Debutantes

Gr 7–10—Violet, Daisy, Poppy, and Rose Derrington are living on the edges of society in 1920s England. The family wealth is all but gone and their home shows it. Their only hope is for 16-year-old Violet to make an excellent match. That is easier said than done, since she has no sponsor for her London season. Daisy concocts a plan to secure Violet an invitation to London in the hopes that it will help all the Derrington girls achieve their dreams. In Debutantes in Love, Poppy and Daisy are left behind, Violet is married, and Rose is at school. Though Daisy still longs to be a director, and Poppy a famous jazz musician, the reality is that even in 1924, young women still need a respectable marriage, dreams or no dreams, so it is off to London to find husbands and money. Harrison explores the world of the upper-crust and the lives of their servants. The writing is bland, but the antics of Daisy and her family liven up the narrative. Drama aplenty keeps each book moving along. Though the woes of these characters may seem inconsequential to some teens, those looking to a escape to a different time period will savor the attention to detail Harrison takes in crafting the setting. A historical drama series that will appeal to Downton Abbey fans and those who enjoyed Anna Godbersen's "Bright Young Things" series (HarperCollins).—Sarah Wethern, Douglas County Library, Alexandria, MN