Gifts for Beverly and Co

The girls at the world's fair all bought can banks.
1933 CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR CAN BANK The American Can Company made this lovely lithographed tin bank. Depicts the 1934 Chicago World's Fair, complete with plane and zeppelin in the air. Top says, "American Can Company at A Century Of Progress". 3.75 inches tall

1933 World's Fair Skyrider Uniform

Lenora was quite terriofied by the Skyride at The World's Fair in Beverly Gray at the World's Fair. Here is what the uniform looked like on those that worked on this ride

Beverly Gray on a Treasure Hunt by Clair Blank, review part 1 chapter 1 to 5

As my reviews are becoming longer I have decided to divide them up so I can add them initially through iPad without too much hassle. As a result thus is Beverly Gray on a treasure hunt part 1 where I discuss the first 5 chapters.

I have always loved the artwork on the cover of this book. It states in the front of the book that the artwork is inspired by page 130 with the caption "The cannibals had reached her friends before she could warn them!"
Not exactly how I would of pictured the scene but nether less a beautiful picture.

The script reads:
Suddenly she heard shouts and screams. No need to tell her what it was. The cannibals had reached her friends before she could warn them! Swiftly she sped through the altar room to the door they had first discovered. From there she could watch the scene on the beach without herself being seen. Afterward she did not know what kept her from instantly dashing out to impetuously join in the fray. She could have been of no use, but she longed to help her friends in their feeble defense. (p130)

Now I know in college Beverly was a good runner, and good at sports. Beverly is also sensible. And although Clair Blank isn't big on describing what people are wearing other than on the odd occasion .... Come on, an A-line dress that you would have to shuffle in and high heels whilst having been trekking the jungle after her herself having escaped the cannibals, having been in underground tunnels before that with her flashlight and notebook. I just don't buy that this is how Beverly would be dressed. Or that she wouldn't at least looked alarmed at seeing her friends captured. Still nice dress, good colour, lol.

In the start of this story we learn that Miss Ernwood, their chaperone and Roger's Aunt is going to stay in Shanghai with her British friends until the gang return from their treasure hunt.

Clair Blank as Author is so good at leading you from one chapter to the next wanting more with hints of what's to come. At the end of chapter two Clair Blank writes of Miss Ernwood staying in Shanghai:
Perhaps if she had known all that was to happen to her nephew and his friends, and even to her, before they were all reunited again, she would not have watched their departure so cheerfully. ( p 10)

Stragely though there is a contradiction as Beverly and Shirley are on board The Susabella talking about China:
"I'll never forget it," Beverly said.
"Id like to come again sometime," Shirley sighed.
"Thats just what I was thinking" Beverly smiled. (p12-13)

Hello, did I miss something, are a beverly and Shirley forgetting so quickly that they have to go back and get Miss Ernwood when they have barely just said see you later to her?

Although at the end of Beverly Gray in the Orient Larry boards the Susabella and states he is joining them as they travel to search for the treasure this story has Larry joining them in Japan after they haven't seen him for a week.

Anthony Anton and Shanghai Pete with parrot John still board the yacht in Shanghai though.

In Japan they follow the great Tokaido Rd to see the switchback railway, the zoo, and art school in Ueno Park. From there they visit the Imperial Palace and the Temple of Asakusa, they then travel to Yokohama to see Mt Fuji at close range by the Susabella.
Lenora teases Terry and to pay her back he grabs her and kisses her in front of the others and she runs off embarrassed.

When Larry joins the group he tries to convince the girls to stay in Yokohama and not join them on the hunt claiming the weather can be hard to handle. This is the first time in the series where I have felt that the women were given a poor liitle you things speech. Pity as I don't remember any such speech before which for the era is a vit surprising. Worse still it came from Larry, Beverly's future partner. Of course the girls refused to be left behind.

In Yokohama they went to see Nikko. The palace of the splendor of the orient.
Whilst in Yokohama they also experience an earthquake tremor.

There is an interesting note on travel.
"They might become famous, they might secure great possessions, yet fame could fade and any possession might be lost, but the memories they gained through their travel could never be taken away."

Character Stats From Beverly Gray in the Orient

Larry Owens: described as unruly crop of hair, tan face, reckless blue eyes, engaging grin.

Sir Reginald Forsythe: jolly, Stalwart, sunn tanned, officer of the British army, tall, muscular, twinkling black eyes, roguish grin.

Beverly Gray: described as having curls in her hair. Her most prized possession is her wrist watch that she got for rescuing Shirley from the fire in Freshman. Which is inscribed on the back. Beverly would look at her success as Connie's confidence in her (pg 77) Beverly upon seeing her published first book.
"The quotation 'I know happiness for I have done good work' came to mind and she agreed heartily with it."(p79)
Beverly bought a jade bracelet in Canton.

Lenora Whitehill: evasive about the state of her heart in matters of love. Lenora bought jade earrings in Canton. Stated as liking a man in uniform and liking Terry more than she will admit to herself.

Anthony Anton: explorer, writer, writes periodicals and for archaeologic magazines.

Terry Cartwright: believes in the proverb " One seeing is better than a thousand people telling you of it" (pg103 the Orient)

Lois Mason: distained jewels and bought a brass horse in Canton for good luck.

Shirley Parker: bought a jade necklace in Canton.

Kathleen Ryan: is described as almost as irrepressible and fun loving as Lenora (pg 114)

Beverly Gray in the Orient review

This book follows on immediately from Beverly Gray on a World Cruise where the gang aboard The Susabella went to Europe. The ending of the last book promised more on Lenora's bad luck scarab, Jim's half treasure map and more of The evil Count.
It isn't long before Beverly bumps literally into secret service agent Larry Owens in India at the Mahabodhi or Place of Great Intelligence in the sunken courtyard of the sacred Bo Tree. A nine storied pyramidal temple.

Next Count Alexis de Frachiny makes his return to the story and we learn that Beverly's ring she received from Omar El Hamel in Beverly Gray's Career has some significance to the locals in India. It makes you wonder for a moment during these scenes if the Count is really thick. He has searched Beverly's things before and never found the map and in Egypt Jim Stanton told him straight out that he had the map, so why not bother Jim instead?

Beverly next runs into Larry when they both break into the grounds of the Taj Mahal at night separately and bump into each other. Both are just there to sit in the grounds of the romantic place. Wow what poor security. Well at least they get caught in the morning when trying to leave. Again Omar's ring he gave Beverly comes to the rescue but the ending to the chapter is well written and forecasts gloom:
"For the second time in 24 hours Beverly's ring proved to be a valuable aid." ...
"Yet unknown to her, the hardest trial was yet to come, a trial which would prove the infallibility of Omar's gift." (p 44)

In India the group travel from Agra to Delhi by car except for Larry who has to go to Bombay.
A sign of the times, the men go hunting for tigers and Elephants in India whilst the women stay home. Shirley goes to the races whilst Lois, Lenora and Beverly go on a cattle barge on the river. When the boat capsizes Beverly is feared drowned. Her wrist watch turns up with a native. Beverly is saved from a tiger attack by writer / Explorer Anthony Anton.

In India the group then set out for Peshawar, the valley of Kashmir and the Khyber Pass.
They loved Srinagar for it's natural beauty. They bought oriental rugs and Kashmir shawls.
The last day they went to Shalimar. Then the Khyber pass from India to Afganistan. They stopped there and turned around to go back to Bombay to where The Susabella was.
On board the yacht they headed south to sail around the point of India and up the eastern shoreline.

Lenora states " We still have to see Ceylon, Calcutta and Benares."
They stop in the Madras to see the Seven Pagodas and to the once great city of Bali. From there they continue to Calcutta but are disappointed in it so quickly hop a train to Benares while The Susabella undergoes repairs.

The group visit The Monkey Temple in Durga. The Count returns and so does Omar from Beverly Grays Career (small world)
After all the concern their map has caused the group finally decide to look at it in detail. It has 2 x's and on the back 4 words. Fiji, inland, Temple and Pillar. They decide the other half of the map may have more words.

I can understand how Beverly Gray books would be popular for their time. Although author Clair Blank never travelled to or visited exotic locations the.details she adds would surely interest young readers who imagined what the world was like.
The group then decide to travel to China. Shirley says she wants to buy a jade necklace in Canton.

The next stop is Singapore for the day then on to Hong Kong. On the way to Hong Kong, Beverly is again giving poor Jim mixed messages.
"He couldn't give you diamonds or fancy yachts," Jim continued, his cheek against her hair, " but he'll always be around when you want him."
"Diamonds aren't everything and I never did want to own a yacht," she said very low."If the young man----"
"Goodnight everybody!"Lenora's voice broke between them and a chorus answered her. ( pg 109. )
What was Beverly going to say?

They spend the day in Hong Kong going to the peak to look over the city. Then they went into the city along Wyndham Hill Road before returning to their yacht in the harbor to go to Canton.
The Count again appears in Canton and Bevetly has to admit to the others rhat she told The Count everywhere they intended to go when she was friendly with him in London and Paris. Again how did she not know he was stalking g her if he failed to mention at the time he was also foxing to all the same places?

Back on ship the group are invaded by pirates on the Si River who kidnap Beverly and Shirley, when Jim tries to jump in to the rescue the last thing Beverly sees after a gun shot is Jim lying prostrate with three pirates standing over him.

Whilst kidnapped Beverly contemplates Shirley and her both being in love with Jim ( though the author stops short of saying Beverly is. It is here we learn that Beverly always thought that Shirley and Roger would eventually get together and that she had purposely had refused acme of Rogers invitations in order to throw Shirley and Roger together.

Before Beverly has too long to contemplate the Shirley, Jim triangle and how she feels about it Larry Owens turns up in disguise by Beverly's side.
Beverly to Shirley on being kidnapped. " We are the unluckiest two girls in the world, I believe."
"For anyone who likes excitement those are traitorous words," Shirley said. "I'll wager Lenora is wishing she were here." (p137)

After Beverly and Shirley escape from the pirates Beverly who has been jealous of Shirley and Jim's relationship (so she imagines) whilst captured has a change of heart and decides that her two best friends deserve happiness and Beverly sets the pair up to spend the day together whilst she goes off with Roger in Shanghai.

Roger and Beverly encounter The Count and Roger becomes determined to follow him, even though he was the one vocal earlier about not wanting to go after The Count and Barnaby when others in the gang wanted to. Roger and Beverly end up walking into a trap whilst Lenora spends time flirting with three navy men that Anthony Anton brings out to the Susabella with a dinner invite.

The story states that Lenora likes Terry more than she would like to admit. She also likes uniforms and knows she will get in trouble from Terry for flirting but does anyway. Terry counterbalances by flirting with the female (the Ambassadors Daughter) that comes out to the Susabella also with Anthony Anton that Shirley Parker and Jim Stanton had met that day.
The gang end up at the same restuarant where Beverly and Roger are trapped.
Larry again comes to the rescue after having tried to warn the gang all day to stay out of the old city Shanghai.

After the adventure Beverly realises that Shirley is in love with Roger not Jim.
The story ends with the gang having the other half of the map and setting sail for Fiji to find it. Larry Owens, Anthony Anton and a new character (an agent that has helped Larry) Shanghai Pete and his Parrot "John" join the yacht to increase the circle of friends even further for the next book, Beverly Gray on a treasure hunt.

Beverly Gray Stats from on a world cruise

Beverly has blue eyes.
Kathleen is working as an interior decorator.
Connie is studying to be a designer.
Paul kisses Lois when he sees her in Paris.
We learn that Shirley was an ardent horsewoman before her college days. At prepatory school her only interest was riding.

Beverly Gray on a World Cruise review

This is the 7th book in the series and had a wonderful lead into this in Beverly Gray at the world's fair.
The story begins by describing the Susabella with her white sides and green decks. With wicker chairs and a divan on deck who wouldn't want to be a part of the cruise.
Beverly doesn't seem as wrapped up in being a reporter as one would imagine for a rookie. She tells Jim that when she finds a market for her novels she will resign.

Beverly asks Charlie Blaine for a holiday so she can go on a cruise with her friends. Mind you Beverly has only just gotten back not too long ago from a months absence in Chicago. Yes she went to the Worlds Fair for work but stayed longer with her friends then would of been needed.
Charlie makes no promises but says that of she sends in stories he will pay for them if the choose to publish them.
Those to go on the cruise were Jim Stanton, Paul Benson, Roger Garrett, Lenora Whitehill, Beverly Gray and Shirley Parker. Rogers aunt Miss Ernwood is also on the cruise as chaperon. Crew on the yacht consisted of a captain, chef, steward and two sailors.

Connie and Kathleen stay at home in the apartment. The gangs first plan is to cruise to England to pick up Roger's friend Sir Terry Cartwright.
On board the yacht there are the usual mishaps you can expect from a Beverly Grsy story. Roger, Lenora and Beverly decide to go swimming in the ocean. Beverly decides to continue swimming after the others have stopped and whilst a distance from the yacht a shark appears. Jim Stanton cones to the rescue. That night Jim and Beverly snuggle up on the divan and kiss but Beverly tells him she might feel differently tonorrow. A few days later Jim falls overboard during a storm and isn't found. The Susabella after failing to find Him continues on to England. Beverly is distraught and Shirley tells Lenora "I believe she has been in love with Jim all the time - and didn't know it." ( p70)
everyone is trying to decide if they should go home or not after Jim's accident. As they get to shore in England Jim is waiting for them dressed in old sailor clothes.
Terry Cartwright takes "an immediate liking to Lenora" ( p74)
This story has Beverly do a complete turn around from the previous few books where Lenora egged Beverly on into adventure. From the moment Beverly's novel returned again rejected and she played hookey from work before resigning to travel the world. When following the boys to an unsafe part of town where Jim has to go to meet up with Slim who has the other half of a treasure map Beverly is passionate for adventure. Slim is murdered and Jim is warned of Black Barney who is looking for the map. The turn around Beverly said was a new desire to live life for today after the disappointment of working hard and researching for no reward.
Her behavior change did not go unnoticed. Jim seemed concerned but it came across like he probably liked her leaving her job as to him he thought she might settle down with him.
Shirley was concerned.
"A month ago Beverly would never have thought of that," Shirley said to Jim, watching her friend dive below the surface. " Now it seems the more dangerous a thing is the more she loves it." ( p48)
Beverly Beverly's treatment of her friends and of Jim are quiet poor at times whilst Beverly is struggling to come to terms with her newly acquired attitude to life. Poor Jim, Beverly had originally used the excuse she had no idea how Jim felt about her, qustionable considering everyone else seemed to know including her parents but it can happen. In this story though Beverly spends one evening on the boat kissing Him in the moonlight on board the yacht and then a few days later she says no to going to High Tea with him and the rest of the gang at The Ambassador whilst in England but then turns up there with a stranger (the Count) having tea and dancing with him infront of Jim.
Beverly's naivety continues in this story, I suppose it works as a devise to add more scenes to the drama but for a girl that is suppose to be a reporter it makes her look quiet silly.
Can you say the name Stalker? It seems that Beverly cannot. She bumps into Count Alexis de Frachiny in a bookstore in England and feels she has seen him before but can't remember where. She runs into him in Paris when she and Lenora are lost and can't remember the name of their hotel. He not only runs into them on the street but also happens to know the name of their hotel because he saw them there when checking in because he was staying there too. Okay so perhaps this could be the world's biggest coincidence but when Beverly goes to visit the gypsy
Anselo her rescuer from "Beverly Gray, Junior" and Anselo plays for violin for Beverly in his apartment. When Beverly and Anselo sit down for a cup of tea Anselo and then Beverly notice The Count longing in a doorway across the road watching Anaelo's apartment. When she questioned herself as to if he was following her, what were her thought? Creepy stalker? No!
She rebuked herself.
"The Count had not followed her! Why should he? Certainly there was no reason for him to spy on her!" (p139)
From Paris the group traveled to Berne where they saw famous fountains, the Bear, the " man who eats children" , and the sharpshooter; the old bear gardens; the five hundred year old cathedral before catching a train to Grindelwald to go to the three mile bob sleigh run.
Beverly goes skating on her own and runs literally into guess who? Does she say "Hey quit stalking me," does she run from the creepy man? No Beverly spends the morning with him not giving a thought to the fact that he has now turned up in a small village in Switzerland after running into her in Paris and England. No wonder this girl has a knack of being
kidnapped, locked up, and captured, poor Beverly is clueless!!!
Beverly starts to run low of funds and decides she has to return home. As her friends leave she receives a telegram addressed to Lois that says Beverly has sold her book. After a dangerous encounter with the count finally Beverly wakes up to what we knew all along that the count is a bad guy. Yeah!!!
Beverly now has to travel to Cairo, Egypt to try to catch up with her friends and I'm a tarting yo think I need to do that European trip like Beverly did.
In Egypt Beverly stays at The Shepeards hotel.
I don't remember Egypt at all from my first reading of this book a few years ago. In fact a don't remember a lot od this book so I am looking forward to whatelae I discover in future rereadings of the series.
Lenora did state early in the book rhat Jim had it all wrong and should just go grab Beverly.
Towards the end of the book when Lenora complains that Beverly gets all the adventure Terry grabs her to take her out looking for adventure. Lenora responds to the girls as
"Terry is becoming a caveman and I love it." (p 237)
Lenora soon gets her excitement when she gets Terry to buy her a scarab. To which after a near accident they read the curse on the back of it. "Destruction to those who take from Egypt the thunks which are Egypt's. (p 241)
Beverly is also on another writing frenzy
" I have to let my ideas out or my head would burst."(p 244)
Shirley senses that Beverly is unsatisfied with her life and tries to quiz her over Jim or Roger but Beverly says she is content but Shirley believes that Beverly is not satisfied with her life despite the book selling and her world travels.
Christmas eve is spent in Jerusalem visiting the small church where once the manager had stood.
The book ends on Christmas eve singing Christmas carols in Bethlehem and we are reminded of the next book in the orient and wonders if the Count will return or the scarab will bring destruction and that Jim still holds the treasure map.

Beverly Gray Artwork

i wish there were Beverly Gray items you could purchase, and a better collection of artwork of her. I decided today to buy some art paper to have a go at an artwork on Beverly for my wall. I am going to look at all the artwork created on her for some inspiration.

Alpha Delta Stats from world's fair

The picture has to be of Beverly wiith either Lenora, Virginia or Connie.

The girls buy cans from the American can company that are really banks with buildings at the world's fair on them. (Beverly, Virginia, Lenora and Connie)
Beverly: August 5th is Beverly's birthday. Star sign Leo. Beverly is told by a palm reader she loves Jim but she is very changeable in her heart and a little hard to please. Beverly was asked to get married by Jim numerous times.
Lenora: is told by a palm reader she will marry twice.
Virginia: has a young niece called Judy, is living with her Aunt and uncle in Chicago whilst studying medicine.

Other facts: Jim Stanton knew Roger Garrett at college. Jim plays the piano.

Beverly Gray at the World's Fair

This is it. Book number 6 and the only book in the series I have not read yet.
I have been enjoying starting the series at book 1 in preparation for this books arrival and will be happy to read on in order after this is finished in order to piece things together as they happened. The first time around I read the series in whatever order I could get them off eBay with a good condition dust jacket, this time I am reading to link the entire story together.
I decided to read one chapter as is was real late when I finished reading Beverly Grays Career and ended up reading 5 chapters. This is pretty much how this book read. Never a chapter alone as perhaps intended but like with any great compelling book in large digestible chunks, each time looking and thinking " I only have so many chapters left." it brought back memories as how I felt each time a Beverly Gray book arrived the first time I read the series. Even for me a inn tube person I considered getting a camera out to capture the arrival of this rare prize. It is great to find a series you can get really excited about. For me that excitement has come from Beverly Gray and Trixie Belden mainly now and The Secret Seven and Famous Five growing up.
Reading the series in order has also put the characters in better order for me. I can understand now why ypuu would have 12 Alpha Deltas, as it allows Beverly to travel but still be with friends in adventures and mysteries. I do wish that Clair Blank as an author spent more time describing her characters. Most I would not have the faintest idea as to their facial features, hair color etc. Some Alpha Deltas I barely know anything about, where I grew up on Enid Blyton books where the characters seemed to be defined in a lot greater detail.


The story starts with Lois leaving on a ship for Paris to study art for a year. Ralf Mathews, Larry Owens and Paul Benson, all suitors in Beverly Gray's Career are all present.
Connie has arrived and we learn her name is really Constance Elwood and Connie is for short. Connie and Kathleen Ryan move in with Lenora and Beverly just after Lois leaves.

Lenora, Connie and Beverly leave for Chicago and Beverly runs into Shirley ( not a long time till they saw Shirley again as was stated would be the case in Career ) Kathleen Ryan stays in New York and Jim Stanton turns up. Kathleen raves about how good looking Jim is and I can't remember anyone carrying on about Larry being as good looking. Would of been good to have seen a movie and have them side by side to see who they picked for the actors to play Larry and Jim.

Beverly and Virginia become involved in a murder at the world's fair. When Lenora becomes a part of the investigating team, Lenora shows a spunk and prowess that Beverly seems to drift in and out of. Lenora states she loves detectecting and again I think here is a girl who doesn't know what she wants to do for a career but she knows exactly what she loves doing. I then start to thinking is detective work that different to reporting? Why doesn't Beverly show more passion for pursuing the bad guys like Lenora does? Would a good reporter really hold off on a scoop story to get a fuller story later? Lenora spends a long time convincing Beverly that they should break into someones room to investigate. Lenora has a sense of urgency and gunho whilst Beverly is more contemplative.

The ending to the story was superb and again a great lead into the next adventure. The main mystery finished some time earlier and poor Beverly was attacked by a tiger and suffered yet another marriage proposal from poor Jiim. You think he would get fed up of being shot down. We also learn of Shirley's fate. If the world fair hadn't of dated this book then the new invention showcased at the world fair of television definitely did. Funny to see Lenora scared of a cable car too considering they are so tame by today's standards.

Reading the books in order has done a lot to fill in gaps of who's who and learn more about the Alpha Deltas.

Beverly Gray's Career

Picture: Beverly, Lenora and Lois loooking at the crystal with Omar El Hamel.







Beverly is not content at home in Renville. She has been home 3 months and has not been inspired to write anything of worth.
Shirley and Lenora turn up the same day. Lenora has inherited a lot of money.
Rosalie we learn very quickly is engaged and set to marry in spring, Shirley was correct about Anne and Rosalie it seems. After 4 books I still don't think I know enough about Rosalie to fill two sentences. For the frost 4 books she seemed to just say things in conversation, she never had a truly identifiable personality. She was simply referred to as quiet.
Lenora decides to go to New York and asks Beverly and Lois to join her. Lenora's motto for New York is " watch our smoke, and learn"
Beverly, Lois and Lenora share a one bedroom apartment. They have a large lounge room, kitchenettes, bathroom and bedroom. They get one double bed and one studio couch that opens to a full size bed.

I love the contemplation by Beverly in the early chapters as she often spends the evenings looking out the apartment windows. Looking at the skyscrapers in New York ( p59-60)
" Didn't the desire to better oneself, the love of friends, didn't these things count for something? Did one always loose idealism in the scramble for existence in the working world?" (p60)
" If she could and would refuse to see the sordid, unpleasant side of everyday living she could be just as happy as she had been at Vernon."(p61)

" There was something somewhere in the world that she wanted- needed. There was a great lack in her life."(p61)
Does Beverly find that something? I don't think so in " Career" Does she find it in the series and what is it? I'll have to ask myself as I re- read the series.

Hope Rodgers is a new character that is introduced that lives upstairs. During the story she opens a shop with Lenora to sell the latest fashions.
The girls play Bridge for entertainment.
Larry Owens turns up and we learn that although we gave not seen him since the night he proposed to Beverly in Junior, they have both sent a few letters but neither was a studious correspondent so the letters laxed. Funny how we know that Jim and Beverly also have written letters throughout the series but the pair manage to keep up their correspondence. It is even mentioned that Jim has asked Beverly again to marry him in one of his letters.

Again in Career we are entertained by Lenora's prowess as a would be detective, she really did miss her calling. A shop owner is too pedestrian for Lenora.
" Lenora was of the opinion that the detective didn't know much of this murder - or of anything. For one thing she didn't like the angle at which he wore his derby. And why did he have to wear a derby?" ( p115)

Beverly does a good charitable deed one Christmas eve helping two poor boys with a good meal and Christmas gifts.
Beverly starts to get short stories published and thinks of writing a play or novel.

Roger Garrett is introduced as a new suitor for Beverly after meeting him at Shirley's new years party she went to with Larry. Lois gets a new date called Paul Benson for the party and Lenora dates Ralph Mathew. Lucky for Larry his competition Roger is called away on business so Larry is able to step in to take Beverly out to see Shirley's play.

Lois is the first girl slotted for international travel as she wins an art competition with a years study in Paris. Shirley is also set to travel ( to Chicago) as a part of a play she has a minor role in.

"Why wish the past back again?" murmured Beverly. "The present is exciting and the future - well, we can make the future exciting if we want to." ( p214-215)

As the girls return to Vernon a new mystery starts with only 3 chapters to go. We also hear of the plans for the second generation of Alpha Deltas. Virginia is going to medical school, (Chicago) Ada to the conservatory of music, (Chicago) Connie school of design, (New York) Kathleen studying to be an interior decorator (New York), Evelyn to business school to be a secretary. ( Philadelphia) and Phyllis to do commercial art. (Philadelphia)

It is mentioned in the last chapter that the girls would not see Shirley again for some time and with Lois going to Paris for a year, Connie and Kathleen are slotted into the story with a move to New York after graduation.
And of course the next book in the series is the ever illusive Beverly Gray at the World's fair.

Beverly Gray, book 4 Senior review

I got the impression before I started this book that perhaps author Clair Blank had not decided on a definite mystery for book 4 whilst reading the end of book 3, it talked about adventures to come but not mysteries. To those who are new to the series the first book Freshman was written by Clair when she was fresh out of school and the publishers asked her to write 3 more to be released as a series about college life. As it was the series was so popular we got to see a lot more of Beverly than just at college in the end but book 2 to 4 must have been written on a very tight schedule.

The start of this series mentions some things that the previous books didn't mention. All of a sudden we have rivals in Vernon in the form of a group of Juniors that are gaining in popularity and like the Alpha Deltas there are six of them. In fact though the Alpha Deltas had no encounters with them in previous books our first introduction to the goes like ...
"Is there a mystery in the air?"
"No"Lois answered " but Connie Elwood and her gang are back in full bloom."
The six new girls that are introduced as juniors are: Kathleen Ryan, Ada Collins, Evelyn Delong, Virginia Harris, Phyllis Tanner and Connie.
Connie goes on to state in one of the opening chapters in a conversation with Shirley..
"I know there is no cause for friendship between us. Goodness knows, my crowd and The Alpha have been at odds for a long time...."
This is a funny statement as Connie, her friends, or any incidences between them and the alphas have never been mentioned before this book and you would imagine a great rivalry between groups would have made an appearance before now,

The book also starts by building the story of Forsythe Film Company coming to campus from Hollywood to make a movie, this story was introduced in the last book, Junior. The idea of having a competition for the students at the school to write a scenario for the movie that will be filmed is a bit ridiculous though. I mean how do you add such a thing to the overall film, especially when they get to make up their own characters rather than use the characters in the film. Instantly it sounds like just the thing for Beverly to display her great writing talents. And Shirley a great actress which the film producer has seen her act as Hamlet at last years college production is silently waiting in the wings.
What with a stuffy stuck up starlet that has a bad attitude and who Lenora set up at the worst hotel in town to teach her a lesson thinking she may quit the film. Leaving a space open for our Shirley to shine. Are we getting predictable Miss Blank? I'm not even up to that stage in the story and already I'm predicting outcomes. Is this because I read the book several years ago and may still remember a bit? Is it because I know and love Beverly and her friends so well? Is it because Clair Blank might of been saying to herself, one more to go then I gave given the publishers the four books they asked for? It would of been interesting to know how ling it took Clair Blank to write each book. Was Senior easier because it was the final year and Clair still had previously mentioned things to draw on that had never been fleshed out before like Anne and Beverly being great tennis players.

A day later and I'm there, yes the predictable happened. One thing I didn't remember from the first time around was the extreme emphasis on Clair Blanks part on being popular:
"Imagine! Valedictorian and president in our society!"
"Her club will never be as popular next term as we are this term."
"He remembered the girls as the ones the Dean had introduced to him as the most popular group on campus."
"They knew that defeat at the hands of Connie and her pals would not be easy. For one thing their popularity would be depleted,..."
"The girl who won would certainly be popular and envied."
Funny how in more recent times being in the popular group in a story probably make you be a mean girl, or a bully or have some other negative attributes. Where during the 1930's when this book was written popular meant you were admired for your achievements for sports, excelling in college subjects or having a talent and winning."

At the Senior ball everyone goes as their favorite fictional character:
Peter Rabbit - Beverly.
Sherlock Holmes - Lenora
Peter Pan - Lois
Joan of Arc - Rosalie
Robinson Crusoe- Anne.

Jim proposes marriage to Beverly and she tells him she never saw him as anything but a friend.
The book / time period seems to be marriage OR career not that you can have both.

Beverly states " isn't one always sorry to find out she is grown up at last? I shall miss the girls a lot."

When Lenora and Beverly pull a stranger out of a window he was trying to break into Lenora has to talk Beverly into following him. (where is Beverly's reporter instincts? Lenora seems more after a story than she.
Beverly states:" he is probably an innocent visitor to the town. I guess he tried to get into the private car just for curiosity." ( p119)
This is absurd - since when was break and enter an innocent thing to do. This shows up Beverly's naivety and makes you wonder if she could be a reporter.

When Beverly becomes part of a kidnap caper she complains about not liking it.
" Where is your sense of adventure?" sneered Lenora. " This is exciting."
Beverly does kick into Reporter mode which we expect of our heroine.
When Beverly enters a house as a part of her investigation, author Clair Blank does a great job of building tension.

In the tennis cup tournament Alpha Deltas Anne and Kathleen Ryan are partners and Beverly teams with Connie Elwood.

Clair Blank does not reveal the year they graduate. At the senior dinner it states " nothing is too good for the class of 19--" (the year is not filled in)

Although Beverly suspects something is going on between Anne and Tommy from glances they exchange she does not question Anne. She does vow however to try and be closer to Anne again as she spends most her time with Lenora and Connie.

The six girls agree to meet up again at the next years graduation to see the 6 new Alpha Deltas graduate.

Beverly's speech at the Senior dinner at Wellar's is inspiring.
" When we leave Vernon we shall go on to different positions and live different lives. Many of you go out in the world to earn your living, and you will meet shadows. The way will prove thorny and rough to some, and yet the future, whether for honor or dishonor rests in our own hands. With a high aim, firm purpose and unselfish ambition we can make our lives what we will."

It is not until the last few pages we learn that Lois is a talented artist that wants to sketch.
Lenora declares it is her sole intention to do nothing but enjoy herself. Rosalie would like to go to the conservatory for music.
Shirley states that two girls in their group (she is referring to Anne and Rosalie) "they are the kind who should devote themselves to society - they are so gracious and contented." I interpreted this as they will marry not work which ends up being what they do.

In the last chapter Anne announces her engagement to Tommy and their wedding takes place with the Alpha Deltas present. Beverly and Jim are the only bridal party. Maid and best man. Anne and Tommy marry and leave immediately as Tommy has a new job out of town.

When asked if she will marry Lenora said she was working on the navy principles "my motto is a boy in every town"

Even before I was 3/4 the way through Senior I was missing the idea of not having more books on their college years and wished there had been 8 books with the mid year Christmas holiday as the end point for the first and the end of t
Year for the second July to June the terms run in the books. Or even 12 books one for before holiday break, one on the break one on return making 12 books in 4 years. Yes I am already missing Beverly's college years at Vernon and wish I could read more.

Beverly Gray Book 3 junior book review

This book jumped straight into excitement and mystery as the girls return to Vernon College and decide to go to a gypsy camp to get their fortunes read. Lenora is told she will meet a blonde male and must listen, and Beverly is told she will have three men fighting over her and she will be in danger. It was great that Beverly went missing soon after. What didn't ring true was for her friends at Vernon College not to bother to even go out to search for her and look for clues in the direction of the post office where she had been going. Even though the girls first day back at college meant no classes and at lunchtime Beverly's disappearance was all the talk, still no one bothered to go off campus to look for her. Surely this can't be a sign of the times? Is it just the author not bothering to be sidetracked from her plot? Found some of Sophomore the same. I mean Beverly finds a crate of white powder and her first thought before getting the police is that it's nearly dinner time at Vernon College and she mustn't be late otherwise she will get in trouble. Of course the crate was gone when she returned.

I was thinking before I started this book trying to remember back to my first reading of it that I didn't enjoy the gypsy stories so much. I really enjoyed this second read through though. Don't get me wrong there isn't a Beverly Gray book that I don't love, it's just which ones I prefer. But this I thoroughly enjoyed, and liked the gypsy story a lot more than I remember.

I also think I'll think more about Larry this time around and if I think he and Beverly did ever get married in the end. The first time I read these stories I thought not because he always seemed to take off for one reason or another and having been in the secret service and all I wondered if he could stay around long enough before needing to take off on adventure.

The main mystery finished half way through the book, before the college Christmas holiday break.
This time it was Christmas at Beverly's house for Beverly and Shirley. It made for a great comparison between Shirley's home life and Beverly's as it wasn't that long ago that the Alpha Deltas went to Shirley's house for the holidays. Shirley's lived in busy New York but didn't have friends to introduce the girls too. Shirley's family were not involved in their daughters life and it seemed that everyone in her house
lived separate lives. Outings involved the movies and shopping, things you could imagine that Shirley could also do on her own. Life seemed pretty lonely in a big city where people didn't get to know each other. Home at Beverly's was in contrast, close family involvement, lots of
friends filling the days with group outings and social occasions.
Towards the end of the book I did feel Beverly was a bit too idealistic in her not wanting to accuse the obvious culprit. Lenora even came across as more the sleuth of the pair on this occasion as she was always suspicious and immediately figured things out.
Shirley's character was developed well in this story as she learnt to have a conscious towards how things affect others. I'm glad this series doesn't spend every moment concentrating solely on Beverly as Clair Blank developed some great sidekicks. Both Beverly Gray and Shirley Parker are only children so it's interesting the differences between the two friends in this story including the differences in their parents participation in their lives.

Jim Stanton Stats, Beverly Gray books 1 to 4

In book 1 Beverly 's father states that He thinks Jim is in love with Beverly but she isn't with him.
Book 2 Jim is in his Senior year at Yale. Plays on the Yale football team.
Has loved Beverly since he was in the third grade and a beverly was in the first grade.
Described by Shirley as tall and good looking
Eyes: grey
After Yale Jim is an Engineer working on a bridge in Wyoming, then his next project is to be in New York.
Jim proposes to Beverly in Senior and Beverly states she never thought of him as anything but a friend.

Larry Owens Stats, Beverly Gray books 2 - 4

Hair: mop of chestnut hair
Eyes: blue
Family from New England.
Aviator, plane is called the red bird, after it crashes he gets another called red bird ii
Went to college., graduate of Columbia.
He appears for the first time in book 2 Sophomore
He has been in the secret service for three years since leaving college so you could estimate he is 5 years old than Beverly.
He asks Beverly to marry him in Junior and she refuses.
Of the first 4 Beverly Gray books Larry is in Sophomore and Junior. In Junior he comes to Beverly's rescue with the help of Jim Stanton.
After Beverly days no to his marriage proposal we don't see him again in the first 4 books during Beverly's college years.

Beverly Gray Sophomore book 2 review

The start to book 2 was a lot different from book 1. There was an assumption that you knew the characters from book 1 and if not the main characters were quickly introduced in a chapter and the book continued straight into the start of a mystery for Beverly to solve. The mystery itself however unravels slowly as it is broken up by college events such as a dance.

The Holidays in this book were well handled as the Alfa Deltas got to spend their holidays together in New York and Beverly got to solve a quick mini mystery. This was a great way to keep us engaged with the main characters rather than separate them for the break. It's interesting that author Clair Blank didn't attempt to skip over the holiday breaks at school but instead incorporated them into the story.

I'm realizing that even though Rosalie is one of the main friends in those book I don't know anything about her, Lois was the same until the last few chapters of this book.
.Lenora they also haven't spent a lot of time with her details either but she does have a distinct personality that shines through. She says things directly, acts fearlessly, quick witted, loves food, loves sodas, including choc sodas. Weller's the local soda store is mentioned a bit as the girls hang out there. Lois also before the last few chapters of this book seemed to lack a distinct personality but it seemed to develop rapidly once she engaged in a friendly war of words with Lenora.

The part whet Beverly is trapped and decides to play solitaire instead of looking for the escape latch seemed so wrong, especially since someone there was a murderer and she had been threatened that day my a man with a knife, and I wouldn't of thought Beverly would give up looking so easily.
For the nostalgic Disney fans when the girls decide to go to a matinee movie to cheer Shirley up Lenora states: " you must come, I shan't
enjoy Mickey Mouse if you don't"
There are three mysteries in this book, the first of the haunted house, complete with dancing skeletons and the second the stolen diamond and third The stolen exam papers.

Although Shirley gave up a possible career as an actress to continue studying at Vernon she didn't get to hone her craft at all this term ( where was Hamlet that Lenora promised to put on with Shirley playing Hamlet? ) It seemed to take Shirley even most of the year to realize that she hadn't worked further on her acting.
Overall more of a mystery book than the first even if it was a very classic theme of the haunted house mystery. More character devopment and more importantly more development in how the characters intact with each other which is probably what makes Beverly Gray books so great.

Beverly Gray Stats, book 2 Sophomore

Sorority: Beverly and her friends form a sorority, Beverly is voted president of the Alpha Deltas.
Beverly joins the college paper " The Comet " as a Reporter.
Hair: Dark, curly.

Sophomore, book 2

Now up to reading book 2 again Sophomore. More stsats to come on both Beverly and other main characters.

Beverly Gray Freshman

Reading this series again I enjoyed the fun of the start of Vernon college. The sports emphasis for the girls, the prank played on The Freshman. The initial 4 stories at Vernon are probably not my favourites compared to when Beverly starts on her chosen career and travelling the world. Still it's interesting that Beverly had stated since High School that she didn't want to marry, instead she wanted a career and to travel the world. I get the feeling by series end though that she would have reevaluated that and would have married Larry.
On Friday I went to a Positive Psychology course and it's interesting that they put up a formula for life. Everyone wrote out hour for hour their ideal day and then they wrote what they did yesterday and were to compare the two to see how much you did that was truly important to you and matched your higher purpose. ( I failed dismally by the way) Beverly on the other hand would pass this test. Even though she isn't doing what she sees as being her life purpose in Freshman the book does state in regards to Shirley possibly ruining her life by running away that she was a coward because she wouldn't wait to be trained properly for her place in the world.

Throughout the series Beverly never lost sight of her goal, to forge a career and travel the world as well. During this first book in the series Beverly decided that career was as a writer, probably a foreign correspondent for some newspaper.

I wondered what was happening when Beverly returned home for the Christmas holidays, here we were being introduced to a large number of Beverly's friends that were never going to be of great importance to the series except for Jim Stanton. The distraction did provide more background to Beverly 's character however and did offer the first major adventure of the story when Beverly is held captive.

Though Beverly Gray is known for her mysteries this first book doesn't contain a mystery, ( unless you count a mystery for others as to where Beverly was when she was held captive.) it is more a series of college adventures, pranks, parties, study, plays, sports, friendships etc as well as some more unusual adventures like a fire and Beverly being held captive.

Shirley Parker Stats, Beverly Gray books 1 to 4

Shirley Parker is Beverly's first roommate at Vernon and doesn't like her at first.
Shirley is a wiz at geometry, knows her literature well but struggles with history in Sophomore.
Hair: red
Described as tall in Sophomre.
Eyes: grey
Background: rich parents whom Shirley said didn't have time for her. Her parents live in New York.
In Senior Shirley becomes caught up in herself and stardom as she is the lead in a movie then is embarrassed and doesn't know how to gain her friendships back.
In Senior we learn that Shirley was the star of the basketball team for the past two years.

Lois Mason Stats, Beverly Gray books 1 to 4

At Vernon college Lois is first introduced as Anne White's roommate in book 1 Freshman.
For the first few weeks Lois is mean to Anne but this is then explained away as her being homesick.
Lois becomes secretary of the Alfa Deltas in Sophomore.
During the last two chapters of Sophomore Lois starts to counter comments by Lenora and this banter continues at the start of Junior. This is what I remember between Lois and Lenora and it is really the first thing in the series that starts to define the chacter of Lois, until this point I would of labelled her with the non descript personality we are given for Rosalie Arnold.
In Senior we learn she is a good basketball player. she plays a forward.
She is an actress but not serious in pursuing it as a career like Shirley is.
She dresses. As Peter Psn at the favorite fictional character dance.
It is not until the last few pages of Senior that we learn that Lois is a talented artist that wants to sketch.
Lois has a kid sister and she is going to babysit over the holidays after college finishes.

Lenora Whitehill Stats, Beverly Gray Books 1 to 4

Lenora is not introduced until chapter 5 of Book 1 Freshman, as a freshman that suffered from the same Freshman prank that Beverly, Anne, Lois and Shirley did.
Lenora has cute little sayings, in Sophomore it's " the nuts" for when something is good.
Lenora plays the piano.
Towards the end of book 2 Sophomore at the movies Lenora starts her rapid fire witted, chatter with Lois which would often become described in stories. This is played up the most in the last chapter of Sophomore as Lois counters everything that Lenora says.
In Senior you start to see the full potential of Lenora's character as Beverly spends most her time with Lenora or Connie.
At the fictional ball Lenora goes as Sherlock Holmes. In fact for what is to become a mystery series Lenora in Senior is more the detective than Beverly (she would of made a great detective or police officer) she has to talk Beverly into following a suspect. Lenora in this book refers to herself a few times as Sherlock Holmes. She even questions Beverly as to " where is your sense of adventure?"

Beverly Gray Stats from Book One Freshman

I thought I would take the time while rereading the series to collect stats on Beverly Gray for my website down the track. So here are stats from book 1.
Beverly Gray Stats.
Age: 19 years old at the start of the story and entering college.
Her best friend at the start of the story is Anne White, who's mother had been good friends with Beverly's mum when she was young also.
Mother: Helen Chadwick, went to Vernon College and wanted Beverly to follow in her footsteps. Beverly doesn't tell other students she is Helen's daughter but Helen is referred to as a patron saint by some students.
Father: John Gray
Lives: grew up at Rest Haven, Renville. At college she lives in Chadwick Hall.
Pets: a wire- haired fox terrier there called Terry.
Beverly's first roommate at Vernon college is Shirley Parker.
Quirks: signs a letter to her parents " love and lollipops"
Sports: Beverly I'd a good tennis player and asked to try for the college team as a Freshman. Beverly plays Basketball and was the best player in High School.
Eyes: blue
Hair: brown
Build: slim
High School: Beverly was a member of a social group of friends called " The Lucky Circle" the group consisted of Beverly, Anne, Jim Stanton, Tommy Chandler (a neighbor) Barbara West, Gordon Brewster, Joan Roberts, and Boyd Marshall.
Aspirations; in High School Beverly had said she woukd never marry instead she would travel the world and have a career.
Moto: from Tennyson, " For man is man and master of his fate."

Beverly Gray Books.. Time to read the series again from book one.

Finally it's time!!!!!
It's great, absolutely exciting because I have finally tracked down the elusive Beverly Gray at World's Fair. I will finally get to read the last Beverly Gray book I have to read.
I am going to read the entire series from start to finish. I read books all out of order as I was buying them from the USA as I saw books with DJ's on sale and grabbed them. Now I have the final book I need on it's way I am going to start reading the series again from book 1 and will blog as I go along.

Beverly Gray's Island Mystery

This is the book that started it all for me. I was up in the Blue Mountains looking at the second hand book stores. My favourite book store there has a vintage children's book room. One of those great library rooms where the book shelves run from floor to ceiling and there is a wooden ladder to get to the higher shelved books. This was the first time I had visited this store (though I have been a number of times since)

I don't know what attracted me to pick up this book. Other than it ticked all the boxes, it was a girl's mystery series, it had interesting artwork cover (hey Beverly is even wearing the classic 1950's pearls) and it was a bargain at $6.50, so I thought even if it was really bad it didn't break the bank. Though I must admit I did think it was going to be the kind of book that I liked.

Beverly Gray books are really a soap opera, (kind of brings back memories of watching Days Of Our Lives during my Uni years)
if you are going to read the books out of order though I must say this is probably an ideal candidate as it is a rare occasion and I mean RARE that Beverly isn't surrounded by her huge array of friends. Yes Beverly is mainly alone for a solid proportion of this story, which for me made a great introduction to her without the confusion of who is who. The reason for this is that this is the book after Beverly Gray's Secret and at the start of this book ( being a follow on from the last book) the Susabella has gone missing. This single event removed Roger, Jim, Terry, Lois, Shirley and Lenora from the story forefront and allowed for the reader to be introduced to Beverly's job as a reporter, her love interest Larry and her fellow reporter and rival Kay, all without the usual large character numbers of other stories in the series.

The Story also has Beverly going back to Vernon College so it gave great insight into Beverly's past for someone who hadn't read the stories of her college years. For her undercover work at the college Beverly takes on the guise of Annabelle Green, niece of Professor Green so that she can snoop around more easily then she would be able to do as herself Beverly Gray, Reporter.

I don't think I could of had a better introduction to Beverly Gray by starting any other book first. I got a glimpse of all her friends without them being all in my face all at once so to speak (I think I would of dreaded starting the series with one of the stories on The Susabella as I'm sure all the passengers would of been hard to keep up with. I also got an introduction to Vernon and what Beverly loved about it as she reminisces about the place she went to college whilst solving her latest mystery, and a good solid mystery it is, the book really kept my interest, and definitely left me wanting more Beverly Gray books. In fact she very quickly became my absolute favourite character after that first read.

It isn't until Chapter 15 of a 17 chapter book that our Susabella passengers show up in the story. The main plot continues right to the end of the book also, which isn't always the case with a Beverly Gray book, I am often half way through a Beverly Gray book going "okay they finished the main plot, so what now?"

This book also doesn't run into the start of the next book in the series as some do, its end with Beverly and Lenora yearning to get home, a place I still didn't know much about, still I didn't really know at this stage just how much travel Beverly Gray did and that she wasn't home a lot of the time.
Loved this book that started the journey for me.