Betsy in Spite of Herself

Betsy in Spite of Herself (1946) is the sixth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The book, along with the entire Betsy-Tacy and Deep Valley series, was republished in 2000 by HarperTrophy with a new cover art illustrated by Michael Koelsch.[1]

Betsy in Spite of Herself

First edition
Author	Maud Hart Lovelace
Illustrator	Vera Neville
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Betsy-Tacy
Release number	6
Genre	Historical fiction
Set in	Deep Valley, Minnesota (1907-1908)
Publisher	Thomas Y. Crowell Co., HarperCollins
Publication date	1946
Media type	Print
Pages	272
Preceded by	Heaven to Betsy (1945)
Followed by	Betsy Was a Junior (1947)

The story covers Betsy and Tacy's sophomore, or tenth grade, year in high school and re-introduces the character of Tib Muller, now living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

During a visit to Tib's family in Milwaukee, Betsy decides to re-invent her image, changing the spelling of her name to Betsye and attempting to adopt characteristics that will make her seem mysterious and alluring. On her return to her hometown of Deep Valley, her new image helps her to attract a boyfriend whose good looks and automobile draw considerable attention in town. However, over time Betsy becomes dissatisfied with having to pretend continually to be a very different kind of person. She also finds that this behavior is not endearing her to friends or family nor helping her achieve her goals as a writer, so she ends the relationship. Despite the disappointment, she decides that the experience has been good for her by helping her to develop different aspects of herself.

A visit to a chum who is a day student at the "seminary" (high school) of Milwaukee-Downer College (rather lightly disguised as "Browner College" in Milwaukee) plays a prominent role in the novel.[2]