The Education of Bet

Title: The Education of Bet

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Copyright Date: 2010
 
Print Date: July 2010

ISBN:  9780547223087

Pages: 186 

Book Description (from dust jacket):

When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they appear content with the life fate has bestowed upon them.

But appearances can be deceiving. Bet can experience only what society allows for a girl. Will is afforded much more freedom, but still only as society dictates. Neither is happy.

So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: She'll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses.

But when she arrives at school, the reality doesn't match what Bet imagined. Boys act very differently when they don't think there's a girl in their midst. In fact, they can be rather brutish. But brutish Bet can deal with. It's the stirrings of attraction for her roommate that get Bet into real trouble.

This is not the education Bet expected.

Comments:

I've wanted to read this since I read Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted.  First, I had to wait for it to actually be published.  And then other things came up.  Yet another incidence of me waiting too long to long to read a good book.  But all's well.  Because I picked up a copy on hold for me at the local library this morning, and now I've read it.

It was as good as I hoped.  I thought Bet was a great character.  She's strong and has integrity.  While she can be naive about some things, she's also intelligent.  And her letters to Will among other parts had me chuckling (I hate that word, but it's the best description).  Her best friend at school was a great character as well.  It was fun to see her come across the unexpected difficulties of hiding who she really was.  And underneath it all was the reminder that females haven't always had the opportunities of education ... leaving me thankful for what I've had despite my troubles.

I'm glad I finally read The Education of Bet.

crazy beautiful

Title: crazy beautiful

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Copyright Date: 2009

Print Date: September 2009

ISBN: 9780547223070

Pages: 193


Book Description (from dust jacket):

I would give a lot to see that smile
again, directed at me.
It may not be much, but I would give
everything I've got.

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn't outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.

Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don't scare her. They don't keep her away. In fact, they don't make any difference at all to her.

But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.

Or maybe she's just a girl who needs love just like he does.

Comments:

I first heard about this through J. Kaye. She reviewed it, had an interview with the author about it, and just generally talked it up. There was no doubt she loved it.

After the interview I decided, okay, I'll try it. I placed a hold at the local library, and read it pretty much as soon as it came in.

And I did like it, particularly Lucius. I had a small issue with Aurora's reaction to certain events toward the end. Spoiler: Highlight to read. (She's decided he's this horrible person (understandably) ... Then suddenly, with one smile and chin jut toward Lucius from her father, the blinders are lifted and she sees the true Lucius. I guess it was just too abrupt for me.) Otherwise, a quick enjoyable read, I love the take on the Beauty/Beast theme, and I'm glad I read it.