From: Sandy Gruenhagen <sgruenha>
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 18:44:37 -0500

I became a fan of Beverly Cleary in Junior High School. Our elementary schools did not have libraries and so I missed the Ramona stage. I LOVED The Luckiest Girl, Jean & Johnny, and Fifteen. Reading those books showed me that being a teenager was the most wonderful thing in the world. I soon learned the true meaning of fiction! I later discovered the "other" Cleary when volunteering in my daughters first grade class many years ago. I found myself showing up each day just in time to hear the next chapter of the Mouse and the Motorcycle! I just re-read The Luckiest Girl and though I enjoyed the memories I'm wondering if this book would ever be published today? Everyone comes from a happy "traditional" family, no one has a terminal illness, and sex is limited to blushing and that parting kiss at the end of the school year. Anyone have memories of these teen books?

Sandy Gruenhagen Groveland Elementary School Minnetonka, MN http://www.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/grv/
Received on Tue 15 Aug 2000 06:44:37 PM CDT