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Emily's Reviews > The Luckiest Girl
The Luckiest Girl
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One of the better vintage teen books that I've read, and no surprise, because it's by Beverly Cleary, who knows a thing or two about writing, and celebrated her 104th birthday earlier this year. I've no doubt, if she was British and a subject of the queen, we'd all be calling her Dame Beverly.
Sixteen year-old Shelley feels her life is in a rut, and jumps at the chance to leave rainy chilly Portland, OR behind to spend a year attending high school in California while living with family friends. I think there's a touch of autobiography in this plot, as Cleary's memoir of her childhood, A Girl from Yamhill, ends with her having a chance to make a similar move (I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel). Here, the California landscape is gorgeously described, and Cleary's portrayal of teen angst is spot-on. Shelley's story follows an utterly formulaic arc (view spoiler), but it's handled with nuance. I loved the portrayal of the eccentric, quarrelsome but happy family Shelley is lucky enough to stay with. My one real quibble is that I don't think anyone Shelley's age would be so wise and philosophical as she is at the end, but it's a small one. This was a real pleasure recommended to those with a taste for this sort of thing.
Sixteen year-old Shelley feels her life is in a rut, and jumps at the chance to leave rainy chilly Portland, OR behind to spend a year attending high school in California while living with family friends. I think there's a touch of autobiography in this plot, as Cleary's memoir of her childhood, A Girl from Yamhill, ends with her having a chance to make a similar move (I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel). Here, the California landscape is gorgeously described, and Cleary's portrayal of teen angst is spot-on. Shelley's story follows an utterly formulaic arc (view spoiler), but it's handled with nuance. I loved the portrayal of the eccentric, quarrelsome but happy family Shelley is lucky enough to stay with. My one real quibble is that I don't think anyone Shelley's age would be so wise and philosophical as she is at the end, but it's a small one. This was a real pleasure recommended to those with a taste for this sort of thing.
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Reading Progress
July 14, 2020
–
Started Reading
July 14, 2020
– Shelved
July 17, 2020
– Shelved as:
vintage-young-adult
July 17, 2020
–
Finished Reading
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Newsha
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Jul 17, 2020 02:50PM
Nice review Emily. Added.
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Nice review EmilyThanks, Newsha
This was my favourite of the series.
This was my favourite of the series.To what extent is it a series? Are there characters from Fifteen in this book? Should I have read it first?
Emily wrote: "This was my favourite of the series.To what extent is it a series? Are there characters from Fifteen in this book? Should I have read it first?"
They are all stand alone novels but are considered part of Cleary’s Young Love series. You can also read these books in whatever order you want.
They are all stand alone novels but are considered part of Cleary’s Young Love series. You can also read these books in whatever order you want.Thanks, that's what I thought. If there are no recurring characters, I'm guessing it was called a series as some kind of marketing strategy.
Emily wrote: "They are all stand alone novels but are considered part of Cleary’s Young Love series. You can also read these books in whatever order you want.Thanks, that's what I thought. If there are no recu..."
Probably ...
