The Vine: Ask The Readers Book-a-thon #6
In middle school, instead of an elective, I was a Library Aide. I was a super goob, but I got to read a lot of really good books — I stumbled across du Maurier at age 11, which might not seem that big a deal but in my little redneck Texas town, just reading at all was profound. So as a result, I read many, many books I can’t remember much about.
There was one book, I’m going to say it was a YA novel of sorts, set in the ’40s about a girl in love with Sinatra and she read movie magazines all the time. It’s entirely possible it was an adult novel and that part was a flashback sort of thing, but that’s all I can remember about the story. I think it was set in New York. I’m certain about the time period, because Sinatra was a young, hot dude at the time. Supposedly. I can’t see it, but that’s the idea presented.
If anyone has any idea, I’d be really grateful. It’s driving me absolutely insane.
Thanks!
Super Goob
Tags: Ask The Readers Daphne du Maurier Frank Sinatra
Could it be To All My Fans, With Love, From Sylvie? The teen protagonist starts in NY and travels cross country to California to be”discovered”. She has a movie magazine obsession. It’s by Ellen Conford, one of my all time favorite YA writers. It’s a pretty heavy book compared to her usual fare.
Could it be Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself by Judy Blume? It’s set in 1947 and your description made me think of it. Did the main character think some old guy she saw was Hitler in disguise?
(waves at Fiona) Sylvie was obsessed with Elvis. Heh.
But possibly it’s “Hanging Out with Cici,” by Francine Pascal before she vanished down the Sweet Valley vortex? Teen girl gets a bonk on the head (I think), and travels back to the 40s where she meets a fellow cool teen who turns out to be…HER MOM! OMG WTF BBQ!
I was also going to suggest To All My Fans, With Love, From Sylvie. I don’t remember Sinatra figuring into it, but Sylvie has lots of fantasies about movie stars at the time and it’s been a while since I read it. I also love Ellen Conford (Seven Days to a Brand-New Me, anyone?), but that book is pretty depressing. The Bible salesman? Ick.
Wow, Kim, that sounds an awful lot like a YA book which I cannot recall – the teen girl gets a bonk on the head (I think), and travels back to the 40s where she meets a fellow cool teen who turns out to be…HER MOM – the only difference is, it’s set IN ENGLAND.
It is possible that Ms. Pascal read the other book (since I am undoubtedly Much Older Than You, and I read it … a while ago) and was, uh, inspired. Or came up with it on her own; it’s possible there’s eleventy-two books with that basic theme.
Did YOUR heroine wear a headscarf all the time so that her teenage mom doesn’t realize just how much the heroine looks like a family member? (There is a *teeny spoiler* for the *teeny kicker* – the scarf Our Heroine wears is a gift from her mother in Our Time because it reminded her mother of the scarves her friend used to wear.)
Now I have to go find MY book, which was really excellent. Sullen teen finds out Mom was a person once; who’da thunk it! Plus, of course, the stress and excitement of being in war-torn London.
Pretty sure that’s To All My Fans, With Love, From Sylvie by Ellen Conford
Is it “A Handful of Time”? It’s about a girl that finds a pocketwatch that takes her back to the 1940s, when her mom was a girl. Sinatra was definitely mentioned. http://www.kitpearson.com/handfuloftime.html
It’s definitely not A Handful of Time — I had that book when I was a kid/young teen and ADORED it, but it’s set in Canada and Patricia didn’t read magazines or like Sinatra. She was like me as a kid – nerdy, sweet, totally clueless about that kind of stuff.
Well now I want to read the sullen teen book La BellaDonna is talking about. Any ideas about the title and author?
@ La BellaDonna: Bonks on the head! Sending teens whirling through time to meet their parents since YA lit (and sitcoms) began!
But no, I don’t remember a headscarf. I do remember the teenage version of the mom teaching her new BFF/Future!Daughter how to shoplift, though. Let us know when you find your book…it sounds fun, too!
Kim and Avis: I found it! It’s Time To Go Back, by Mabel Esther Allan, and there may even be one-cent copies floating around available on Teh Innernets. We shall see!
I have no idea and just wanted to say Yeah! to small Texas towns who offer Library Aide as if it was a class. I had the choice between an Ag class or Aide. As I swore to never take an Ag class, I choose Aide. I’m jealous that you got to find great books. I just ended up reshelving books returned by the first graders.
I am pretty sure this is To All My Fans, With Love from Sylvie – check out Shelf Discovery’s review of it from the recent past – it’s kind of a crazy re-read, given that it is hardly a fluffy retro fantasy world (which is kinda how I recalled it having read it as a 12 year old!).
@Kim: Oh my GOD, I remember Hanging Out WIth Cici–but I’d forgotten the title! Thank you so much!
I loved Hanging out with Cici. There was even a TV movie of it. It was the first time I’d ever heard of blackout sirens.
The Readers came though again, I’m pretty sure it was To All My Fans, With Love from Sylvie, though I’m going to order a copy to reread just to make sure. I’m also going to order all the other books y’all discussed here. Thanks so much for all your help!