Book Review: The Betsy-Tacy Collection

Meet Betsy, Tacy, and Tib!

By Catherine Groves

Betsy, Tacy and Tib became friends when they were very young. Betsy and Tacy lived across the street from each other, and Tib lived in the chocolate covered house. They had many fun adventures together. If it sounds as if Im describing childrens books, its because I am. Maud Hart Lovelace wrote the first four Betsy-Tacy books for the younger generation. Based on her own life and lives of her family and friends growing up, Maud decided to continue the story of Betsy through high school and beyond. This is a series of books that grows with you.

Born in the late 1800s, Betsy is raised in a home that is clearly not typical for that time period. Betsys parents encouraged their daughters to seek further education and dared them to dream. Betsy begins writing as a young child and continues to write throughout high school. Her parents let her travel as a young lady to help her become a better writer, and she continues to write as a married woman.

The Betsy books (as I call them) are some of the dearest, most heartwarming books of all time. These books are known for their characters. For example, her father was notorious for putting on the coffee pot in times of stress. Betsys older sister, Julia, was a beautiful opera singer, and her younger sister, Margaret, was nicknamed The Persian Princess.

Tacy and Tib remain Betsys best friends (as in Mauds real life) throughout her childhood and after shes married. Tacy is sweet, loyal and doesnt care about boys. Tib is tiny, doll-like and extremely practical. Three is never a crowd for this inseparable trio.

And then theres Joe Betsy meets Joe the summer before her freshman year in high school, and he remains a vital part of this entire series.

It matters not your age or gender; these books by Maud Hart Lovelace are timeless.

The Betsy-Tacy collection can be found in many major bookstores and on Amazon. There are ten books in the series.