Beany's been having a pretty rough time of things lately. Norbett, away in college in Ohio, has sent her a letter breaking off their relationship. The Malone's widowed father decides to marry again – a pretty artist named Adair. Unfortunately Adair and Beany get off to a really rough start. Meanwhile, some troubled teens at school invite her to join a secret club – for those who want to shut out family as much as possible. This suits the miserable and stubborn Beany just fine. Misunderstandings abound and Beany starts to feel like her world is falling apart and her situation is hopeless before some light is finally brought to the situation from some surprising places. This is a really nice story. In addition to some thoughtful lessons about family life and misunderstandings, the author is clearly presenting a warning against other sorts of secret clubs that teens of that day might have gotten involved in (especially Communist).

Beany is delighted when she hears that her dear childhood friend Miggs Carmody has moved back to Denver, but when they meet up again there is a strange wall between them. Is it because Miggs' family has become very wealthy? There is a scene in which a boyfriend shakes Beany and hurts her. It might be important to talk to your daughter about this scene and how wrong the boyfriend is no matter what Beany's faults in the situation were.

Francie on the Run is the second book in the Bantry Bay trilogy. It was written by Hilda van Stockum in 1939. It's the story of Francie O'Sullivan, who runs away from the hospital in Dublin. The entire book is about his funny adventures as young Francie makes his way home to Bantry Bay. My whole family loved this book because the characters are warm and funny. There are many beautiful pictures drawn by the author herself. It's an excellent book. You'll love it!

This book was originally published in hardcover as Snow White and Rose Red: A Modern Fairy Tale. The original edition is out of print.

Among homeschool teenage girls who read this book, there is an interesting phenomenon occurring. They read this book, not once, not twice, but numerous times. In fact, my daughter's friend has lost track of how many times she has read it. Intrigued by this phenomenon, I was curious to read this book.

Set in modern times, The Shadow of the Bear, based on the original Grimm fairy tale "Snow White and Rose Red", is a contemporary story of two teenage girls who have just moved to New York city with their recently widowed mother. While they attend the local Catholic high school, their mother works in a hospital emergency room.

What makes this book particularly interesting is that the girls were once homeschooled and regret having to go to a traditional school. The high school scene is accurately portrayed with all the negative problems of teenage life. In spite of this, the girls, even though they may be naive at times, always try to do the right thing. Unfortunately, Rose's trusting nature, curiosity, and desire to be popular get her into some very, serious trouble on more than one occasion. Fortunately, her sound moral character, spunk, and ingenuity, along with God's Divine Providence, help her out.

A teenage girl could easily identify with Blanche's sensitivity and shyness, while wishing perhaps to be more confident and flamboyant like Rose. Rose, bold, forthright, and courageous, is unique in that she isn't afraid to say the truth. In one particularly dramatic moment, Rose confronts Rob, a cocky, popular student, and his friends, when she tells them in no uncertain terms what a real man is.

Ultimately, a number of literary devices, such as realistic dialogue, true-to-life characters that are real heroines (they are good and want to do good, in spite of their faults), and a multilevel plot, combine to make this an interesting book to be enjoyed after repeated readings.

In some ways, this book touches the souls of so many teenagers, because they sense these girls could be their friends. In addition to following the original plot, this story grapples with the deeper issues that teenagers have to face. The cruel, lonely world of high school life with students vying to be the most popular is accurately depicted. Similar to the novel Pride and Prejudice, the girls must judge the real value of character, and virtue is not always in appearance or first impressions. While trying to determine the true nature of some of the other characters of the opposite sex, they inadvertently immerse themselves in a page-turning mystery.

In a world that offers teenagers too many depressing, immoral or amoral choices for literature, this is a treasure, which unsuspectingly upholds true moral choices.