“It was difficult, later, to think of a time when Betsy and Tacy had not been friends,” begins the first section in Maud Hart Lovelace’s book, Betsy-Tacy. Elizabeth Ray (Betsy) and Anastasia Kelly, (Tacy) had been friends ever since Betsy’s fifth birthday party. Since that day, they were inseparable. They had picnics on top of the hill at the end of their street, they made a clubhouse in an old piano box behind Betsy’s house, they made a sand store, selling bottles filled with different colored sands. They did everything together. Then, the Mullers move into the neighborhood. Thelma (Tib) Muller is just the same age as Betsy and Tacy, and the three become fast friends. Betsy and Tacy are fascinated by Tib. She is little, and dainty, she lives in a chocolate-colored house with a pane of colored glass over the window. And she is from a far-away place called Milwaukee. Although some think that the three will not get along as well as just Betsy and Tacy had, they do. They never quarrel with each other, although they do often quarrel with Julia and Katie, Betsy’s and Tacy’s elder sisters. While the three girls are as close as could be, they do not exclude the other girls in their little town of Deep Valley. Other characters flit in and out of the series, such as Winona Root, Caroline Sibley, as well as Betsy’s two sisters, Julia and Margaret. As the series progresses, following the girls through grade school, high school, and beyond, they focus more on Betsy. But it would be impossible to have a book about Betsy that did not include Tacy and Tib, although as the three get older, Betsy is put more in the spotlight than the other two. As Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries writes, “Slipping into a Betsy book is like slipping into a well-worn pair of slippers.” Although the plots are smaller, and less exciting than some popular adventure books, the Betsy books hold a charm within their pages that speak of real life, and real joys and sorrows in a girl’s life at the turn of the century. Although at the beginning, the girls are only five years old, it is worth reading the series from the beginning, even if you think that books about five-year-old girls are too young for you. At thirteen, I enjoy them just as much as I did at seven. And as the girls grow older, the books become better and better, although they are more mature than the first few. The books speak even more strongly of the truth because a lot of the events in the books are autobiographical. Betsy is based very closely on Maud Hart Lovelace herself, while Tacy and Tib are based off of Maud’s real best friends, Bick (Tacy) and Midge (Tib). And these truthful elements make this coming-of-age series set at the turn of the century is one to be re-read and treasured for years to come. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace. HarperCollins, 1940. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
book review
Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus, Reviewed by Aditi, 12
Have you ever imagined how life would be without arms? How would you eat, work, or do some basic things in life? Aven Green, the protagonist in Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling, is one such girl who was born armless. She didn’t lose them in a daring circus act or a fight with alligators; it’s merely in her genetics. Transitioning to high school is a significant milestone for any teenager, let alone undertake the endeavor as an armless person! At the start of the book, Aven is her usual self; she is confident and fearless. Her best friend, Conner, had recently moved to a nearby town, which would mean she would have to start high school without him. Aven still might have her other best friend, Zion, but it’s not the same without Connor. While Aven and Zion go to the mall to find a costume for Comic Con, Aven sees one of her classmates. After they talk for a while, Aven’s classmate humiliates her. She feels like a total failure! The bad encounter left Aven drowning; she struggles with a lack of confidence and self-appreciation. Her friends try supporting her, but it is to no avail. In her puddle of disappointment, she keeps pushing her friends away, like ripples emanating from a single point. One character that helps Aven find her confidence is Zion’s older brother, Lando. He shows Aven that she is more important than she thinks, and all she has to do is appreciate herself. Self-appreciation and belief in oneself are very important for one to have. Aven shows that if you lack these qualities, coping with disabilities or life, in general, will be nothing short of a disappointment. Lando shares some of his amazing drawings with Aven; they are full of color and represent Aven as a superhero. After looking at Lando’s moving illustrations, Aven starts to realize that she is more significant than she thinks. Outside of her school life, Aven is a horse-back rider. When her confidence slips away, so does her motivation to ride a horse. Aven was supposed to be learning how to jump, with a horse-show around the corner. Being unsure of her capabilities, she kept delaying the chances. Finally, once her confidence is back, Aven is ready to take the plunge! Sadly, it does not go that well for Aven, and she ends up in a hospital. Despite the fall, Aven quickly recoups herself and is ready to jump again for the horse show. “And then I was in the air again. But I wasn’t afraid of falling” is a testament to Aven’s gain of confidence and belief in herself; she is ready to take on anything and is fearless once again. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus is an excellent and moving read! The beautifully crafted realistic fiction is connectable to readers of all ages. The hilarious dialogue exchange cracked me up! If you like books with some humor, real-life connectivity, and important morals, Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus is the right book for you! After I started reading the book, I couldn’t put it down! I love how Bowling incorporates so many plot twists and small cliffhangers throughout the storyline. The book’s neatly weaved theme can teach kids that confidence, self-appreciation, and belief in oneself are essential in whatever they do, no matter who breaks it! Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling. Sterling Children’s Book, 2019. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
Ways to Make Sunshine, Reviewed by Samantha, 11
Have you ever had one of those devastatingly rainy days? Your plans are ruined and you just feel kind of defeated? What do you do when that happens? In Ways to Make Sunshine, author Renée Watson shows that with spirit, kindness, and determination, you can make sunshine on any rainy day. If you’ve read the Ramona Quimby books, you’ll likely be thinking of them when you read Ways to Make Sunshine. Both girls have strong spirits, great personalities, and unique opinions. But you can definitely feel the different times the books take place in as you read. In Ramona’s story, children are expected to be in their place, and the characters are also more old fashioned in the ways they talk and act. Ryan’s story is much more like life today. But both stories are great books with even better characters. In Ways to Make Sunshine, Ryan goes through experiences that are very relatable for most of us. One time, Ryan’s not sure how to react to a not-so-nice girl. I’ve been in similar situations and understand it’s tough to know what to do. But even if you don’t always make the right choices, you can learn from your mistakes and do better next time, like Ryan. That’s what good leaders do: they learn from their mistakes and never give up on their dreams. The name Ryan means “king,” and she is always trying to be a leader. From moving to a new home to school talent shows, she shows everyone what it really means to set an example of kindness and determination. Her parents are always telling her to “be who we named you to be,” and Ryan works towards living up to that again and again. Sometimes, as a girl and a person of color, I feel a little looked down upon. Although Watson doesn’t specifically mention it in the book, I wonder if Ryan has had to deal with this as well. I also wonder if that’s why her parents gave her such a strong name. She doesn’t give up, she doesn’t settle, and she believes in herself. That’s one thing I admire about Ryan: she stays strong and kind and herself. She inspires me to always do that too. Ryan’s story is also full of fun and laughter. I love her spirit and personality. Ryan’s experiences always make me smile and a lot of them make me laugh. Her sense of humor is just the right amount of hilarious, and her personality is one of my favorite aspects of the story. If you like books that entertain and inspire you at the same time, you should definitely check out Ways to Make Sunshine. Ryan will show you her determination to be kind and make the best out of situations. She will make you experience the full range of emotions as she leads you through her story. You’ll find yourself thinking hard and laughing too. Ryan has her own special way of doing things, a way that makes sunshine. Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson. Bloomsbury, 2020. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
