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ENCHANTED CARAVAN
Published in 1949.
This is a great little story about a father and daughter reunited after
several years and the adventure they go on during a summer vacation.
The father has converted an old bus into a traveling trailer tailer that he
lives and travels in. When his daughter joins him in an adventure they
travel across the eastern states meeting interesting people, obtain 3 new
traveling companions, work in a circus, and sell ice cream and candy
along the way to pay for the trip. They learn much about each other and
their companions and finally learn what a true family really is all about!
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CARNIVAL GYPSY
Published in 1950. When her Uncle Shoe and Aunt Francis pass away, you
Capri MacComb's mother is left with a useless farm and money owing. She
also inherits a run down carnival, "The Toby Brothers Traveling Show". With
nothing to lose, Capri and her mother set out to make the carnival a successful
business. (Description contributed by Marijke VanNieuwstadt, a Dorothy
Gilman fan)
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RAGAMUFFIN ALLEY
Published in 1951.
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THE CALICO YEAR
Published in 1953. “The beauty of the changing seasons and the work of
managing an inherited farmhouse in the Berkshire Mountains bring real
happiness into the lives of the Cannon sisters.
All of this is a great change for Tracy, who gladly exchanges fashion for blue
jeans and the chance to put behind her a meaningless society life in New York.
An unusual situation gives Tracy legal guardianship of her younger sister,
Tina, who is equally anxious to escape from their Aunt Martha, who sends her
from one boarding school to another on an irresponsible merry-go-round of
loneliness. Both girls agree that they have had the wrong kind of luxury, and
being without money is their price for freedom and the chance for a wholesome,
normal life. “ Extremely delightful story. I enjoyed very much!
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FOUR PARTY LINE
Published in 1954. This charming story traces the lives of four girls who
work as phone operators for the telephone company: Francine, for whom
snobbery is a rule until her love-at-first-sight of Tom gave her a different
outlook; Peggy, whose restless ambition brought her marriage to the
brink of ruin; Tippy, who, in her loneliness, looked with despair even
upon her own good qualities; and Mary, who came from the wrong side of
the tracks with a secret wish.
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PAPA DOLPHIN'S TABLE
it home to the small apartment. His three children think it is great however
Moma Dolphin does not always see the good in Irish policeman, an elderly rich
lady and even the mayor.the challenges of life. When the family end up living
under the table in the park they meet many new people including an Irish
policeman, an elderly rich lady and even the mayor.
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GIRL IN BUCKSKIN
Published in 1956. Orphaned Becky Pumroy was forced to live a life of
drudgery and servitude when her parents were killed during an Indian
attack. She had almost resigned herself to picking up after the spoiled
Leggett girls when she received some startling news: wealthy Joshua
Smeed wanted to marry her.
But Mr. Smeed was much older and rumor had it he helped put his
previous wives in their early graves. Rather than meet the same fate,
Becky ran away with her brother Eseck, a young man who had lived with
the Indians for five years.
Becky knew that the American wilderness was dangerous, with wild
animals that roamed free, with harsh and unrelenting winters, with
Indians who no doubt were ready to destroy her brother and herself.
But what Becky found was something very different indeed. She found a
place and a people that would change her life forever.....
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HEARTBREAK STREET
Published in 1958. This book is up to Gilman’s usual great style with a great
story that makes you think. It centers around a young woman, Katherine Boscz
who lives “on the wrong side of the tracks”. Kitty has just graduated high
school and wants desperately to attend college. However, she will settle for
attending a secretarial school. She decides on a summer job with a
manufacturing company because it pays more than her desired job at a retail
store. She and her brothers are learning that where you live is not as important
as what you do to make where you live a home.
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WITCH'S SILVER
Published in 1959.
A Young women from the "poor side of town" is in love with a "Rich"
boy. Who surprisingly loves her as right back however, his family does
not approve and the young woman feels inadequate to be his wife. Then
her grandmother gives her a pre-wedding gift, a diary of a long ago
ancestor. The grandmother insists that the young women read about her
name-sake and hopes that by learning of her ancestors trials and her
triumphs maybe the young lady will finally learn that she has much to
offer her chosen young man. The prologue of the story is set in present
day 1950s on a small island outside of Massachusetts while the bulk of the
tale is set during the 1700s in Boston. What could an 19 year old ancestor
from 200 years in the past teach an awkward 18 year old in the present?
Read it and find out!
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MASQUERADE
Published in 1961. This is the original title of the book below "Heart's
Design". It is out-of-print (naturally) and I haven't been able to ever find it
anywhere. I haven't been able to find out why it was renamed either. I will let
you know when I found out anything.
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HEART'S DESIGN
Published in 1963. This is an engaging story about four young ladies
attending the Hawley Institute of Art. Liz Gordon is trying to forget a
broken engagement and turns to fashion designing and a handsome
young man. Melanie Prill is hiding a shaky sense of social status by
associating with “proper” people only. Penny Saunders thinks she is
plain and is afraid, also can’t imagine herself with girl friends – let alone
boyfriends. And Cara Jamison, is a talented artist who becomes
hopelessly entangled in a maze of deceit because she is afraid that the
barrier of prejudice might hamper her career.
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TEN LEAGUES TO BOSTON TOWN
Published in 1963.
Deborah and Ben Parker are to travel to Boston after spending time tending the
family farm during their father's illness. The two take a perilous journey from
the farm to Boston, not knowing who they can trust and ill-prepared for the
unexpected dangers on the road.
[Description attributed to:
http://webcas.cas.suffolk.edu/richman/Boston/bosbib.htm]
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THE BELLS OF FREEDOM
Published in 1963. That the British had occupied Boston and closed her
harbor meant little to Jed Crane, an English boy sold to a cruel Boston
smithy. Jed was just happy that his mean taskmaster had been persuaded
to sell him to the amiable printer Mr. Box.
Now Jed would get a chance to learn to read and explore the bustling,
restless city. But when his new master's mysterious dealings forced Jed to
slop through the British lines, the indentured servant was captured by the
rebels and brought face-to-face with American patriots engaged in a
life-or-death struggle.
Suddenly freedom was no longer a faraway issue. The meeting with the
red-haired firebrand of a major would change Jed's life forever. From the
first brave shot at Lexington to the fierce battles of Dorchester Heights
and Breed's Hill, Jed fought for some hard answers in his own war
between liberty and loyalty. What he found in the glorious spirit of the
times was courage.
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THE MAZE IN THE HEART OF THE CASTLE
Published in 1983. He was only sixteen when tragedy struck....His name is
Colin, and although he still couldn't believe it, his parents were gone, both dead
from the plague. Scared, confused, and angry, he sought out a monk who told
him about a haunted castle on Rheembeck Mountain---And the old, strange
wizard who lived there. Perhaps there Colin would find a way to stop his pain.
But instead of answers, the wizard showed him a locked oak door. Beyond it lay
an ancient stone maze that led to a mystical land, a place where bandits roamed
freely, where people lived within dark caves, afraid of the light, where cruelty
was the way of the world, and where beautiful girls were not always what they
seemed.
The wizard opened the oak door and invited Colin to enter. If Colin came
through this strange place alive, he might indeed be able to ease the pain in his
heart. But once inside, there could be no going back...
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