Status
Available
Local notes
PB Len
Collections
Publication
Laurel Leaf (1981), 256 pages
Description
"As if simply being fourteen-years-old weren't bad enough -- what with the usual teenage angst and uncertainty, Vicky Austin's always comforting and reliable home life is changing completely. Her brother John is going off to college in the fall. Maggy, an orphan taken in by the Austins two years ago, has gone to live with her legal guardian. And the rest of Vicky's family is moving from their quiet house in the country to the heart of New York City. But before the big move, the entire Austin family is taking a meandering trip across the country in their station wagon, stopping to camp along the way, with no set schedule and not a single night of camping experience among them. Wild animal attacks. Life-threatening natural disasters. Cute boys on the prowl. Anything can happen in the great outdoors"--P. [4] of cover.… (more)
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1963
Physical description
256 p.; 4.22 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Ms. L'Engle takes the familiar motif of a journey in the form of a family vacation and ties it neatly into the metaphorical journey that all adolescent girls take as they move from being a child to being a woman. Vicky is a nice girl, but even nice girls have their moments of moodiness, of falling
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for the "bad boy", of just wanting to be alone, of feeling misunderstood. The beauty of this particular journey is that the Austins are a family that sticks together, even when one of their members is being hard to love. They make allowances and love each other anyway. I also enjoyed seeing many places that I am familiar with through the eyes of a young person seeing them for the first time. Show Less
LibraryThing member satyridae
Let me say first that it's a wonderful book. The characters are people you care about, and get very involved with. The plot is fun. The writing is excellent.
However, I think it is dated, no matter what Wendy says to the contrary. The attitudes of the menfolk, first of all- Daddy makes all the
Why do I find this particular book dated in a fashion I don't notice with, say, the Betsy-Tacy books? Probably because it feels like L'Engle is attempting to comfort the people who were genuinely Vicky's age when this book came out. There's an undercurrent of very pointed reassurance that seems to be grounded in time, and I think that's what makes parts of this book a little stale. I think that had I been reading this as a young teen in 1963 I would have clung to it like grim death. I read it as a young teen in the mid-70's and thought the slang very silly at the time. But it didn't stop me loving the book.
In addition to the things I'm complaining about, there's a timeless story here too, wherein a young girl tries to make sense out of the senseless, to grasp the meaning, if any, of her life at the same time she's beginning to pull away from her family of origin and find her own path. Here is the place in which L'Engle shines like the sun. Her essential, unshakable conviction that there IS a reason for everything, that there IS a hand at the wheel, and that the driving force of that hand is the power of love, infuses every word. And makes all my bitching about beatniks sound as small as it is.
It's a wonderful book. I love that it's anchored at both ends with Grandfather. I'll always love Grandfather for giving me Henry Vaughan, but as Kipling said, that is another story.
However, I think it is dated, no matter what Wendy says to the contrary. The attitudes of the menfolk, first of all- Daddy makes all the
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calls, takes the women and children out of danger, and dictates what his wife may not wear (pants, natch). John, the priggish elder brother, follows Daddy's lead here. The overarching worry about nuclear war with the Soviets dates it. The wondering if humans will ever fly to the moon dates it. The painful slang- including "hoods" and "beatniks". Even the logging trucks with one log per load make it read as dated. And who calls their father 'Daddy' un-ironically when they are 14? Or like John, 17? Why do I find this particular book dated in a fashion I don't notice with, say, the Betsy-Tacy books? Probably because it feels like L'Engle is attempting to comfort the people who were genuinely Vicky's age when this book came out. There's an undercurrent of very pointed reassurance that seems to be grounded in time, and I think that's what makes parts of this book a little stale. I think that had I been reading this as a young teen in 1963 I would have clung to it like grim death. I read it as a young teen in the mid-70's and thought the slang very silly at the time. But it didn't stop me loving the book.
In addition to the things I'm complaining about, there's a timeless story here too, wherein a young girl tries to make sense out of the senseless, to grasp the meaning, if any, of her life at the same time she's beginning to pull away from her family of origin and find her own path. Here is the place in which L'Engle shines like the sun. Her essential, unshakable conviction that there IS a reason for everything, that there IS a hand at the wheel, and that the driving force of that hand is the power of love, infuses every word. And makes all my bitching about beatniks sound as small as it is.
It's a wonderful book. I love that it's anchored at both ends with Grandfather. I'll always love Grandfather for giving me Henry Vaughan, but as Kipling said, that is another story.
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LibraryThing member bell7
The summer she was fourteen, Vicky Austin was dealing with a lot of changes. For one, she's just getting into that in-between age where moodiness is expected and she's just not a little kid anymore. For another, Maggy is moving in with Aunt Elena and Uncle Douglas, who are getting married, and her
The title is taken from a line in Psalm 121, "I lift my eyes up to the mountains...the sun will not harm you by day, / nor the moon by night." The psalm is referred to often throughout, as Vicky deals with a crisis of faith and identity. She meets a boy and experiences all sorts of new, complicated feelings - along with the disapproval of her family, who don't like Zachary, who is a bit of a spoiled and pessimistic brat, all that much. I enjoyed the descriptions of various places around the country: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, Indian reservations, and more. It's rather episodic as they move around and have adventures in each new place, culminating with a climactic event that was suddenly more than I expected. I had a weird sense of deja vu, too, as if I had read the story once before as a kid. Things would happen and I would think, that's right, that sounds familiar. Anyway, if I had read it when I was younger I'm not sure I had the same compassion for Vicky that I did this time around, trying to come to terms with her own beliefs and growing up. The story was written in the 60s and is in some ways a bit dated ("Daddy doesn't like women in pants"), but in others shows great tolerance and urges people to listen to each other without judgment.
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dad got a new job in New York, so they're moving. But first, they're taking a cross country road and camping trip. One thing is for sure: after this summer, nothing will ever be the same.The title is taken from a line in Psalm 121, "I lift my eyes up to the mountains...the sun will not harm you by day, / nor the moon by night." The psalm is referred to often throughout, as Vicky deals with a crisis of faith and identity. She meets a boy and experiences all sorts of new, complicated feelings - along with the disapproval of her family, who don't like Zachary, who is a bit of a spoiled and pessimistic brat, all that much. I enjoyed the descriptions of various places around the country: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, Indian reservations, and more. It's rather episodic as they move around and have adventures in each new place, culminating with a climactic event that was suddenly more than I expected. I had a weird sense of deja vu, too, as if I had read the story once before as a kid. Things would happen and I would think, that's right, that sounds familiar. Anyway, if I had read it when I was younger I'm not sure I had the same compassion for Vicky that I did this time around, trying to come to terms with her own beliefs and growing up. The story was written in the 60s and is in some ways a bit dated ("Daddy doesn't like women in pants"), but in others shows great tolerance and urges people to listen to each other without judgment.
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LibraryThing member Sillybrry
This second book in L'Engle's "Austins" series reads more like a travelogue than a novel. While there IS a storyline, it often becomes hopelessly buried beneath the endless descriptions of campgrounds, State Parks, and landmarks. One almost wonders if the novel were commissioned by the Departments
Despite all this, it's not a bad read. As always, L'Engle's facility with the language renders even the prosaic details engaging, and it is worth wading through the various bear encounters to get a glimpse of Vicky Austin's teenage angst and first encounters with the opposite sex.
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of Tourism for the various states mentioned...Despite all this, it's not a bad read. As always, L'Engle's facility with the language renders even the prosaic details engaging, and it is worth wading through the various bear encounters to get a glimpse of Vicky Austin's teenage angst and first encounters with the opposite sex.
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LibraryThing member mandochild
This is the perfect change of pace after "Breaking dawn". It's the kind of book that didn't matter how long it took to read. I could read just for a few minutes and stop to drift off into idle thoughts provoked by the mood of the text. Madeleine L'Engle can always effortlessly carry me to so many
Perhaps it was the fascinating introduction by her grandchildren, but I found myself looking at the text differently. This book is a little odd anyway, as it reads sometimes like a children's geography book dressed up as fiction (a bit like Brent-Dyer tried to do) and at other times reminds me of people who write at too great a length about their holidays "and then we did this. And then we did this. And the next day it rained, so we stayed in bed until..." But I also wasn't quite convinced by Vicky's angst. It felt almost to me as though L'Engle didn't really understand Vicky's problem with God and so was just writing the words that she'd heard "teen-agers" say by way of explanation. But it was a lovely read for all that, and I really loved the fact the modern edition has not tried to modernise the language. It's a long time since I've read "gay" in the context of "happy" and it was fun to go back in time, even if I did get annoyed by some of Vicky's language, such as "Yah". Somehow I'd never thought of her using that kind of slang!
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places. It was also fascinating because I hadn't quite realised before that I'd never yet read this part of the Austin series, so that was a real surprise for me.Perhaps it was the fascinating introduction by her grandchildren, but I found myself looking at the text differently. This book is a little odd anyway, as it reads sometimes like a children's geography book dressed up as fiction (a bit like Brent-Dyer tried to do) and at other times reminds me of people who write at too great a length about their holidays "and then we did this. And then we did this. And the next day it rained, so we stayed in bed until..." But I also wasn't quite convinced by Vicky's angst. It felt almost to me as though L'Engle didn't really understand Vicky's problem with God and so was just writing the words that she'd heard "teen-agers" say by way of explanation. But it was a lovely read for all that, and I really loved the fact the modern edition has not tried to modernise the language. It's a long time since I've read "gay" in the context of "happy" and it was fun to go back in time, even if I did get annoyed by some of Vicky's language, such as "Yah". Somehow I'd never thought of her using that kind of slang!
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LibraryThing member krizia_lazaro
What can I say? I'm a sucker for teenage romance then throw in some love triangle and one of the boy is the bad boy type... ohhh teenage love and teenage drama. This book made me wish that I am young again. Vicky Austin is growing up, John Austin is still smart and handsome but Zachary Gray soooo
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bad and I love it! ;p This one is very easy to read and is a nice coming-of-age stroy. Its a nice way to past the time. :) Show Less
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
Second in the Austin family series. Vicky, who is nearly fifteen, narrates as in the first book. There's a family wedding, and then most of the book encompasses a family camping holiday, visiting quite a number of US states and parts of Canada too.
It's a journey of discovery for Vicky, including
However there's enough story to make it worth reading, particularly for fans of the series or the author. I think it would make a good read-aloud for children of about eight or nine and up who are interested in learning more about the United States. Although it was intended for teenagers, there's nothing inappropriate for younger children other than one or two tense moments.
It's a journey of discovery for Vicky, including
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the introduction of two low-key romantic figures, and it's also something of a natural history and geography lesson. The varied landscapes are described in a tad too much detail for my tastes, and in some places conversations are directly educational, related to wildlife or history. However there's enough story to make it worth reading, particularly for fans of the series or the author. I think it would make a good read-aloud for children of about eight or nine and up who are interested in learning more about the United States. Although it was intended for teenagers, there's nothing inappropriate for younger children other than one or two tense moments.
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LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
This gentle book is an excellent one, provided you understand it is rooted in its time period. There are certainly cultural things (the father being in charge, the fears of a nuclear war) that make it clear when it was written. That said, it still speaks to me now.
Young Vicky Austin is now 14, and
I enjoyed the tour across the country, especially the descriptions of the Palo Duro Canyon, not far from where I live now. I also enjoyed the philosophical passages in the book. It was exactly what I needed to take a break from my hectic real-world life.
Thoughtful young teens would enjoy this book. Adults who still remember what it was like to be 14 and who enjoy philosophy would like it, too.
Young Vicky Austin is now 14, and
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learning just who she is. She discovers, "You have to go off by yourself or you just stop being you, and after all I was just beginning to be me." And that in some ways is the theme of the book. Who are you and how do you know? And what happens when you meet someone different, not the same ethically as you?I enjoyed the tour across the country, especially the descriptions of the Palo Duro Canyon, not far from where I live now. I also enjoyed the philosophical passages in the book. It was exactly what I needed to take a break from my hectic real-world life.
Thoughtful young teens would enjoy this book. Adults who still remember what it was like to be 14 and who enjoy philosophy would like it, too.
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LibraryThing member DrFuriosa
An interesting examination of teenaged angst, but shadowed by the worst "bad boy" in all of literature. No, really. Zachary Grey is legit the worst. I fully believe Christian Grey was named for Zachary, that's how terrible he is as a character.
LibraryThing member lycomayflower
I might have enjoyed this second book in the Austin Family Chronicles even more than the first. The Austins are about to move to New York City, but first they are taking a cross-country camping trip to see the country and visit friends and relatives. The story comes through the perspective of
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Vicky, second oldest of the Austin children as she begins to itch a bit at the confines of family, begins to have interest in boys, and discovers more about who she is. Sometimes slightly dated in some attitudes, but not enough to be terribly bothersome, though of course that is YMMV. More annoying is the boy who won't leave Vicky alone. We're supposed to think he's kind of okay despite being... not all that okay, and that was the hardest thing to sit with for me. Show Less
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Pages
256