I discovered Harriet Lummis Smith’s Peggy Raymond series on Librivox this year, and it was a good find! The five books follow the adventures of schoolgirl Peggy, book 1 beginning during her junior year of high school and book five ending on her wedding day. If you enjoy the girlish goings on of the first three Anne Shirley books or other turn-of-the-century light reading, then there’s a chance you’ll like visiting with the girls of Friendly Terrace—Peggy’s suburban neighborhood.
A family with a secret moves to Friendly Terrace in book 1. Book 2 sees Peggy and three of her best friends off to the country for a summer vacation. Book 3 follows Peggy through her senior year of high school. Book 4 comes as World War 1 brings a more serious cast to the lives of the Friendly Terrace girls, and Peggy joins the land army. Book 5 concludes the series with college life and the romances of the four main girls of the series. Perhaps its not your habit to read “vintage” literature—books that aren’t strictly classics, just old-fashioned fun. Still, I challenge you to take a break from the latest releases or the tomes of the 17 and 1800s. Spend a few days with the generous, active Peggy Raymond, and just see if you don’t enjoy yourself!
Book 1: The Girls of Friendly Terrace or Peggy Raymond’s Success
Book 2: Friendly Terrace Transplanted or Peggy Raymond’s Vacation
Book 3: Old Girls and New or Peggy Raymond’s School Days
Book 4: The Friendly Terrace Quartette or Peggy Raymond at the Poplars
Book 5: Blossom Time at Friendly Terrace or Peggy Raymond’s Way