332K: New System – Girl Comes of Age Prior to World War II

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. 

2 thoughts on “332K: New System – Girl Comes of Age Prior to World War II

  1. Phyllis Gray

    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.

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  2. Gill

    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

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