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Summary
Summary
Peligro, the sign said. "Danger--" because the road that led up to the house twisted sharply around the hill.
One of the Hispanic workers had made the sign as the house was being prepared for its new owner. When Rosalind Slaymaster was finally ready to live there, everyone in the small Pennsylvanis town had come to call the place Peligro.
It was like Mrs. Slaymaster to leave it that way.
She was said to be the richest woman in Bucks County. When Edgar Tobbit first met her, he thought she didn't look rich, but it didn't take him very long to realize she wasn't like anyone else, either.
Neither was her teenage niece, Julie, who arrived at school every day in a white Hummer.
And neither was Peale, the two-foot leather mannequin who had his own wardrobe of tailor-made suits; his own passport, bedroom, and television.
Peale was said to grant wishes and make dreams come true.
"What's Peligro like?" Edgar's friend asks him. And Edgar invites him to a party there on Christmas Eve.
That is how Neal Kraft and Julie first meet.
The threesome quickly become fast friends and, in a short while, change one another's lives, barely aware of the old secrets that inspire Mrs. Slaymaster's revenge on the town.
Through it all Peale sits among them with his green glass eyes bright and watchful, as though he knows what's coming.
"What Became of Her" is partly based on some real-life characters the author has never been able to forget.
Books for the Teen A
Summary
Peligro, the sign said. Danger-- because the road that led up to the house twisted sharply around the hill.
One of the Hispanic workers had made the sign as the house was being prepared for its new owner. When Rosalind Slymaster was finally ready to live there, everyone in the small Pennsylvanis town had come to call the place Peligro.
It was like Mrs. Slaymastr to leave it that way.
She was said to be the richest woman in Bucks County. When Edgar Tobbit first met her, he thought she didn't look rich, but it didn't take him very long to realize she wasn't like anyone else, either.
Neither was her teenage niece, Julie, who arrived at school every day in a white Hummer.
And neither was Peale, the two-foot leather mannequin who had his own wardrobe of tailor-made suits; his own passport, bedroom, and television.
Peale was said to grant wishes and make dreams come true.
"What's Peligro like?" Edgar's friend asks him. And Edgar invites him to a party there on Christmas Eve.
That is how Neal Kraft and Julie first meet.
The threesome quickly become fast friends and, in a short while, change one another's lives, barely aware of the old secrets that inspire Mrs. Slaymaster's revenge on the town.
Through it all Peale sits among them with his green glass eyes bright and watchful, as though he knows what's coming.
What Became of Her is partly based on some real-life characters the author has never been able to forget.
Books for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL)
Author Notes
Marijane Meaker (born May 27, 1927) is an American novelist and short story writer in several genres using different pen names. Using her own observations of lesbians in the 1950s and 1960s, she wrote a series of nonfiction books as Ann Aldrich from 1955 to 1972. In 1972 she switched genres and pen names once more to begin writing for young adults, and became quite successful as M.E. Kerr, producing over 20 novels and winning multiple awards including the American Library Association's lifetime award for young-adult literature, the ALA Margaret Edwards Award.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Marijane Meaker (born May 27, 1927) is an American novelist and short story writer in several genres using different pen names. Using her own observations of lesbians in the 1950s and 1960s, she wrote a series of nonfiction books as Ann Aldrich from 1955 to 1972. In 1972 she switched genres and pen names once more to begin writing for young adults, and became quite successful as M.E. Kerr, producing over 20 novels and winning multiple awards including the American Library Association's lifetime award for young-adult literature, the ALA Margaret Edwards Award.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (10)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7-10-In the town of Serenity, PA, things are far from serene. Former outcast Rosalind Slaymaster has returned to live in the community that treated her cruelly when she was a stuttering teenager working on corpses at the local funeral home. E.C. Tobbit, the 16-year-old narrator, tells of his first visit to Rosalind's opulent mansion, Peligro, and explains how he, his buddy Neal Kraft, and Rosalind's adopted niece Julie become friends. Although their friendship is short-lived, the effect that the young people have on one another is profound. At Peligro, E.C. discovers and reads Rosalind's teenage diaries, which reveal secrets from the woman's past that affect the present generation. Kerr's characters are both complex and eccentric. Rosalind, the wealthy widow, is determined to control the town. She is accompanied everywhere by her good-luck charm: a two-foot high leather mannequin named Peale. The teens are lonely outsiders, looking for acceptance and love. Both boys have recently lost their fathers; Julie is adopted by Rosalind as a "companion" for Peale. There are quite a few other characters, and keeping track of them is a bit daunting. Spanning two generations, the intricate plot combines family secrets, revenge, greed, suspense, loneliness, and longing. Offsetting the potential confusion is Kerr's usual witty writing style, and her view of small-town life is eerily realistic, right down to the gossip, cruelty, fear, and insecurity of the townspeople. Teens who question the effect that past experiences and generations have on their present-day lives will gain valuable insight from this quirky novel.-Susie Paige, Rogers Memorial Library, Southampton, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a starred review, PW called this tale of a once ostracized teen, who returns to her hometown the richest woman in Bucks County with a chip on her shoulder, "a seductive, psychologically riveting story." Ages 12-up. (Feb) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
(Young Adult) This latest novel sets us in familiar Kerr territory: small-town (Serenity, Pennsylvania) drama; secrets from the past; socioeconomic divides; two fatherless boys, each living with a single mom; and a liberal sprinkling of pop culture. Always ready and more than able to champion the cause of the outsider, Kerr takes on four of them here; in so spreading her sympathies she somewhat confuses the direction of her narrative. E.C. is a self-professed loner who claims not to have friends because he isn't interested, but he hits it off easily with Neal, another outsider who, like E.C., has recently lost his father. The two boys befriend Julie, an awkward girl who's been trying, unsuccessfully, to break into the popular clique at school. As the adopted daughter of the notorious and notoriously wealthy Rosalind Slaymaster, Julie evokes both sympathy and fascination from E.C. and Neal; Mrs. Slaymaster (never seen without her designer-clad, two-foot-tall leather doll, Peale) is said to have returned to Serenity to exact her revenge on the town that once treated her cruelly. While spending time at the Slaymasters' fabulous estate, Peligro (Spanish for danger), E.C. discovers Mrs. Slaymaster's girlhood diaries and thus brings another life story to the foreground. While it may not be clear which character is most deserving of the reader's empathy (are we concerned with Julie's fate for her own sake, or only as it affects E.C. and his undeclared feelings for her?), the lack of focus is well compensated for by the wealth of drama, intrigue, and gossip. The triangular friendship of the present day, the fantastic evenings at exotic Peligro, and the eccentric Rosalind Slaymaster and her mysterious past give the novel plenty of steam, and Kerr conjures an aptly murky atmosphere for her anything-but-serene town of Serenity, PA. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
In her uniquely urbane, savage, savagely funny way, Kerr ("Hello," I Lied, 1998, etc.) sends a trio of teenagers into the terra incognita between "Like" and "Love," as past sins come home to roost in a small Pennsylvania town. A party invitation brings Edgar Cayce Tobbit, Neal, his friend from group therapy, and Julie, lonely adopted niece of widowed billionaire Rosalind Slaymaster, together. Various triangles develop, all with unequal sides; put too simply, Julie falls for Neal but is more comfortable with E.C. around, while E.C. feels her taking up permanent residence in his awareness, and Neal, less deeply involved, struggles to find the vocabulary to explain what's going on. Presiding over the tale is Rosalind, orphaned child of retarded parents and former worker in the local funeral home, who grew up the butt of constant derision until swept away by a Texas oilman, only to return to exact revenge. Rosalind is sharp-tongued, utterly ruthless, and decidedly weird--for Peale, her constant companion and dancing partner, is a doll with a place at every dinner table, lavish living quarters, a large tailored wardrobe, even a passport. Thinking E.C. no threat, Rosalind enlists him as Julie's platonic buddy, not only coming to regret her decision when photos of a skinny-dipping session come to light, but to suffer a nervous breakdown after E.C., in a vain effort to keep Julie from being whisked back to Texas, "kidnaps" Peale, who is subsequently eaten by his Airedale. Thick with ironies, oddball humor, subplots, and complications, featuring a cast of smart, variously flawed characters, nearly all of whom have achieved, at best, a fragile emotional equilibrium after losing loved ones, this again demonstrates Kerr's uncommon gift for chewy romantic comedies built around complex emotional situations. (Fiction. 12+) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 7^-10. E. C., named for psychic Edgar Cayce and dubbed Easy by his friend Neal, is introduced to Rosalind Slaymaster, Rosalind's life-size doll Peale, and her adopted niece Julie the night Rosalind asks E. C.'s mother to draw up an astrological chart for Peale. It isn't long before Julie, Neal, and E. C. become close friends, with their relationship evolving to include some unrequited love. Then Peale is kidnapped, and Mrs. S., as the boys call her, leaves town taking Julie with her. The question in the title of the book will hook readers and keep them off balance as they turn the pages, and Kerr skillfully creates and maintains suspense, cleverly investing the key to Rosalind Slaymaster's self-confidence and sanity in a life-size doll. Although E. C.'s discovery of Mrs. S.'s teenage diaries is a somewhat forced device for revealing her miserable adolescence, the writings are a fascinating revelation of the small-town scandals that have resulted in the complex, stormy relationships that E. C. watches unfold. This unusual, haunting book will hold readers until the final page. --Frances Bradburn
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7-10-In the town of Serenity, PA, things are far from serene. Former outcast Rosalind Slaymaster has returned to live in the community that treated her cruelly when she was a stuttering teenager working on corpses at the local funeral home. E.C. Tobbit, the 16-year-old narrator, tells of his first visit to Rosalind's opulent mansion, Peligro, and explains how he, his buddy Neal Kraft, and Rosalind's adopted niece Julie become friends. Although their friendship is short-lived, the effect that the young people have on one another is profound. At Peligro, E.C. discovers and reads Rosalind's teenage diaries, which reveal secrets from the woman's past that affect the present generation. Kerr's characters are both complex and eccentric. Rosalind, the wealthy widow, is determined to control the town. She is accompanied everywhere by her good-luck charm: a two-foot high leather mannequin named Peale. The teens are lonely outsiders, looking for acceptance and love. Both boys have recently lost their fathers; Julie is adopted by Rosalind as a "companion" for Peale. There are quite a few other characters, and keeping track of them is a bit daunting. Spanning two generations, the intricate plot combines family secrets, revenge, greed, suspense, loneliness, and longing. Offsetting the potential confusion is Kerr's usual witty writing style, and her view of small-town life is eerily realistic, right down to the gossip, cruelty, fear, and insecurity of the townspeople. Teens who question the effect that past experiences and generations have on their present-day lives will gain valuable insight from this quirky novel.-Susie Paige, Rogers Memorial Library, Southampton, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a starred review, PW called this tale of a once ostracized teen, who returns to her hometown the richest woman in Bucks County with a chip on her shoulder, "a seductive, psychologically riveting story." Ages 12-up. (Feb) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
(Young Adult) This latest novel sets us in familiar Kerr territory: small-town (Serenity, Pennsylvania) drama; secrets from the past; socioeconomic divides; two fatherless boys, each living with a single mom; and a liberal sprinkling of pop culture. Always ready and more than able to champion the cause of the outsider, Kerr takes on four of them here; in so spreading her sympathies she somewhat confuses the direction of her narrative. E.C. is a self-professed loner who claims not to have friends because he isn't interested, but he hits it off easily with Neal, another outsider who, like E.C., has recently lost his father. The two boys befriend Julie, an awkward girl who's been trying, unsuccessfully, to break into the popular clique at school. As the adopted daughter of the notorious and notoriously wealthy Rosalind Slaymaster, Julie evokes both sympathy and fascination from E.C. and Neal; Mrs. Slaymaster (never seen without her designer-clad, two-foot-tall leather doll, Peale) is said to have returned to Serenity to exact her revenge on the town that once treated her cruelly. While spending time at the Slaymasters' fabulous estate, Peligro (Spanish for danger), E.C. discovers Mrs. Slaymaster's girlhood diaries and thus brings another life story to the foreground. While it may not be clear which character is most deserving of the reader's empathy (are we concerned with Julie's fate for her own sake, or only as it affects E.C. and his undeclared feelings for her?), the lack of focus is well compensated for by the wealth of drama, intrigue, and gossip. The triangular friendship of the present day, the fantastic evenings at exotic Peligro, and the eccentric Rosalind Slaymaster and her mysterious past give the novel plenty of steam, and Kerr conjures an aptly murky atmosphere for her anything-but-serene town of Serenity, PA. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
In her uniquely urbane, savage, savagely funny way, Kerr ("Hello," I Lied, 1998, etc.) sends a trio of teenagers into the terra incognita between "Like" and "Love," as past sins come home to roost in a small Pennsylvania town. A party invitation brings Edgar Cayce Tobbit, Neal, his friend from group therapy, and Julie, lonely adopted niece of widowed billionaire Rosalind Slaymaster, together. Various triangles develop, all with unequal sides; put too simply, Julie falls for Neal but is more comfortable with E.C. around, while E.C. feels her taking up permanent residence in his awareness, and Neal, less deeply involved, struggles to find the vocabulary to explain what's going on. Presiding over the tale is Rosalind, orphaned child of retarded parents and former worker in the local funeral home, who grew up the butt of constant derision until swept away by a Texas oilman, only to return to exact revenge. Rosalind is sharp-tongued, utterly ruthless, and decidedly weird--for Peale, her constant companion and dancing partner, is a doll with a place at every dinner table, lavish living quarters, a large tailored wardrobe, even a passport. Thinking E.C. no threat, Rosalind enlists him as Julie's platonic buddy, not only coming to regret her decision when photos of a skinny-dipping session come to light, but to suffer a nervous breakdown after E.C., in a vain effort to keep Julie from being whisked back to Texas, "kidnaps" Peale, who is subsequently eaten by his Airedale. Thick with ironies, oddball humor, subplots, and complications, featuring a cast of smart, variously flawed characters, nearly all of whom have achieved, at best, a fragile emotional equilibrium after losing loved ones, this again demonstrates Kerr's uncommon gift for chewy romantic comedies built around complex emotional situations. (Fiction. 12+) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 7^-10. E. C., named for psychic Edgar Cayce and dubbed Easy by his friend Neal, is introduced to Rosalind Slaymaster, Rosalind's life-size doll Peale, and her adopted niece Julie the night Rosalind asks E. C.'s mother to draw up an astrological chart for Peale. It isn't long before Julie, Neal, and E. C. become close friends, with their relationship evolving to include some unrequited love. Then Peale is kidnapped, and Mrs. S., as the boys call her, leaves town taking Julie with her. The question in the title of the book will hook readers and keep them off balance as they turn the pages, and Kerr skillfully creates and maintains suspense, cleverly investing the key to Rosalind Slaymaster's self-confidence and sanity in a life-size doll. Although E. C.'s discovery of Mrs. S.'s teenage diaries is a somewhat forced device for revealing her miserable adolescence, the writings are a fascinating revelation of the small-town scandals that have resulted in the complex, stormy relationships that E. C. watches unfold. This unusual, haunting book will hold readers until the final page. --Frances Bradburn
