It was difficult, later, to think of a time when Betsy and Tacy had not been friends

If I'm going to talk about childhood literary experiences that have shaped me, I must talk about the Betsy books by Maude Hart Lovelace.

Some of my earliest memories are of these books. I simply adored them. I was a hybrid Betsy and Tacy who wanted to be a Tib. Or at least have Tib's daring!

There is so much I love about these books - the portrayal of female friendship, the sister relationships especially as they grow up, her parents and their support of their daughters' dreams, the ambitions of the girls, everything about Betsy herself, etc.

As a child, I connected so deeply with these stories. Perhaps because they showed a world that was familiar to me, in that the girls had such rich imaginations and inner lives. I remember as a child creating fantastic worlds in which to live, and so I resonated with a childhood of mirror palaces and secret lanes. Deep Valley felt like home.

It took me awhile to come to the high school books. I couldn't bear for Tib to move away at first, and I wasn't ready for so much change; change can be hard for me. But when I was ready, these books were so perfect for me. I learned so much, and  I found so much comfort and inspiration in Betsy and her struggles and triumphs as she grew up.

I re-read them so often; I'm usually reading part of one of them at any given time, and I ritualistically re-read parts of Downtown before Christmas. I've worn through several copies. I always come back, or I guess never really leave; I am not the sort of person who generally describes books as friends, but the Betsy books are good friends.

Betsy and the Great World is probably my favorite, though it is a challenging one and there are parts I still find painful to read. I often think of this one quote, which I remember striking me when I read this as a young teenager: "Was life always like that? she wondered. A game of hide and seek in which you only occasionally found the person you wanted to be?"

I have come to think that part of growing up is realizing this, and I know I often find myself seeking for this version of self. In the meantime, whenever anyone asks me about my favorite literary heroine or character, I know I'll always answer: "Let me tell you about Betsy Ray."