Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Teen Summer Reading Reviews

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace


Betsy and Tacy go Downtown does not have an exciting plot but rather the excitement is found in the adventures that the girls have. The author, Maud Hart Lovelace, bases a lot of the girls’ escapades on ones she had with her friends “Bick” (Tacy) “Midge” (Tib) and Maud herself as Betsy. In the book, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib are old enough to do grown-up things like going downtown by themselves and bobsledding. They experience the excitement when Tib rides in a horseless-carriage (an old-fashioned car) and when they all go to see a play in the grand theater and later, act in one! They befriend the theater owner’s wife, Mrs. Poppy who, although she is very rich, is very lonely. Mrs. Poppy loved the girls’ company and soon she was not lonely any more. Mrs. Poppy wanted to do something for them so she arranged a surprise for Betsey and her family which caused much joy. What was the surprise? You’ll just have to read it for yourself in order to find out.

- Elisabeth


Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach

I loved this book because it was really exiting. If you like mysteries you will love this book. Shakespeare’s Secret which is written by Elsie Broach is about a girl named Hero Netherfield. Hero has a hard time finding friends because her family is constantly moving. Hero and her older sister Beatrice are both named after characters in the Shakespeare play “Much Ado About Nothing” because their father loves Shakespeare plays. Hero likes them but does not share her father’s enthusiasm until she figures out from a next-door neighbor that there is a diamond hidden somewhere on the property of her family’s new house. The diamond is old, from the time of Shakespeare and worth millions. Hero puzzles over the clues with her next-door neighbor, Mrs. Roth and they come up a clue to Shakespeare’s real identity. Who was the true Shakespeare? You’ll find out if you read this fast-paced book.

-Elisabeth

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