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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Review: The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted


Title: The Education of Bet
Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin BFC
Pub. Date: 7.12.2010
Genre: Historical YA
Keywords: Identity Swap, Secrets, Gender Roles, Family, Romance
Pages: 192
Description (from GoodReads):
Bet is sixteen, very intelligent, but only knows as much as her limited education will allow. In Victorian England, girls aren't allowed to go to school.

Will is also 16, and though not related by blood, he and Bet act like brother and sister. In fact, they even look like brother and sister. And though they're both raised under the same roof, by the same kind uncle, Will has one big advantage over Bet: He's a boy, and being a boy means he isn't stuck in the grand house they call home. He gets to go out into the world--to school.


But that's not what Will wishes. He wants to join the military and learn about real life, not what's written in books.


So one night, Bet comes up with a plan. She'll go to school as Will. Will can join the military. And though it seems impossible, they actually manage to pull it off.


But once Bet gets to the school, she begins to realize the education she's going to get isn't exactly the one she was expecting.
 
THE EDUCATION OF BET took me completely by surprise! Before this novel, I'd never read anything by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, but I was intrigued by the description.
 
I found the lengths Bet and Will go to in order to disguise Bet as a boy entertaining. I was skeptical that Baratz-Logsted would be able to make this aspect of the novel believable, but I actually found it very convincing. I especially loved that there were adults at the school aiding Bet in her quest for an education.
 
It was inspiring to see Bet fight so hard for something she wanted... something other than a boy. Don't get me wrong, I love a good romance, but it was refreshing to see the main character so passionate about something else. It definitely reminded me how lucky I am to have the opportunity to go to school... with all the stress, homework, and insane costs, it's easy to forget that.
 
But wait! There's romance too! Which, honestly, I should have anticipated, but I really hadn't. It was interesting an interesting and memorable romance, since, during the development of the romance, Bet is still disguised as Will. Understandably, this leads to some awkward moments, but Baratz-Logsted did a wonderful job making their story believable.
 
Grade: A
 
Review copy provided by publisher.

55 comments:

  1. I absolutely loved this one! I thought I'd like it a lot, but I ended up LOVING it.

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  2. Really looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the review! - Stasia

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  3. This next on my list - so glad to hear a glowing review!

    Alyssa
    Teens Read and Write

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  4. I love gender switch stories, especially if it's pulled off right! Adding this to my TBR. =)

    Great review!

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  5. Oh I have been wanting to read this!!

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  6. I was so impressed by this one! I loved the line about how Bet had never seen so much beauty gathered up into one human being. :D

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  7. This sounds really good and I think I really would enjoy it!

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  8. I agree with you, very cute book!

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  9. This sounds kind of cute! I think I'll take a look at this. Thanks for the review, Sara!

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  10. You know, I was never just dying to read this one. Still, it looks really cute. Your review might have changed my mind :)

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  11. This seems like a fantastic book! I didn't really like this author's other book - forget what it's called, something about a guy with a hook for a hand - but this seems like it might be better.

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  12. After reading your review Ican't wait to read The Education of Bet! (: Awesome review.

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  13. This sounds like such a cute book

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  14. This book has been on my wish list for a while. I love historical fiction. YA needs more books like this.

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  15. Never heard of this book before but it sounds great!

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  16. Great review. Romance when Bet is disguised as Will? I'm intrigued! :)

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  17. This book sounds really good. I'm glad that you posted a review because I might not have heard of it if you hadn't.

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  18. This sounds like a really interesting read. I can't believe I'd never heard of it before. And the cover is absolutely breathtaking!

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  19. Historical Romances are my favourite kinds of romances, because there's more to it than the love story! This looks really good :) Great Review!

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  20. Your review was very good. I am glad that this one wasn't just a standard romance.

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  21. Sounds like a good book. I read one with a similar type of story (where a woman is disguised as a man) however, it was for different reasons.

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  22. This sounds like a book I would really enjoy. I'd love to read it and then pass it on to my granddaughters. I know they would like it, too!

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  23. I like your review and agree with you that it is nice to see Bet fight so hard for something else than a boy!

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  24. Wow, that is a unique story line. I like it. Females have been rising about the "lines" that have been set for them for yrs. I would love to read so I am adding to my wish list.
    Thanks for the terrific review.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  25. I haven't read anything by this author, but this definitely sounds interesting. The whole girl passing herself off as a guy has been done before, but this one sounds rather unique. I will have to read this one.

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  26. I adore Lauren's books. Crazy Beautiful was one of my favorites last year and I can't wait to read this one! And now I'm even more excited!

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  27. Wonderful review!! I will have to check this one out. It looks really great. I don't believe I've ever read a book like this one before! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I really like that it's an historical, that is what I'm reading now and loving.

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

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  28. Great review - I like stories with a woman has to disguise herself as a man in a time where that is the only way they can have any freedom. It reminds me of the Chinese legend of the "butterfly lovers".

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  29. This sounds exactly like the kind of book I would love. :) This is a great review and I'm mad my library doesn't have any copies. I'll find some way to read it.

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  30. I haven't heard much about this book but I've wanted to read it for quite a while and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

    Jordyn @ Ten Cent Notes

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  31. +JMJ+

    I've been a fan of cross-dressing heroines since I first discovered my grandmother's old copy of The Comedies of Shakespeare. Viola, Rosalind, Portia and Nerissa . . . Bet is in a very respectable tradition. =)

    By the way, Sara, your comment that Bet is fighting for something other than romance reminds me of Katherine Patterson's Lyddie. Have you read that book? It doesn't have as strong a romantic angle as The Education of Bet seems to have, though.

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  32. Great review! I'm really looking forward to reading this book. Lauren Baratz-Logsted seems like a wonderful writer :)

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  33. Thanks for the review. It's sad that she has to disguise herself as a boy just to get the education she wants, but it sounds like it will be interesting to read about.

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  34. Oooh, this one sounds good. I like this kind of story :)

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  35. Reminds me a bit of the Alanna books. I love Lauren's writing!

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  36. I really like your review ! Don't worry, I've never read anything by her either! This is the first book by this author that I've heard of and it sounds really good!

    ~Alison

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  37. It's refreshing to know someone is writing about something other than vampires. I'm very excited to read this one!

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  38. Sounds like an awesome book!!! :)

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  39. i'm putting this on my tbr list - it sounds wonderful!

    k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com

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  40. This is such a fresh concept to a book, I love it!

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  41. Sounds like a fabulous book. I'm adding it to my to read list!

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  42. I like the combination of history and intrigue. A straight forward romance rarely holds my attention. I'll keep my eyes open for this book!

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  43. Thanks for the review! I really like historical fiction and this book looks really good. I love how it seems to have a really courageous heroine! I will definitely try to get his book soon :)

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  44. This book sounds great! Thanks for the review!

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  45. I like your review. I agree that the book is much more interesting when the main character is passionate about something.


    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  46. This one sounds great, especially the romance :)

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  47. I haven't read this one yet, but I love Victorian England settings so I'm definitely interested.

    melissa [at] yabookshelf [dot] com

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  48. That is a great review. It sounds like a very victorian story (which I really like). I would love to read it.

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  49. Great review! I think this book looks really good. I am going to have to check it out! Thanks.

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  50. I adore stories where a girl pretends to be a guy. They make up my favorite genre of manga and I'd love to reada book about it. Your review gives me hope that this would be right up my alley.
    :)

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  51. This looks like an interesting book - thanks for the review!

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  52. I loved Lauren's book Crazy Beautiful! I have really been wanting to read The Education of Bet. I know what you mean about having a main female character being passionate about something other than a guy. That's one aspect I'm looking forward to in this book. The romance in this one sounds similar to the one in A Golden Web by Barbara Quick, which is a fave of mine. Can't wait to read this and am so glad you enjoyed it! :D

    ~Briana

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  53. Seems interesting...that she'll go to such great length to learn. and romance, too!

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  54. Thank you so much for your review. I wasn't sure whether to read this book because I was worried that it would be nothing, just 'fluff' stuff, but now I really want to read it, knowing that it has not only a girl pretending to be a boy and the lengths that she has to go through but also romance, which I didn't anticipate! Thanks!
    -Julia G.

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