YA 100 (years ago)
I have a small collection of early Young Adult novels from the 10s, 20s and 30s. I even have a YA novel from 1896! These old YA novels are usually targeted to girls (clubs, high school stories, cosy mysteries) or boys (outdoor adventure, sports).
My husband took me shopping at an antique mall recently. It was hard to choose but I picked out The Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm, published in 1914. Check out this hook:
“Moving Pictures have very rapidly become the world’s pastime and in this fine series of books, any girl can learn all about the fun and excitement connected with the taking and making of Moving Pictures. This set of books revolves about a club of girls, who have organized for the sole purpose of learning about the art of taking pictures.”
It sounds like Hollywood Secrets meets YouTube filmmakers, doesn’t it?
The author is Laura Lee Hope. According to Wikipedia: “Laura Lee Hope is a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for the Bobbsey Twins and several other series of children’s novels.” Exciting!
There was a companion series for boys called The Sky Buddies Series about “adventurous boy aviators.” There was also a girl aviator series, the Girl Sky Pilots! All of these series promise the latest in cutting edge tech, for savvy Jazz Age kids in the know.
Oak Farm is located in the remote country wilds of Hoboken, New Jersey. I can’t wait to read it!
– Kate
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow!~ This is so cool! I love your collection. I have some really old YA books back in Florida and I’d forgotten all about those until I read your post. My grandmother gave them to me when I was a teen. I can’t wait until I go home and check them out now.
I didn’t even know they had YA back then! I remember reading The Bobbsey Twins (shows how old I am) but not the GIrls Sky Pilots. Interesting!
I -love- old books like this (and I’ve added a book cover I found online).
That book cover is so cool Debbie!
This is a TOTALLY different cover than on my copy! My cover is idyllic, leisurely horseback riding. Wow!