The Vine: May 17, 2013
It’s Daisy from this post again; The Nation figured out what my long-lost book was, and I donated to Donors Choose as a result.
I have another missing book, and I’d like to offer to donate another $25 to DC (project of the correct guesser’s choice) if y’all can solve this one.
This was a book I read in the mid-eighties — it could have been published earlier but not much, definitely after 1970. It was about a high-school girl, I think named Martha (but who knows), and there was something about a class election. I’m not sure if Martha was running or if she was someone’s campaign manager. I remember a scene where another girl made Martha steal another candidate’s speech, which was on index cards in her purse, by sneaking the purse over a bathroom stall.
There was something about cakes — maybe Martha worked at a bakery? And Martha’s older brother lived somewhere else but he would call collect and they would count the minutes to save money. That was new to me and stuck out.
There might have been a party where Martha left early because she was uncomfortable?
If I’m remembering correctly, it was an older juvenile or younger YA chapter book, trade size, maybe orange. Thanks in advance!
Daisy
Tags: Ask The Readers Goin' All The Way popcult
I think that’s Don’t Ask Miranda, by Lila Perl. I read it as a kid too, and then just re-read it this past Christmas after finding a copy stashed away in my mom’s basement.
Perhaps Katie for President by Martha Tolles?
The cover for Don’t Ask Miranda is fantastic.
Kathleen, you’re a genius! I’m sure that’s it. Miranda sounds familiar. Which DC project would you like me to donate to?
Gina, it’s funny you say that because a few months ago I had decided that was the book, because of the election and then the author’s name is Martha. But when I ILLed it from the library, I found out that while I had read that when I was younger, it wasn’t the one. But thanks for trying.
Georgia, do you have a link to it? I didn’t see any cover art on Amazon or Goodreads.
Daisy:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/0440421152/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0
Thanks, Isabelle – I remember that bakery counter now!
Well, Kathleen, if I don’t hear back from you, I will pick any project to get $25, but I’d love to give you the chance to pick since you really helped me out.
I went ahead with a book-related project….figured that was the next-best thing to hearing from Kathleen.
Thanks, Daisy!