Betsy's Wedding (novel) facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Maud Hart Lovelace |
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| Illustrator | Vera Neville |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Betsy-Tacy |
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Release number
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10 |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Set in | Minneapolis, Minnesota (1917) |
| Publisher | Thomas Y. Crowell Co., HarperCollins |
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Publication date
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1955 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 241 |
| ISBN | 0-06-440544-3 |
| Preceded by | Betsy and the Great World (1952) |
Betsy's Wedding (1955) is the tenth and final book in the popular Betsy-Tacy series. This beloved series was written by Maud Hart Lovelace. The story takes place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, around the year 1917. It follows the exciting early married life of the main character, Betsy Ray, and her high-school sweetheart, Joe Willard. Betsy's best friends, Tacy Kelly and Tib Muller, also appear in this novel, just as they did in the earlier books about their high school years. The entire Betsy-Tacy series, including Betsy's Wedding, was re-released in 2000 by HarperTrophy with new cover art.
Contents
The Story of Betsy's Wedding
A New Beginning in New York
Betsy returns to New York City after a trip to Europe. Joe Willard is waiting for her there. He wants to buy her an engagement ring. But Betsy, being practical, suggests they buy a wedding band instead. They spend a fun day in New York, visiting Joe's favorite spots. Most importantly, they enjoy being together and renewing their love for each other.
Settling Down in Minneapolis
Betsy then travels by train to Minneapolis, where her parents and younger sister, Margaret, live. She shares the big news of her engagement. Her family is a bit surprised because Joe hasn't asked her father for permission. Also, Joe doesn't have a job in Minnesota yet. Betsy's father is concerned that Joe needs a job to support himself and Betsy.
When Joe arrives, Betsy tells him about her father's worries. Joe immediately starts looking for work. He visits many newspaper offices. Soon, he finds a job working on a special campaign. This campaign helps people in Belgium who were affected by World War I. Betsy's father is impressed by Joe's determination. He then agrees to the wedding.
Joe and Betsy live with Betsy's parents while they search for their own apartment. With help from Margaret, they find a perfect place. Betsy tries her hand at cooking for the first time. She faces some challenges but slowly gets better. She learns to make many of Joe's favorite dishes.
Welcoming Family and Friends
Several months later, Joe's aunt, who is a widow, asks if she can live with them. Joe agrees, which makes Betsy feel a little unsure at first. She had different ideas for their new home. This was their first big disagreement. Betsy feels a bit sad, but then she remembers how kind and generous Joe is. These are qualities she loves about him. In the end, Betsy enjoys having Joe's aunt around. She especially loves listening to her wonderful stories. This is helpful when Joe starts working the night shift writing newspaper headlines.
Meanwhile, Betsy and Tacy try to help their friend Tib find a husband. They introduce her to Mr. Bagshaw, a colleague of Harry's. Mr. Bagshaw quickly falls in love with Tib and proposes marriage. However, Tib decides to turn him down. Betsy and Tacy are actually relieved. They realized that if Tib had married Mr. Bagshaw, she would have moved far away to New York.
Betsy then introduces Tib to Rocky, a journalist they meet at "The Violent Study Club." This club is a group of friends and writers where Betsy and Joe practice their writing skills. But Rocky doesn't treat Tib well. He even makes fun of her in front of their friends. Eventually, Tib ends their relationship, and Rocky leaves. Later, Tib meets a kind and handsome soldier while ice skating. They fall in love.
Life During Wartime
As the book concludes, America becomes involved in World War I. Joe joins an officer's training camp nearby. He and Betsy decide to rent out their house. Betsy moves back to her parents' home for the time that Joe is away at war. Before Joe leaves, they all attend Tib's wedding in Deep Valley. Their families and old friends gather to celebrate this happy event.
