Understood Betsy

July 9, 2001
Fisher's beloved novel, first published in 1917, makes a smooth transition to audio in the latest from Chinaberry. Orphaned as a baby, nine-year-old Elizabeth Ann is taken in by her kindhearted great-aunt Harriet and cousin Frances, who aim to raise her in a loving, proper and cultured home in the early 1900s. Pale, thin, nervous Elizabeth Ann experiences a new kind of upheaval when Aunt Harriet becomes seriously ill. The situation requires that Elizabeth Ann be sent from her city home to "those horrid Putney cousins" (in Aunt Harriet's opinion) who live on a farm in Vermont. The change in scenery and attitude does Elizabeth Ann a world of good; in the country air where she is expected to do chores and where she can romp around and play with the animals, Elizabeth Ann becomes Betsy, a robust and happy girl. Her transformation is the heart of what remains a warm family tale, despite a few dated references. Reynolds gives a solid if sometimes precious-sounding performance, adopting a careful, pleasant storytelling tempo. Ages 6-11.

This work is a series of vignettes from the tenth year of Betsy, a city girl who finds herself thrust into the household of her Vermont cousins at the turn of the last century. She finds country life strange at first. However, she grows to love her new family and home. Some may find the story and setting quaint, but as one hears how Betsy grows and bonds with her new family as they live and work together, many will rejoice in the young girl's spunk, initiative, and courage. Jeanne Reynolds has an experienced voice, which ably brings Betsy and her older cousins to life. Her performance is steady and deliberate; pronunciation and enunciation are exact and may seem almost slow in the narrative portions. Reynolds's characterizations are lively and display great expression. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine