Junior Miss by Sally Benson

A seller recently included this book in the package along with a book that I purchased on eBay. Normally, this is not the type of children's book that I read or even care about since my focus is on the juvenile series books, but since I had it, I read it. I liked it. The overall feel of the book and the personality of the main character, Judy Graves, remind me a lot of Amy in Amy Moves In by Marilyn Sachs. This is the description from the front flap of the dust jacket:

Junior Miss is the story of a typical New York family—Mr. Graves, a genial and successful business man in his early forties; Mrs. Graves, his charming and understanding wife; Lois, the very superior young daughter of sixteen; and in particular, Judy, just under fourteen, a little too eager, a little too fat, stepped on at every turn by her older sister, but for all that, as appealing a little job as can be found between book covers. Whether Judy Graves will grow up to be a Florence Nightingale, a Dorothy Thompson, or a Lizzie Bordon, only Sally Benson knows. Meanwhile, however, her adventures have been delighting the readers of the New Yorker, and in book form will undoubtedly prove to be the greatest success of Miss Benson's career. Hollywood is preparing to glamourize Judy Graves in its own inimitable fashion. We beg you, however, to meet the real Judy here—the vivid, alarming, and sometimes startling original—straight from the workshop of Sally Benson herself.

The book is copyright 1939, 1940, and 1941 and was originally serialized in the New Yorker. The film that the book mentions was released in 1946, and it sounds like the plot was changed significantly for the film, as is what happens with most books that become films. The book provides an interesting snapshot of life in the city for an average American family in around 1940. The book mentions fashions and various things that interest the girls of that time period. For example, Judy keeps a picture of Tyrone Power in her locket. Unlike the typical series book, this story includes pop culture references that date the story. On pages 114 and 115, Judy's Christmas presents for her family are described:

She had bought her father a gadget called a Scotch Bartender, which measured an exact jigger of whiskey, and a practical and charming present for her mother. It was an ashtray, and attached to it was a frog's head. You inserted a cigarette in a place in the mouth, and the ashes fell in the tray. A silk-covered rubber tube extended from the inside of the frog's head and ended in a dainty amber cigarette holder. The idea of the whole thing was to be able to smoke in bed without fear of dropping ashes on the blankets and perhaps going up in flames.

This entire passage sounds like a joke, and it is even more funny to me since I do not believe it was intended to be quite as funny as I'm taking it. Apparently her mother smokes, so buying her an ashtray is a thoughtful gift. I have seen old cigarette ads from the 1930s and 1940s, and smoking was considered very chic in those days. It is interesting how times have changed. Smoking in bed? This is not a good idea. The book suggests that the ashtray is a clever way to avoid "going up in flames," but the smoker could fall asleep and still go up in flames. It is still dangerous. I'd love to see that ashtray, however. On page 119, Judy and her best friend give each other a pocketbook.

They had given one another pocketbooks of colored imitation leather, handsomely outfitted with lipstick, powder and rouge compact, comb, and cigarette case.

I do have a vague recollection of cigarette cases being included as an accessory with purses. Smoking was the accepted norm decades ago. All in all, I found Junior Miss to be an interesting read.