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CarlyTown>The Malt Shop>Rosamond du Jardin
Rosamond du Jardin wrote several memorable series, following her young heroines through high school, into college, and frequently on to marriage. Her novels mostly revolve around the romantic travails of her heroines in a humorous way and are peopled by vivid, charming characters.
The Tobey and Midge Heydon series
Practically Seventeen (1943)
"His name is Jon," I lied shamelessly. "He goes to Whitfield . . . sort of blond, with nice blue eyes. That's all I'm going to tell you. Wait till the Prom, and you can see for yourself!"
Tobey's fight with Brose Gilman has left her without a date--so she creates a Dream Man. Now everybody believes her! (back cover)
Class Ring (1951)
Saucy and irrespressible Tobey Heydon has no sooner accepted her friend Brose's class ring than she finds herself getting the most flattering attention and impossible-to-refuse invitations from not one but two other boys! Brose is very understanding for a while, but finally his patience snaps and he takes his ring back. Tobey thinks she doesn't care, but even her high spirits get very dampened before she learns the value of a tried and true friend and makes up with Brose. (back cover)
Boy Trouble (1953)
All the fun of high school graduation and that special summer before college are heightened for Tobey Heydon when dashing Dick Allen adds his attention to those she is receiving from her favorite young man, Brose Gilman. And the plot really curdles (along with Brose's feelings), when Tobey meets a handsome artist who seems to be the object behind her non-objective paintings. But Brose gets his revenge, and it's not only sweet, it's hilarious. (back cover)
The Real Thing (1956)
The summer after graduation from high school can be the shortest summer of a girl's life, especially when her favorite man is going to a different college. Tobey Heydon found that September came too soon and that saying good-bye to Brose was much harder than she expected. Tobey and Brose had decided not to let their relations stand in the way of new friendships at college, but their sensible decision didn't make the separation any easier. (inside flap)
Wedding in the Family
After Tobey's wedding her sister Midge learns to stand on her own. (series listing)
One of the Crowd
Midge, a high school sophomore, must choose between the "smart set" and the comfortable friends she has always know. (series listing)
The Marcy Rhodes series
Wait for Marcy (1950)
Devon had a way of looking up into a boy's face that seemed to do something catastrophic to his will power. When Devon gave Steve that look of hers, Marcy felt younger than she had in a long time.
"You kept looking at Devon," Liz teased her later. "What are you trying to do, absorb her technique?"
"I should say not!" Marcy replied perhaps too sharply. And all evening she felt a sinking sensation within her. (back cover)
Marcy Catches Up
A wonderful summer at a Colorado ranch brings romance and maturity to Marcy. (series listing)
A Man For Marcy (1954)
Marcy Rhodes and some of her friends face the start of their senior year in high school with a sinking sensation. Last year they had dated only senior boys, who are now off to college, and the girls find themselves high, dry and desperate. When a club called "The Widows" is organized, Marcy enthusiastically joins the "mourners," and by the time her erstwhile steady arrives home for Thanksgiving vacation, Marcy is wallowing in self-pity. And her mood doesn't improve when she learns that he has been dating at college! Only the skillful intervention of Marcy's brother Ken averts disaster. Thanks to him, and to Marcy's basic good sense, the balance of the year is gratifyingly different. (back cover)
Senior Prom (1957)
A New Year's Eve spent with Steve Judson convinces Marcy that from now on, she and Steve will be "just good friends." Luckily, her last term in high school provides many distractions: work on the school paper; the effort to get permission for a Senior Trip to Washington; a growing friendship with reliable Rick Whitney; and a date in prospect with exciting Bruce Douglas for the long-awaited Senior Prom. Then Marcy discovers that Bruce's plan for that gala event are not at all what she has in mind, and if she doesn't go with him, she can't go with Rick, because she's out dating someone else--at Marcy's unselfish insistence. (back cover).
The Pam and Penny Howard series
Double Date (1951)
Quiet, sensitive Penny Howard has always tried to be as much like her vivacious twin Pam as Pam wished--wearing the same clothes, and letting Pam arrange dates and choose their activities. But as the girls start their senior year at a new high school, in a new town, Penny' rebellion grows and grows, and results in a private Declaration of Independence. To her surprise, she finds herself quietly cheered on by their mother, their grandmother, and finally and most happily for Penny, by Mike Bradley, the boy she was afraid Pam had chosen for herself. (back cover)
Double Feature (1953)
Pretty Pam Howard is still taken aback by her quiet twin Penny's new attitude of independence. Until recently, Pam led the way, and Penny followed. Now Penny wants them both to go to the college that her friend Mike plans to attend, but Pam is resisting--partly just for the sake of resisting. Old field marshals don't give up easily! Oddly enough, the ensuing fireworks strengthen the twin's relationship, and the college of Penny's choice proves and exciting plan for Pam, also. As a matter of fact, for a while, it's almost too exciting. (back cover)
Showboat Summer (1953)
Pam and Penny spend their first college vacation on a river showboat. (series listing)
Double Wedding (1959)
Graduation seems terribly far away to Pam and Penny, as they start their second year of college, especially since they and their fiances agree that graduation should come before marriage. But college days are crowded days and many things happen to speed the waiting. One of the most intriguing of them is Pam's growing friendship with lovely, unhappy Geneva Day, who had been so unfriendly during the twins' "showboat summer"! Then sooner than Pam and Penny ever dreamed possible, it's commencement time--to be swiftly followed by rice and old shoes! (back cover)
Single Titles
Young and Fair
Lissa, working in a Chicago department store in the 1880's, falls in love with the owner's son. (series listing)
Someone to Count On
The summer of Twink's junior year in high school is full of new friends and activities. (series listing)
Junior Year Abroad (with Judy du Jardin) (1960)
Travel, adventure, studies and romance in Europe add up to a wonderful year for two American college girls in this fictionalized true story. (series listing)
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Updated 11/23/06
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