Synopses & Reviews
When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, theyve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But not all is well in their household. Because shes a girl, Bets world is contained within the walls of their grand home, her education limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. Wills world is much larger. He is allowedforced, in his caseto go to school. Neither is happy. So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: Theyll switch places. Shell go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.
Review
"With nods to Shakespeares Twelfth Night and Isaac Bashevis Singers "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy," Bets descriptive, intimate, first-person narrative incorporates historical details and diverse characters, including adult female allies at school...historical-fiction fans will likely find Bet an appealingly lively heroine as she pursues her dreams and makes unexpected discoveries in learning, life, and love."--
BooklistSynopsis
Bet is sixteen, very intelligent, but only knows as much as her limited education will allow. In Victorian England, girls aren't allowed to go to school. Will is also 16, and though not related by blood, he and Bet act like brother and sister. In fact, they even look like brother and sister. And though they're both raised under the same roof, by the same kind uncle, Will has one big advantage over Bet: He's a boy, and being a boy means he isn't stuck in the grand house they call home. He gets to go out into the world--to school. But that's not what Will wishes. He wants to join the military and learn about real life, not what's written in books. So one night, Bet comes up with a plan. She'll go to school as Will. Will can join the military. And though it seems impossible, they actually manage to pull it off. But once Bet gets to the school, she begins to realize the education she's going to get isn't exactly the one she was expecting.
Synopsis
The author of "Crazy Beautiful" takes readers back to a time when only boys attended school. Sixteen-year-old Bet persuades her brother Will to switch places, but once Bet gets to school, she realizes that living as a boy is more difficult than she imagined.
Synopsis
Bet feels confined by her place—neither family nor servant—in the home of her wealthy benefactor. Will, the boy whos been like a brother to her since they were four, is unhappy with his fate as well. So Bet makes a plan: Shell pretend shes a boy and take Wills place at school.
When she arrives at school, Bet finds boys act rather brutish when they dont think theres a girl in their midst. But brutish Bet can handle it. Its the stirrings of attraction for her roommate that get Bet into real trouble.
About the Author
Lauren Baratz-Logsted has written books for all ages. Her books for children and young adults include the Sisters Eight series, The Education of Bet and Crazy Beautiful. She lives with her family in Danbury, Connecticut.