May Hollis Barton

I'm almost positive that my copy belonged to my mother when she was young. I've had it for ages and finally sat down to read it out of curiosity. I'll just get this part out of the way with a major caveat, there are elements in it that in today's climate could be construed as racist: there is a black cook who speaks in dialect and mangles her vocabulary--yes, stereotyped. At the same time, she is portrayed with respect and is a prominent minor character representing all things homey, moral and good. Later on in the story, she deems the house and situation dangerous and wants them all to leave and they are compelled to respect and obey her wishes as chaperone. In the end, she is asked to continue as cook for the happy young couple getting married. There is a mysterious Hindu who is not even given a name, unless I missed it. He is treated with suspicion from the start because he is dark and scary looking. We don't ever get the full back story on him, we just learn that he was a servant turned bad. When we first see him, he is in the act of kidnapping a young girl, so there is some justification for the portrayal of being scary. Lastly, Bab's best friend is referred to as a gypsy and is described as being dark. She is portrayed as being a best friend, smart, plucky, and loyal. We don't get her backstory.
Yes, this story is dated.
If you can get past that, I will say that I had no expectations when I sat down to give it a go, and found it kind of quaint in that pre-Nancy Drew, wholesome books for young women way. I read it in one swoop and enjoyed it. There are reviews with the plot synopsis elsewhere, so I won't go into detail beyond young orphan, raised by grandparents who have run into hard times post WWI, finds herself in a double mystery: witness to a kidnapping and suddenly recipient of an estate rumored to be haunted. She and her "chums" with not one but two proper chaperones, go off to investigate her inherited home. Jolly good fun, family down on their luck make good, with the expected happy ending.
Despite the shortcomings of the stereotypes mentioned previously, there are many plusses to this story. The love that Bab shows for her grandparents, the all-in-good-fun, golly-gee-willickers banter between the friends is to my mind, delightfully refreshing in this current atmosphere where headlines relish people "slamming" each other and "outrage" is practically a must in a caption, ghosting people has replaced proper conversation, violence is the predominant seller in movie trailers, road rage is commonplace and trolls are everywhere in social media... Keeping in mind that this book is just shy of 100 years old and takes place in Scarsdale, New York in a well-to-do neighborhood, this was a lovely escape to an idyllic time-before-my-time reminiscent of an old Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney let's-have-a-show film.
… (mais)

Charlotte Cross and Aunt Deb is the story of Charlotte, who gets an offer to travel to Italy if she will accompany her aunt. Charlotte works all the time in the art department of a department store but only earns just enough for room and board and to send some home to her parents, who paid for her college education. So this sudden offer is more than welcome. Her friend/co-worker/roommate warns her that her astrologer has said nothing good will come of the trip, but Charlotte is determined. However, she has underestimated Aunt Deb, who appears to be even crazier than Charlotte remembered! Deb has discovered record of a lost family treasure hidden away in an Italian castle and is determined to retrieve it. She is also determined to believe the world is after her treasure too. Which is really too bad, since Charlotte soon picks up an admirer that Deb is convinced is a thief. Just what is wrong with Aunt Deb, and is there really a treasure? You'll have to read on to find out!

A fun lark of a novel from the same people who brought you Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Charlotte Cross was aimed at a slightly older market I think; I just can't imagine a 12-year-old wanting to read about an impoverished college graduate dealing with an apparently mentally impaired elderly woman. This is more like proto-New Adult fiction than "fiction for girls". But for those who enjoy fun vintage literature jaunts, this is definitely one to pick up.… (mais)