I became familiar with the Beany Malone series in middle school. As a pre-teen, I could read this series of books repeatedly without being bored. Every book is better than the one before - each book has a subtle lesson about life and human nature. As an adult, I have read many books and have forgotten many plots and many characters. The Beany Malone series will never be forgotten - the characters are so well written that it is hard to believe the series is fictitious. Recently through Cascade Publishing, I purchased Comeback Wherever You Are, the final book of the Beany Malone series. This book was the only one in the series; I was unable to access as a teenager. I was thrilled to find out what happened in the life of the adult/married Beany. The author has maintained the character integrity, so those true fans of Beany Malone will not be disappointed. This is an excellent book series to introduce to pre-teens (moms and dads will enjoy too). Mrs. Weber tackled many social issues in the Beany Malone series without overkill and without moralizing. Everyone should read a book from the Beany Malone series. I am sorry there are not any more books in the series left for me to read. Enjoy!

All Beany Malone books are being reprinted. All you have to do is contact Image Cascade Publishing to purchase a Beany Malone book. (yes they have a Website)

This book is a precious gift from the past. It will warm your heart and comfort your soul. You will fall in love with these adorably quirky characters as you go through their joy and tears. You will be taken to a time in our American past when civic pride was the norm and people still new their neighbors. Most of all, you will be treated to a great story. After you read this book, save it for your daughter. And if your daughter is in her early teens, head over to the children's section and grab some of the Beany Malone stories for her. These books bring back so many memories for me. It's wonderful to see them in print again. :)

This series of fourteen stories about teenage life and growing up were written in the style of "popular fiction" for young people in the 50s and 60s. I think the stories are rather groundbreaking for their day in that they're sort of anti-Leave it to Beaver. Rather than a "perfect" and orderly household that's just-so middle class we have a hectic family of four teen and young-adult children and a widowed father who is frequently out of town. While there father is loving and they have a substantial "support system" in each other and in friends and neighbors, many of the conflicts and plot-lines center around very real confusions, temptations and philosophies that teens struggle with. It's nice to see ideas like the value of earning your own money, the dangers of "going steady" too soon, the difficulties of early marriage, the beauty of a simple wedding and the importance of love and understanding in dealing with "difficult children" incorporated into engaging stories. Teens will benefit from grappling with these ideas in a story before they face them in real life.

The stories are very girlish - there's a lot about dating and clothes. They're not great literature, but they have a lot of heart, they're a lot of fun, they're easy to read and I think you'll be glad you met Beany and all the Malones.

Popular juvenile writer L.M. Weber wrote 15 books about the Malones from 1943-1969, which are now reissueed by Image-Cascade. The books are sturdy editions of the classics which even have the pictures from the dustcover printed on the paperback bindings, a particularly nice touch for those of us who remember the classic dustcovers. If you want to buy them all you might buy directly from the publisher as they offer a discount if you buy the entire series.

On the books: this is a very wholesome series from the post-war, baby boom days when older teenagers of the middle classes were just beginning to debate the question of dating behavior, independence from parents, early marriage and sexual activity. Each book centers around one sort of moral dilemma that organizes the action of the characters In this book we are introduced to the Malone family when their widowed father has to be away for sometime and their stepgrandmother comes to pick up the slack and organize their lives for them. How each of the Malone children from the oldest, recently married Elizabeth, to horseriding Mary Fred, historian Johnny, and determined housewifely youngest daughter Catherine Cecilia or "Beany" as she is known to all and sundry, deal with the question of independence and self-determination is the theme of this particular book. The series carries us through several of Beany's boyfriends and her search for an ideal, sensible mate, ending in a last novel that discusses a point very early in her marriage to Mr. Right, Carlton Buell. The plot devices of the books are rather formulaic; they often turn on information one character has and does not share with the others, or a belief that one character has that turns out to be wrong. Characterization is very flat and unsophisticated and as the series goes on, there is a great deal of repetition of characterization devices that takes up more and more of the book each time. But these books were beloved in their age and are definitely nostalgic to read again. Still, they take us back to a point in American history that has a reputation of being a peaceful era and we see that even before Vietnam and the 1960s teenagers were dealing with moral dilemmas and wondering how best to grow up. Beany and her siblings also provide good moral examples, since they always struggle but in the end do the right thing. Strongly recommended, even they are a bit oldfashioned nowadays.

I was first introduced to the "Beany books" as a teen. My mother had read them as a teenager and thought I would enjoy them. She was right. The books are enjoyable, clean fun. Set During World War II, the readers first meet the Malone family, a fun-loving somewhat chaotic household, and Mr. Chips, a horse who was purchased with prom dress money. If you find a copy, grab it and enjoy!

This first book of the Beany Malone series actually focuses on Beany's older sister, Mary Fred, but it's a nice introduction to the entire Malone family. The book begins with Mary Fred's distracted older brother, Johnny, causing a car accident, and the plot maintains an exciting pace thereafter. Several new additions to the household, including a lame horse, older sister Elizabeth, and her newborn son Martie, add warmth to the story as the siblings rally around to help them. Beany has a minor but still important role in the story, especially in her fiercely independent plan to redecorate her bedroom.

The most compelling theme was Mary Fred's struggle between wanting to selfishly take things easy and her independent desire to take care of her family. We see this when she pretends to be a glamour queen for the high school basketball star, and it's most evident when Nonna, the imperious step-grandmother, shows up to run the household after Mr. Malone is called away on business.

In fact, the independent nature of the children keeps the story fresh and up-to-date. While certain details make it clear this story is set in the 1940s, such as the fifteen dollars Mary Fred intends to spend on a formal gown, the story itself is modern and easily related to by today's standards. Not only are they in a single-parent household, the Malone children must take responsibility for themselves and for each other. This timeless tale, with its mix of humor and melancholy, will appeal to children and adults alike.

A better title for this book might be, "Beany Has a Secret Life--as a COMMUNIST!" Beany, her best friend, Kay, and Beany's new boyfriend, Andy, are asked to join an exclusive and secret club at their high school. Because I was born too late too experience the "red scare", it took me a while to realize that was the reason for the ominous warnings about the evils of forming secret clubs or daring to do your own thing.

Aside from the humorous, 50s-style paranoia, there are universal themes that are still fresh and relevant today. Most importantly, Beany and the rest of the family have to adjust to a new stepmother, and the feelings of jealousy, displacement, and resentment are presented in a realistic and sympathetic way. Furthermore, when Beany's feelings are hurt when she thinks the family blames her for a mishap with her stepmother's car, the value of honesty and communication is conveyed.

A more ambiguous theme is presented when Beany and Kay are forced to make choices regarding peer pressure, such as when one of the club's leaders wants Kay to let him copy an old term paper of hers and turn it as his own. They eventually respond admirably; however, this can be obscured by the book's emphasis on conformity, which apparently was strongly encouraged in the 50s.

I also enjoyed some of the other characters, although those outside the family seemed unrealistic, like they could have starred in "Reefer Madness": Maurine, the beautiful and mysterious rebel with a passion for stealing cars and hot-rodding, Vince the Voice, her garage mechanic boyfriend, and Kibby, the abrasive, tough-talking braggart from a nice family, whose biggest dream is dangerous mountain climbing. Other characters did seem real, though, such as Rosellen, a polio-stricken girl in a wheelchair.

However much this book may provide amusement as a 50s timepiece, it still has much that will be related to, especially by teens. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read with as many laughs as there are thought-provoking moments.

Reading the Beany Malone books has always whetted my appetite. The spunky homebody was always whipping up peppermint stick ice cream, filled cookies, and ham timbales. I was thrilled to discover this cookbook at my library UNTIL I opened it and perused the recipes. Just reading the ingredients of these "imaginative" meals made me want to hurl. Example: molded pear salad includes canned pear halves, stuffed green olives, lime flavored gelatin, lettuce, and mayonnaise. I kid you not. Keep in mind, that's only one revolting example. A cookbook should NOT inspire nausea!