This Jane Ellison story was listed on the Best Loved Girls' Books list at the time of its original publication. Sixteen is the magic age, the age when every girl expects to find a measure of poise and confidence . . . even glamour. But Jane Ellison, just sixteen, begins to suspect that this wonderful transformation has eluded her. Everything about her junior year seems to go awry and days that should have been busy and carefree are filled with all manner of annoyances.
Particularly irksome is her younger sister, Judy, whose effortless success in and out of school makes Jane's accomplishments look insignificant. The old crowd seems uninteresting, 4-H projects which have always absorbed Jane become difficult and she even quarrels with Chuck Ransome, her "almost steady" boy friend. Worst of all her school work suffers. She is definitely out of step with her parents, her sister, and her old friends and she can't see why. Jane is resigned to failure until hope comes from an unexpected source.
The attractive young teacher who comes to live with the Ellisons helps Jane find a new perspective on dating and homework and getting along with her family. The Ellisons, in turn, find themselves involved in the teacher's romantic problems. And in the process, Jane finally finds that the true magic of sixteen comes through her own efforts.
United States