Blog Tour: Lauren Baratz-Logsted Discusses the Inspiration Behind The Education of Bet

Influences Behind The Education of Bet

Ocassionally, I'll hear another writer say they never read their own reviews. I'm not sure if I believe that. One thing I am sure of is that I have no such restraint. I want to know what people are saying about my books, the good and the bad. Sometimes by reading a wide range of reviews, you can see a consensus - hopefully that consensus isn't that your book sucks! - that can help the writer. No, the book in question can't be changed - that book is already published and therefore a done deal - but sometimes you can learn things that can help with your future writing.

For people who don't know, The Education of Bet is a YA novel set in Victorian England about a 16-year-old girl who decides to impersonate a boy in order to get a proper education. As I started reading reviews of the book, I noticed some reviewers citing Yentl and Mulan as antecedents. This really interested me because I'd been thinking of neither when I wrote my book. I've never seen Yentl, although I know from the video packaging that Barbra Streisand's character in it impersonates a boy so she can get a yeshiva education. As for Mulan, given that I saw a lot of Disney "princess" movies with my daughter when she was younger, I probably saw this one at some point, but all I can tell you about it with certainty is that in this one the "princess" is not a blonde.

So what were the antecedents for The Education of Bet? The answer to that would be the classic novel of British boarding school life, Tom Brown's Schooldays, by Thomas Hughes; and possibly She's the Man, the film that is really Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in contemporary clothing.

Finally, what was I hoping to achieve? I've always been a big fan of the Thomas Hughes book so I wanted to write a story like that but featuring a teenage girl with a more contemporary sensibility: even though Bet is the orphan daughter of the maid, she desperately wants what is only available to the wealthy and predominantly males - an exceptional education. We take so much for granted these days, sometimes it's difficult to remember that even though there would have been educational opportunities for wealthy girls Bet's age back then, nothing would be available for someone in her circumstances...unless she found a way - like cross-dressing! - to acquire it for herself. Oh, and what's the other thing I hoped to achieve with this book? I hope it makes the reader feel entertained. There's not a book in existence that is perfect and I know that there will always be readers who are displeased with X or Y, but the truth is, with each book, I do try to entertain the reader. I hope, at least occasionally, that I succeed.

Thanks for having me!

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Thank you so much for writing up this fantastic post, Lauren! And congrats on the paperback release of The Education of Bet (my review)

Review: The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Bet is sixteen, very intelligent, but only knows as much as her limited education will allow. In Victorian England, girls aren't allowed to go to school.

Will is also 16, and though not related by blood, he and Bet act like brother and sister. In fact, they even look like brother and sister. And though they're both raised under the same roof, by the same kind uncle, Will has one big advantage over Bet: He's a boy, and being a boy means he isn't stuck in the grand house they call home. He gets to go out into the world--to school.
But that's not what Will wishes. He wants to join the military and learn about real life, not what's written in books.
So one night, Bet comes up with a plan. She'll go to school as Will. Will can join the military. And though it seems impossible, they actually manage to pull it off.
But once Bet gets to the school, she begins to realize the education she's going to get isn't exactly the one she was expecting.

Review:

Historical fiction is one of my absolute favorite genres. I love the names, the clothes, the facts, the settings.. everything is so interesting and different. The Education of Bet not only introduced readers to these things in Victorian England, but also let them really feel what it was like to be a girl in this time.

Bet was an inspiring and strong willed character. She knew what she wanted- an education- and would do anything to get it. Many students today take education for granted and wish they didn't even have to go. Bet made me feel that much more grateful that, in today's society, girls have the opportunity to get an education. Not only was Bet brave, she was also a sweet and caring person. Her love for her Uncle and friends shown from the pages and she just wanted the best for everyone. The other characters; Will, James, Uncle, Little... they all seemed so believable and real.

The plot was fantastic and so original. In the spirit of Mulan, The Education of Bet proved just how far some girls will go to have the opportunities men did. Bet lived with her Uncle and "brother in spirit" Will, and when Will expressed interest in joining the military, Bet cooked up her scheme to switch places with him. Disguising herself as Will, Bet enrolled in a new school and told her Uncle she was off to work for a new family. The majority of the novel took place with Bet disguised as a boy and I loved every minute of it. Her trials and triumphs were funny and, at times, difficult, and I really felt for her. There are a lot of twists in the plot and a few surprises along the way that keep the reader engaged and entertained.

Even though Bet is disguised as a male for the majority of the novel, she still manages to find romance by the end. The guy she falls for is sweet, brave, and a likable character. He is so protective of Bet and I love the ending!

Overall, The Education of Bet was a romantic, exciting, and well written novel that left me eager to read more of Lauren Baratz-Logsted's work. This was a short read, but is filled with a great story.

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

July 12, 2010/Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/192 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books by this author: The Twin's Daughter, Crazy Beautiful