Meet the Austins

Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle, 1960 Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

     When their honorary uncle and his co-pilot die in a plane crash, the Austins take in the co-pilot's orphaned daughter, Maggy Hamilton. Maggy is spoiled rotten and causes chaos in the Austin household. Vicky, her older brother John, younger sister Suzy, and little brother Rob each are both the victim of Maggy's antics and the recipient of her lightning-quick affectionate outbursts.
     The story follows the incidents that transform Maggy and the Austin children, especially Vicky, during her time with the family. Maggy favors Suzy with attention further straining the relationship between Vicky and her sister. As the stories continue twelve-year-old Vicky becomes more aware of her actions and their consequences, just as Maggy comes to find her place in the Austin home.
     Unlike many of the other Austin Family stories, Meet the Austins is episodic and jumps from one point in time to another telling anecdotes as life changes for the Austin family. The younger characters relate better to younger readers focusing on older elementary and middle school readers.

The Bungalow Mystery

The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene, 1960 Grosset & Dunlap

     Nancy Drew and her friend Helen Corning find themselves needing to be rescued in the middle of a lake where they're rescued by Laura Pendleton, an orphan recently coming to the area to meet her new guardians Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Aborn. Helen and Nancy meet Laura's new guardians when the couple come crashing into the hotel in disarray, provoking Nancy's dislike. Nancy has to go home when the Drew family's housekeeper, Hannah Gruen, is injured.
     When her father asks her to investigate a list of suspects thought to be involved with insurance fraud, Nancy implements disguise for the first time.  Laura later contacts Nancy at home saying that the Aborns are cruel and expect her to hand over family heirlooms. Laura has escaped with the jewels and asks for Nancy's help.
     The plot lines come together in a conclusion that weaves the two mysteries together. For the first time, Nancy carries disguises with her to be used in investigation. Nancy's old-fashioned values and talent for investigation allow her to help both her new-found friend and her father. Her story is told in an easily understood format with attention to details that create the cases she solves.