Honestly, Katie John

There are four "Katie John" books, each about an eleven year old girl living in Missouri, and her various trials and tribulations; these include Katie John, Depend on Katie John, and Katie John and Heathcliff. As her name would suggest, Katie John is quite a tomboy, and in this particular story she begins the conjoined struggle of growing up and understanding her own femininity. "Honestly Katie John!" is the most introspective of the books, linking Katie's own internal journey with the discovery of an old house that contains an old photograph of a young woman who reminds Katie of herself. Fancying herself an archeologist, Katie tries to reconcile the various inconsistent clues she has of "Netta" into a cohesive whole, whilst navigating her own burgeoning adolescence. Feeling awkward and self-conscious around most boys, Katie is rather baffled when she witnesses the other girls in her class flirting. Although friendly with the gentle Sue and introverted Edwin, Katie is goaded into declaring her dislike of boys, and soon has all the girls on the schoolyard referring to boys as `repulsives' and joining a boy-haters club. The novelty doesn't last long, and when Katie is confronted with the sight of the girls trying on lipstick she increases her efforts to be different. Trying to negotiate the two extremes, Katie veers from utter obnoxiousness to unnatural ladylike tendencies, all in the attempt to rebel against the maturity that unnerves her so much. It's a remarkably nuanced and realistic look at a young woman searching for self-identity, particularly for a girl that isn't entirely comfortable with her femininity, yet who shies away from the boisterousness of most boys her age. After the circulating slam books give Katie a rather uncomfortable glimpse of what the other children think of her, Katie strives to find an internal balance between her own interests and the need for social normality. Thankfully, there are no outright "nasty" characters; even the boorish Howard and the prissy Priscilla are not bullies, but rather ordinary people whose interests are so divergent from Katie's that she eventually must learn to simply respect their differences. With other little anecdotes such as her adventures at the Street Fair (which includes a gypsy tarot reading that sheds light on future events) and her successful Halloween party, "Honestly, Katie John!" paints a warm and vivid picture of American life in the 1960s and the first step of one girl's journey from girl to woman: something that half the human race has to go through, and which never seems like a big deal unless you're experiencing it yourself.

This is the third in a series of four books with Katie John as a heroine. The books are Katie John (1960), Depend on Katie John (1961), Honestly, Katie John! (1963), and Katie John and Heathcliff (1980). Ever since eleven-year-old Katie John has her fortune told by a Gypsy at the street fair, she focuses her energies on wondering about her future. With one foot in the world of childhood, and the other testing out the mysterious world of grownups, this book is more wistful than the first two. But Katie's indomitable spirit always keeps her from staying low for too long. And when her best friend Sue tells her, "You live so much more than other people, Katie John", she may just be right!

I loved this book when I was in grade school. I got it when we ordered books from Scholastica books. I read it over and over. It was so nice to read about a girl who wasn't perfect and didn't look or act like a princess. Katie John was my hero.

Katie John continues in her own way to plot out her own way. She was my hero when I was a child and I have enjoyed sharing her with my daughter. Buy the book! Buy the whole series. It is so much fun.

I read this book when I was 9 in 4th grade. In summer 1985 I was with my family on vacation on the washinton coast staying in a cabin in Grays Harbor area, and Mom would go garage sale-ing during the day. She bought this book for 10c and I knew I was going to like it. The inside title page showed Katie on her bike and she reminded me of Beverly Cleary's Ellen Tebbits. I fell in love with Katie that summer day. The book is so good and Katie is so much like me. EVERYONE, READ KATIE JOHN! Mary should continue this series. It is good and I'm sure a lot of people agree!