The book I am trying to find is called: “NEW SYSTEM”. The main character’s name is PAGE (not sure of spelling)
It was published in the 1930’s or early 40’s – it’s WWII, or before America enters the war- but nothing is mentioned of the war at all so it might be before it starts in Europe.
It’s a girl’s coming of age story, pre-WWII. She gets a newfangled “perm”. She is an artist. Her brother gets engaged, and she helps her family put on a bridal shower.
She has a sharkskin bathing suit. She just graduated from high school and is deciding on college. She is trying to get organized and has a journal, and is writing about her “New System” of organizing her life.
No idea who the author is. Picture on the book jacket is a girl’s face with 1930’s -40’s hair style.
I had this book when I was about 12- loved it.
It sounds like this might be The Fair Adventure by Elizabeth Janet Gray, but it’s been so long since I read it that I don’t remember all the details. I do remember that she wanted to go to college and has to take a test or write an essay. The cover is definitely as you described.
Thanks for replying. The book’s title is “anew System”, I just don’t remember the author
I would concur with the first poster.
The fair adventure
Author: Elizabeth Gray Vining; Alice K Reischer
Publisher: New York : The Viking Press, 1940.
Edition/Format: Print book : Fiction : Juvenile audience : EnglishView all editions and formats
Summary:
The setting is a university town of the South; the family is a professor’s family with very moderate means. The heroine, Page age 16, always seemed to have to play second fiddle to other members of her big family.
Subjects
Families — Fiction.
Families.
Adventure and adventurers — Fiction.
Although the text of the book isn’t available online, the hathitrust site allows a limited search of the contents. Entering the search term “new system” brings up multiple hits within the book, which would fit with your description.
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/101694080