Fifteen years old, with charming parents and two small brothers whom she loved, and a very happy home, Barbara Perry [in Good-by My Shadow] still had to go through the stage of adolescence when everything seemed black. She herself realized that she was unreasonable in being dissatisfied with everything but she could not seem to pull herself out of her self-centered sadness. This story of her gradual growth back to happiness is, I think, one of Mary Stolz' best books. Barbara's shyness with the group of boys and girls of which she wanted so much to be a part is perceptively pictured. These young people who seemed so gay and carefree to Barbara are convincing, too; and her completely delightful parents are so real in their puzzled approach to her problems that mothers and fathers, as well as their daughters, will appreciate the book. (pp. 406-07)

Jennie D...