THE EDUCATION OF BET by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

THE EDUCATION OF BET (ARC)
Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Source: NETGALLEY
**I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (July 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547223080
• ISBN-13: 978-0547223087

SYNOPSIS:

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.

MY TAKE:
When I received this book awhile back with another ARC from the same author, I couldn't believe they wanted me to review it already! I was so excited to read this book!

This is a story that is set in the 1800's. Bet, short for Elizabeth, is taken in by a man that is related to the Master of the house that her mother, the maid, works for. They have a son named William, and the two grow up to be best of friends and like brother and sister. William is constantly getting in trouble and gets thrown out of school 4 times. Bet, who dreams of going to school, can't go to school because at this time girls are not allowed to. William would rather chase his dream of joining Her Majesty's military.

Bet comes up with a plan to where both of them can chase their dreams. She decides to dress as Will and go to school for him while he goes off to the military. We get to see the challenges Bet faces when entering a school and getting chuckles the whole time. She slowly falls in love with her room mate James. She has to hide her feelings from him though and continues with the charade.

This book left me laughing and rooting for Bet the whole time. Many surprises and wonderfully included twists to capture your interest from page one all the way to the end. Another wonderfully written book by a great author who never ceases to amaze me with her writing skills and easy flowing story. A great historical book for the young adult genre!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!