy series but also by Maud Hart Lovelace and worth checking out are The Trees Kneel at Christmas, Winona's Pony Cart, Carney's House Party, and (my personal Maud Hart Lovelace favorite) Emily of Deep Valley.

The best book ever
This book is about some basic nine year old girls just trying to have fun in many adventures like begging for cookies. It's one of the best books I have read.IT'S A MUST. I REPEAT MUST BUY!

Still a warm spot in my heart
The Betsy,Tacy and Tib books were among my favorites when I was a child. In fact--except for the Oz books--they were the only books whose author's name I remembered! Images from all these books remain vivid in my memory--Betsy and Tacy going to the top of the hill, the twosome becoming a threesome, Tib's blond hairs, and all the rest. Betsy, Tacy, and Tib grew up in a simpler era but they still speak to modern readers. I'm so glad to see these books still in print for another generation to enjoy.

I wish this book still counted for school work!
My sister has the whole collection of Betsy-Tacy books.She was never too excited about them.I think I was in fourth grade when I read the first one.These kind of books are my favorite.I love the whole aspect of different adventures,in different chapters.It's a fun,touching,and just unique book (and series)to read.I have tried to turn in numerous book reports for this book,or the whole series together.It worked until seventh grade.It is a refreshing book to read.The best part is that you get to escape the world's tradgedies,sad times,and stress all together.This book reminds me of Because Of Winn Dixie.The cool thing about this book, is that people of all ages can enjoy the individual stories of these three,fun girls.I recommend this book, and the rest of the series to little girls,teens,moms,and woman in general.I'm not sure if men,or boys would like it.It really doesn't matter who reads it though,as long as you enjoy it. ... Read more

Book Description

Betsy, Tacy, and Tib are twelve--old enough to do lots of things...even go downtown on their own. There they see their first horseless carriage, discover the joys of the public library, and see a real play at the Opera House. They even find themselves acting in one! Best of all, they help a lonely new friend feel at home in Deep Valley--the most wonderful place in the world to grow up. Ever since their first publication in the 1940s, the Betsy-Tacy stories have been loved by each generation of young readers.

Reviews (7)

Another sweet tale of Deep Valley
If you're a fan of Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly, then you will definitely enjoy this tale of the two girls as they go on their first solo adventures in Deep Valley, Minnesota. This book is a lighthearted chronicle steeped in the innocence of youth in the early 1900's. I read it as a child and enjoyed it again at age 30. Filled with humor and warmth, it's easy to relate to these young heroines and their everyday adventures.

Great Book!
I'm a ten year old girl and I thought this book was Great. It's an older book but the characters are fun. an A+++ book. It's great because the way that they have so much fun and adventures makes me want to be their friend!

This book brings back great memories!
I recently came across a new edition of this book. I owned it as a child back in the sixties. The first thing that came back to me was that every year, after Thanksgiving, I would read the chapter in this book about Betsy, Tacy & Tib's Christmas, starting with the shopping trip up through Christmas day. To me, this seemed to describe a perfect holiday, before it became so commercialized. It always got me in the Christmas spirit. So, when this book came into our library, I took it home & re-read it, especially the Christmas part. And you know what, it still works! If you want to feel the true spirit of a magical Christmas, read this book!

This goes for all the "Betsy" books
When Maud Hart Lovelace first wrote the "Betsy-Tacy" series, did she know how much so many people, from children to adults, would love them? The series has at least one book that anyone of any age can relate to. 10-year-olds will love "Over the big Hill," high-schoolers will love the books about when Betsy was attending Deep Valley High, etc. And it doesn't end there! Even if you're not the age that Betsy was in one of the books, you can still love all of them! Maud has a way of capturing real feelings and experiences--even bad ones--and turning them into works of art. The "Betsy-Tacy" series really is a work of art, even if it was painted with a pen, not a paintbrush.

An endearing gem of a book for little girls (and big ones).
This book (and all the books in the Betsy-Tacy series) is a delightful look at the life of Betsy Ray and her best friends Tacy Kelly and Tib Muller in the early 1900s in Deep Valley, Minnesota. Based on the author's own childhood, this book takes the reader through the trials and joys of being 12 years old, growing up, becoming interested in boys, going to the theatre, and learning about the importance of family ties. Don't let Betsy pass you by! ... Read more

Book Description

High School is Heaven

It's Betsy Ray's freshman year at Deep Valley High School, and she and her best childhood chum, Tacy Kelly, are loving every minute. Betsy and Tacy find themselves in the midst of a new crowd of friends, with studies aplenty (including Latin and--ugh--algebra), parties and picnics galore, Sunday night lunches at home--and boys!

There's Cab Edwards, the jolly boy next door; handsome Herbert Humphreys; and the mysteriously unfriendly, but maddeningly attractive, Joe Willard. Betsy likes them all, but no boy in particular catches her fancy until she meets the new boy in town, Tony Markham . . . the one she and Tacy call the Tall Dark Handsome Stranger. He's sophisticated, funny, and dashing--and treats Betsy just like a sister. Can Betsy turn him into a beau?

An entertaining picture of school clubs, fudge parties, sings around the piano, and Sunday-night suppers in Betsy's hospitable home.' 'Chicago Tribune.

Reviews (13)

It's actually painful for me to return them to the library!
I've been part of Betsy and Tacy's world since I was about six years old and just discovering Deep Valley. I've read all the books several times since then, and when it comes time to take them back to my tiny local library, I actually feel like I'm losing a friend! Betsy, Tacy, Tib, Carney, Bonnie, Tony, Cab, Winona, and the rest of the Crowd are all part of my life, it seems. . .and don't even start me on Joe!

I've acquired the first four books in the series, and I'm now on a hunt for older versions of the high school books. I simply can't let go of the Deep Valley Crowd!

(Oh, and it may be just me, but was anyone else unbearably sad when the Ray family moved to Minneapolis?)

A story that is timeless
This is a wonderful series of books, which I prefer to return to than the "Little House" series. I was introduced to these rather late (hey, I wasn't alive in the 50s, okay?) I find them charming and timeless. Even though the skirts are ankle-length, the boys don't swear, and Daddy doesn't get any mouthing off from the kids, the people in it seem modern in their feelings. And it takes a darn talented writer to have various girls patting on beauty products and not make them look vain...

We follow teenage Betsy, along with best friend Tacy, through the tangle of young adult life. Accompanying them are Betsy's sister the budding singer Julia, her warm and kind parents, and a new character: the Ray family cook. Amid the flurry of friendships and incidents therein, Betsy is courted (courted, not dated. It meant walking her to school) by at least two boys -- Joe and Tony; she is also competing against Tony in an essay competition.

Though many of the events in the book are fairly lighthearted, there are also serious topics. Among them is the growing attraction of the Episcopalian church for Julia and Betsy, who are Baptists. The question of how they can tell their father of their wishes was a very mature and intriguing plot device, and I was genuinely relieved at the conclusion of it.

Despite the various "edgy" books put out now, this is a book that is far more appealing -- sweet and bright, but never sugary or sentimental. The writing style is surprisingly modern and descriptive, without overdoing anything. The speech patterns are GREAT.

This book falls into the same category as "Meet Me In St. Louis," a nice world with nice people. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are wise and kindly -- not just to their kids, but all kids. Betsy is a great character, strong and independent and remarkably free in her thinking, considering these events took place near the turn of the century.

Be sure to read this book! (And all of Lovelace's books...)

Heaven indeed
There's nothing like a Betsy book ... I'm 29 and have read them all at least twenty times since I was young. They just get better with age. If you've never read it, get started ... you'll be all the happier for doing so.

The Betsy-Tacy Series
The Betsy-Tacy book series is fantasic, to say the least. When I was little, my mother read them aloud to my brothers and I. That's not to say they're only for children. Anyone will love these timeless classics. They feature Betsy Warrington Ray, a young aspiring writer, who's character is actually based closely upon author Maud Hart Lovelace's Life. In the first book, 'Betsy-Tacy', Betsy has her 5th birthday party and invites her new neighbor, 5-year-old Tacy Kelly. Soon to make their twosome a threesome, Tib Muller moves to the neighborhood from Milwaukee. They become great friends and the books take the girls through high school and beyond. The books in the Betsy-Tacy series are:

Betsy-Tacy, Betsy, Tacy and Tib, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, Heaven to Betsy, Betsy in Spite of Herself, Betsy was a Junior, Betsy and Joe, Betsy and the Great World, and Betsy's Wedding.

I recommend these books highly; everybody should read them.

A million Betsy fans can't be wrong.
This review could be written for any of the Betsy books, but this one is my fave. Like all of the books in the series this book is about the life of a young girl in Minnesota. Not only is it interesting from a historical perspective--what they wore, what they did--it is also just a great story about a family that never gets sentimental or preachy. The characters are also well developed, including the minor characters that reappear in the series. It is interesting to note that althought these books take place in the early 1900's and were written in the 40's (I think) Betsy and her sister Julia both plan on going to college and having careers. My mother read these books and passed them along to me and even though I am in my 30's I still reread them every few years. I have also introduced them to young readers with great success. ... Read more

Book Description

Here Comes the Bride When Betsy Ray arrives in New York after a tour of Europe, her old flame Joe Willard is waiting at the dock. Before he even says hello, he asks Betsy to marry him. They've been separated for a year, and they're determined never to be apart again.

But as Betsy discovers, marriage isn't all candlelight, kisses, and roses. There's cooking, ironing, and budgeting as well--not to mention forging her career as a writer! For Betsy, the writing part comes naturally, but cooking is another matter. It's even harder than algebra--and much messier.

Luckily Betsy Ray--make that Betsy Willard--has always thrived on challenge. Her name may have changed, but her life remains as full of love and laughter as it's been since she was a little girl living on Hill Street in the first of the classic BETSY-TACY books.Betsy returns from Europe to marry Joe Willard—and soon learns that beloved friend Tacy is expecting a baby! It’s wartime in America, but Betsy, Joe, and their wonderful circle of friends brave their hardships together.

... Read more

Reviews (10)

The Perfect End to the Betsy Series
I absolutely love all of the Betsy books, and this one was no exception. Betsy still speaks to me and doesn't seem as dated as I would have imagined. Growing up I read all of the Betsy books that I could get my hands on. Three months before my own wedding I found that Betsy's Wedding had been reprinted and ordered it immediately. I saved it and read it on my honeymoon. Betsy's married life is as true as the others in the series, full of vivid details, introspective thought from Betsy, and perfection with some reality thrown in. I loved it as a new bride and strongly suggest it both for young readers reading the series for the first time as well as for adults who remember the series warmly.

Glorious fluff!
Betsy is back in the USA after a long time in Europe-and Joe is there to greet her. After being in love for years, the couple agree to get married, within the week no less! After Betsy convinces her family to agree to this, we watch as Betsy and Joe are married, and embark on a new life together.

Set near the turn of the century, around WW1, this is a view of every young woman's dream of marriage-a fun, intelligent, strong husband who adores you. Betsy and Joe are friends first, lovers second, something which is always important. At one point, Joe states that he can talk to Betsy, and that he fantasizes about their home life. A lot of guys could take a page from Joe's book!

This book is in no way dated, bringing Betsy to the close of her girlhood and teenage years. If you liked "Anne of Green Gables" or other books by Montgomery, check out Lovelace, for both your little girls and not-so-little girls.

Cute
I love these stories. They are like escapes into the past. Very cute.

Betsy's Wedding!
What a great story! I keep it on my window seat to flip through often--it's one of my very favorite stories!Betsy and Joe finally meet in New York after Betsy's year-long trip to Europe! They are finally together and determined never to be seperated again. Afetr many years of loving each other, they will be married. Joe convinces Betsy to marry him in a week. The scene in the restaurant in New York where Joe tells Betsy how much he loves her, how they belong together, and how she must always love him is so touching! Through this part(and the moment when they saw each other when Betsy came off the ship) I was oblivious to everything as I read. Of course, that was the case through the rest of the book as well. Joe's job hunt is hilarious. The day before they are married, he and Betsy go from one newspaper place to the other, Joe determined to find a job so Betsy's father will consent to the match. Well, of course, he succeeds. They are married. Joe and Betsy have a wonderful relationship. It is truly the best I ever read about. They both treat each other with such consideration. Joe is so gracious as Betsy learns to cook(which is a big undertaking for her.) He is so considerate of Betsy, reading to her at night, helping her with the dishes when her cooking endeavors fail, and many other things. Betsy tries so hard to be a good wife to Joe, considering that the most important thing in her life. She even refuses a job in newspaper writing, feeling that she has another job already as keeper of the house and companion to Joe. I liked the way that Betsy handled Aunt Ruth's coming. She did not mask her feelings and was honest, but still,unselfishly, let her come. It ended up working out too! Well, I just loved the story. Their relationship taught me a lot about marriage. I loved the way they treated each other. I don't see the like much these days. It was great! I cried and cried when Joe left for war. But, my fellow readers, I have learned that the books about Betsy were largely based on the author's life. In a biography about her I learned that her husband (who was much like Joe) returned from war--so take heart--Joe returned too and he and Betsy, no doubt, continued their "golden world."

A perfect ending to the wonderful Betsy-Tacy series
The whole Betsy Tacy series is a triumph---some of the best reading there is. Like few others series (the Little House books are the other that comes to mind) we truly can read and watch Betsy grow from a little 5 year old to a married woman, and grow along with her. As a little girl, I read the early books in this series, and didn't know there were more. You can imagine my delight when I discovered the high school years and beyond were also part of the continuing story! In this book (as you can guess) Betsy gets married, but so does Tib! I like it that Betsy's wedding is not the end of the book--we also get to see her get started on married life during the diffecult WWI period. I remember the minute I finished this book. I had a feeling of happiness but also sadness that never again would I read something new for the first time about Betsy, Tacy, Tib, Joe, Julia, Margaret and all the rest! But the last lines were done so well--they looked to the past and into the future and made me feel that although this was all that was written about them, they continued to exist somewhere out there in the land that wonderful characters in wonderful books live on in! If you have never read this series, I envy you! Get all the books, read them, and you will remember and make them part of your life forever. ... Read more

Book Description

The Best School Year Ever

That's the kind of junior year Betsy Ray has planned for herself. And when her childhood friend Tib Muller moves back to Deep Valley, Betsy's sure her perfect year is off to a grand start. With charming, funny Tib around, Crowd doings are more fun than ever -- especially after Betsy starts Okto Delta, the first -- ever sorority at Deep Valley High.

But soon Betsy's luck takes a bad turn. The Crowd is getting into trouble at school, and Betsy isn't given a chance to compete in the annual Essay Contest. Could Betsy's best school year turn out to be her worst?

Reviews (8)

Review: Besty w as a Junior
A year full of fun and adventure. That is what Best Ray and her friends make make of their highschool junior year. Excited to finally be a junior, Besty has lots of plans for the great year ahead of her. Yet most of her plans fail, but but Besty always makes the best out od a bad situation.
Besty was a Junior, by Muad Hart Lovelace, has its good and bad poitns. Some of the bad points were that charcters were always happy mopst of the time, and that was very unrealistic. The good points were thoguh, that it was a very fun book to read, and there never was a dull moment.
As a result I would rate this bok a 9 out of 10, mostly because it was very exciting, and captivating. I would definatly recomend this book.

all betsy and tacy books
When I first read these books twenty years ago I had a hard time finding them and I did not read them in order. I started with "Betsy and Joe" and then read whatever ones I could find. I thought I was the only one in the world that enjoyed these books!!Thank you Harper for reissuing these books. I bought the entire set online and have been reading them in order! These past few weeks I have been in another world--Betsy's world, and it has been wonderful. The new books with the pictures and history of Maude's family and friends have made the characters in these stories come alive.

These books reminded of the "Little House" books and I hope someone makes a TV series out of these stories. They are timeless.

A life-long Betsy Tacy fan!!
I would give the entire series more than five stars. My obsession with the Betsy-Tacy books began as a young girl reading my mother's hardcover copies. These had been given to her as gifts by her aunt. My great-aunt then began giving me each book in the series, in hard-cover. Unfortunately, all of these were destroyed in a fire that destroyed our family home. My mother was successful in obtaining all the Betsy-Tacy books in hardcover again. I grew up mere miles from the town on which Deep Valley is based, Mankato, MN. I am grown and married and have children of my own, all boys. But I look forward to sharing the timeless treasure of these books with my niece and friends' daughters. I still reread them regularly. These books transcend the period in which they were written. Give yourself a gift and read this series; then share it with a friend and with all the young women/girls you know. There are also two peripheral Lovelace books not directly part of the Betsy-Tacy series, but placed in Deep Valley: Carney's House Party and Emily of Deep Valley. I believe they may be out-of-print; publisher, please bring them back as you revitalized the Betsy-Tacy books.

So good I can't stand it
Betsy Was a Junior evokes Betsy's year in the heart of high school, beginning with Tib's sudden return to Deep Valley. Based on Maud Hart Lovelace's real-life junior year, the book evokes the Okto Delta sorority, which has so many good times you can hardly believe it. Please get it.

This goes for all the "Betsy" books
When Maud Hart Lovelace first wrote the "Betsy-Tacy" seires, did she know how much so many people, from children to adults, would love them? The series has at least one book that anyone of any age can relate to. 10-year-olds will love "Over the big Hill," high-schoolers will love the books about when Betsy was attending Deep Valley High, etc. And it doesn't end there! Even if you're not the age that Betsy was in one of the books, you can still love all of them! Maud has a way of capturing real feelings and expiriences--even bad ones--and turning them into works of art. The "Betsy-Tacy" series really is a work of art, even if it was painted with a pen, not a paint brush. ... Read more

Book Description

Winona Root is almost eight years old. More than anything in the world, she wants a pony for her birthday. She wishes so hard for a pony that she's sure to get one--at least, that's what she tells her friends Betsy, Tacy, and Tib. It's only when the exciting day grows near that Winona begins to wonder: What if her father meant it when he said she couldn't have a pony?

In addition to her beloved Betsy-Tacy books, Maud Hart Lovelace wrote three more stories set in the fictional town of Deep Valley: Winona's Pony Cart, Carney's House Party and Emily of Deep Valley. Longtime fans and new readers alike will be delighted to find the Deep Valley books available again for the first time in many years.

Reviews (4)

Another welcome trip to Deep Valley, MN
Thank goodness Harper has brought this Maud Hart Lovelace gem back into print! This book offers a glimpse of Betsy Ray's friend Winona Root at age 7, planning her 8th birthday party. Winona is such an outgoing girl that the guest list just keeps growing, and there is much merriment involved. Adult readers will be delighted to discover Winona at an early age, and I am reading this new editon aloud to my three year old niece who keeps begging for another look at all the Vera Neville illustrations.

A nice look at another B-T character
After many years, I finally tracked down a library copy of "Winona's Pony Cart," and I am glad to have read it. It's a nice look at Winona's home life at the age of 8, when the "main" characters haven't really encountered Winona yet. What a riot of a character she is! I've always liked her character in the rest of the series, so I was happy to get a peek into her life, meeting her sisters and parents. And she really is kind of a funny character, all on her own. I hope this book comes back into print eventually, I would buy several copies!

This goes for all the "Betsy" books
When Maud Hart Lovelace first wrote the "Betsy-Tacy" series, did she know how much so many people, from children to adults, would love them? The series has at least one book that anyone of any age can relate to. 10-year-olds will love "Over the big Hill," high-schoolers will love the books about when Betsy was attending Deep Valley High, etc. And it doesn't end there! Even if you're not the age that Betsy was in one of the books, you can still love all of them! Maud has a way of capturing real feelings and experiences--even bad ones--and turning them into works of art. The "Betsy-Tacy" series really is a work of art, even if it was painted with a pen, and not a paintbrush.

One more Lovelace book!
Fans of the Betsy-Tacy books will enjoy a look at Winona's homelife. Winona is having a birthday party and the guest list keeps growing! With Vera Neville's illustrations, this book is a joy! ... Read more

Book Description

It's the trip of a lifetime.Betsey Ray, 21 years old, is heading off for a solo tour of Europe.From the moment she casts off, her journey is filled with adventure--whether she's waltzing at the captain's ball, bartering for beads in Madeira, or sipping coffee at a bohemian cafe in Munich.

It's rich fodder for a budding young writer, and Betsy's determined to make the most of the experience. If only she could stop thinking about her ex-sweetheart, Joe Willard...

Then a handsome, romantic Italian goes overboard for Betsy, and she has a big decision to make. Marco Regali is passionate, fascinating, and cultured.Could it be that Betsy's heart belongs in Europe instead of Minnesota?Betsy’s childhood dream is finally coming true—she’s off to Europe just like she and Tacy planned so long ago.Despite her travels and many adventures, Betsy’s heart won’t let her forget Joe Willard, her high school sweetheart.

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Reviews (13)

A book that can brighten my day (at any time!)
There is something about the Betsy-Tacy series that always fills my heart with warmth. Betsy and the Great World is no exception. At twenty-one, Betsy is on the verge of a great adventure. She embarks on a tour of Europe - when Europe was a new horizon for a young writer to see. Betsy soon discovers that she is growing up (she is courted by a dashing Italian during her trip abroad), but she can not forget her beloved Joe. Read this book and the rest of the series. They will take you back to a time when things were simpler.

An amazing and amusing book.
Betsy and the Great World takes the Betsy we know and love--ambitious, loving, gregarious, lazy, and dreamy--and has her adventure through (and comment on) Europe just before World War I. The insights into what Betsy thinks of the German militaristic values, the European class system, and everything else are fascinating. The story is also funny and the characters likeable and interesting, making this a book to be treasured, and read over and over.

Something Different
I was a bit disappointed when I opened this book up, and read the first sentence. I didn't think it was right of Mrs. Lovelace to just skip college, to think we missed it! So, I had to imagine college and Bob, and the relationship between Betsy and Joe.
Not only do you miss out on what happens in college, but it's somewhat odd to be going from high-school Betsy, to grown woman. I kept on wondering why there wasn't at least one book made about Betsy going to college.
Although I said this, I would still suggest reading this book, it's a great book, and Betsy doesn't change too much. But through the whole book I felt weird. It didn't matter how many friends and 'crowds' Betsy made, or how many admirers she gained. The original crowd just wasn't there.
But don't worry, Betsy is still pretty much the same, she makes friends, and there is quite a bit of romance in the book.

Pretty good.
I'm kinda getting too old for this series, but I can't stay away from it. I'm a sucker for history.

Betsy and I went to Italy
I have read "Betsy and the Great World" so often that I know much of it by heart. When I travelled to Italy this spring, and stepped into St. Mark's Square, I could hear the Harvard Man yelling at Betsy's "tourist trick" with the pigeons. And when I went on a gondola ride, Betsy and her Marco were in the gondola that floated by on the other side of the Grand Canal. Any author who can make her characters live so completely deserves to be read. It takes a very special young woman to understand the pleasures of a simple life well-lived, but for her, this series will provide richness and memories to last a lifetime. ... Read more

Book Description

Made for Each Other?

Betsy Ray has always thought that she and the fascinating Joe Willard would make the perfect couple. Now, in her senior year at Deep Valley High School, it looks as though she'll get her wish. As soon as Joe returns from his summer job in North Dakota, he's on the Rays' porch with sweet words for Betsy. It's going to be a wonderful senior year!

Then Tony Markham, Betsy's longtime chum, comes calling -- and his intentions are definitely romantic. Betsy is torn. She really cares for Joe, but she doesn't want to hurt Tony. Can she figure out a way to follow her heart without ruining her friendship?

Reviews (10)

amazing book- changed my life
this is the culmination of the Betsy series. It is the zenith of youth, the crux of Betsy's life: she and Joe finally get together, merging two souls and creating a new life. This book is very sweet, creating an accurate portrayal of life at the turn of the century. Betsy makes you laugh, cry, and rejoice as she finds happieness. It is a tale of childhood delights progressing to mature happiness and fufillment. A great read.

A great book for people of any age
i am a 14 year old from chicogo and i got really into all of the betsy-tacy books. i read them all three times. i'm not kidding, they were that good. i think that maud hart lovelace has created a series of masterpieces that are perfect for any girl who loves to laugh, and even cry, over a good book.

Betsy and Joe or Betsy and Tony??
This book is very, very good! It wasn't my favorite in the series, though, because Tony and Betsy didn't go together so he ran away and became an actor before graduating from high school.
In the last chapter of the book, "After Commencement Day, What?" Joe tells Betsy that he had made a plan for life and that past fall he wasn't ready to take Betsy into the Plan. But now, after he thought it over, Joe wanted to be with Betsy and Betsy wanted to be with him.
It was a good book and I recommend reading it.

A pleasant book
I liked (and still like) this book. Actually, I love it! This book is definitely one of the better from the series. I was glad that Betsy and Joe went together, and the "fight" between them made the book even more interesting. But although I loved this book, it has it's faults.
Joe's feeling for Betsy could have been more gradual. And I like the idea of Tony being sweet on Betsy, however his departing was so abrupt, and it didn't matter to much to Betsy after a while. The last thing that made me cringe, was the idea of Tacy having her marriage planned, already! That was sickening.
However, these books are based on Maud's life, and that means they will not be an absolute fairy tale.

Betsy and Joe. . .well, of course!
Did you know I'd never read this book as a child? Yes, this was the only Betsy book my library didn't carry. So, since I seem to be rediscovering books from my childhood, I requested this one and dug right into it.

I'd been waiting ever since the introduction of Joe for Betsy and Joe to finally hook up. And they do! (Of course, we knew Maud Hart Lovelace wouldn't keep us hanging like that.) The Deep Valley world is perfect but still very real; all the characters come alive and you love them like your own family and friends.

I'm on a quest for the Betsy-Tacy High School books, but really, who designed these paperback covers? ... Read more

Book Description

Betsy, Tacy, and Tib can't wait to be ten. After all, getting two numbers in your age is the beginning of growing up--exciting things are bound to happen. And they do! The girls fall in love with the King of Spain, perform in the School Entertainment, and for the first time, go all the way over the Big Hill to Little Syria by themselves. There Betsy, Tacy, and Tib make new friends and learn a thing or two. They learn that new Americans are sometimes the best Americans. And they learn that they themselves wouldn't want to be anything else.

Ever since their first publication in the 1940s, the Betsy-Tacy stories have been loved by each generation of young readers.

Reviews (3)

fine and readable even for french childs
I bought this book for two french childs to test american literature with young non-english-spoken childs. I must admit I read it before. It's out of time and pleasant for anyone. But it's readable for any child around the planet.

This goes for all the "Betsy" books
When Maud Hart Lovelace first wrote the "Betsy-Tacy" series, did she know how much so many people, from children to adults, would love them? The series has at least one book that anyone of any age can relate to. 10-year-olds will love "Over the big Hill," high-schoolers will love the books about when Betsy was attending Deep Valley High, etc. And it doesn't end there! Even if you're not the age that Betsy was in one of the books, you can still love all of them! Maud has a way of capturing real feelings and experiences--even bad ones--and turning them into works of art. The "Betsy-Tacy" series really is a work of art, even if it was painted with a pen, not a paintbrush.

A celebration of American life
This is my personal favorite of the Betsy-Tacy series (although picking a favorite is akin to naming your favorite child). It chronicles a pivotal year for Betsy, Tacy and Tib, when they finally have "two numbers in their age". Betsy prophesizes that their tenth year marks the beginning of great things for the trio, like falling in love and traveling the world.

Providentially, the handsome young Alphonso the Thirteenth is crowned King of Spain, giving the girls a convenient target for their first crush. While busily writing a love letter to their idol, the three stumble upon a colony of Syrian immigrants, who aren't always treated so well by their neighbors in Deep Valley. Betsy, Tacy and Tib proceed to make many new friends and learn a few lessons about prejudice and the American dream in the process.

MHL's gift for weaving together uplifting moral lessons with high-spirited adventure makes this a truly special book. She always somehow manages to get across a spiritual message without being heavy-handed, sentimental, or pedantic. Above all, her books are great fun and a pleasure to read. ... Read more