About This Book
Aunt Claire is bringing back the series books that American girls read for fun a century ago.
These are fast-paced stories of friendship, adventure, and life in the age of streetcars and silent movies. Plus, they offer a window onto the dreams and aspirations of girls in the early twentieth century.
Aunt Claire's illustrated introductions provide just the right amount of historical context.
Here's what Aunt Claire has to say about her second selection, Grace Harlowe's Freshman Year at High School by Jessie Graham Flower (first published 1910).
Dear Reader,
Grace Harlowe's Freshman Year at High School was written over a hundred years ago, but it might just as easily be a story about a group of girls today.
First of all, there's Grace―confident and athletic, a natural leader and a true friend. Then there's the new girl, Anne―quiet, smart, and quite determined to win the freshman academic prize. There's also Nora, who's funny and sharp, and Jessica, who is rather good at detective work. And then of course there's the mean girl, Miriam, who's not about to let Anne take her place at the head of the class.
The girls have all sorts of adventures in their freshman year at Oakdale High School―there are parties, pranks, and even a pack of hungry wolves. The girls must contend with Miriam's scheming, the cruel jokes played by the sophomore class, and a most unpleasant math teacher. Oh, and Anne has a secret. . . .
You'll notice that even if the girls seem familiar, some things about high school life in 1910 don't. I've added a note about these things―with some pictures―to the front of the book. And I will try my hardest not to feel offended if you ignore it completely and start right in on the story. It's an uphill battle, after all, to compete with Grace and the gang.
Yours most sincerely,
Aunt Claire
