Request #106

There’s a novel I read as a teenager around 1977-1978 and I wonder if you could help me gather more info about it.  It was a new book at that time.

I think it was called The Survivors or Survivors.  It was a gripping and poignant novel about an African-American woman (maybe middle-aged) and her caregiving relationship with an African -American boy or teen.  There was some kind of theme of adoption perhaps, or a family secret, or tragedy.  It took place in an urban environment. Suggestion: The Survivors By Kristin Hunter Lattany

Request #105

I’m searching for two books, both in the Young Adult genre, and I read them in the late 1970s or early 1980s.  From I remember, one book is about a teen boy who is in love with a blind teen girl.  He covers his eyes (or something like that) to pretend to be blind for a day so he can relate to her.  The title was something like “The Lost Sunday” or something like that.

The other one, I think was “The Best Friend Breakup.”  A teen girl loses her best friend when the friend starts paying more attention to someone else and they drift apart.  The only part of it that I remember is the main character plans on cooking breakfast for her family, so she sets her alarm. However, she messes up the time and the alarm goes off at 1 or 2 in the morning.  Her dad goes into the kitchen and asks why she’s up in the middle of the night.

I’m so sorry I can’t provide more detail, but that’s the only thing I can remember.  That entire YA book genre was fantastic, so if you could possibly find the name of the series, I’d appreciate it. Blind Sunday identified by Lost Classics reader Sheesh 

Request #104

I am in search of a book I read in 1979 when I was a high school freshman.  I checked it out of our high school library and read it for a speech we had to do in English that year.  I don’t remember the author’s name  At the time I thought it seemed pretty contemporary, maybe written in the mid to late 70s.

I can’t recall the character’s names, but the story centered around a girl in either 9th or 10th grade.  It may have been written in the first person or in journal style.  It’s about what happens to her at school, what boy she likes, etc.  I remember I quoted a line from book in my speech that either had “shit” or “damn” in it and I talked to my English teacher about it because it was important to my speech and the story, but was nervous about saying it in class.

Request #103

 I have been trying to think of this book for a while.  It’s a book for teenager from the 1970’s.  The title is very long and it either has the word “zodiac”, “horoscope” or “astrology” in the title.
The cover, if I’m remembering correctly, was kind of a hippy theme – I think it might have been purple with astrology symbols or a sundial.
Please let me know if you know what I’m talking about – it’s been driving me crazy for years. Suggestion: Leo the Lioness by Constance C. GReene. Another suggestion: The Active-Enzyme Lemon-Freshened Junior High School Witch

Request #101

I was wondering if you’d ever come across a book called something like “The Boy Who Would Not Come Clean.” I read it in my downtime in the classroom we used as a dressing room during high school theater and it was definitely an oldie in the early 90s. The plot was that some popular kids harassed and threw mud at an outcast girl who was kind of a witch (?) and she cursed the main character to never be able to clean anything off himself. So like he got jelly on his hand while eating toast and it wouldn’t wash off no matter what. As the days go by, he becomes more and more filthy and disgusting. As a person who takes hygiene seriously, this DEEPLY disturbed me as a teen and I have never been able to find it. Anyway, thanks for sharing all these books with us, look forward to looking for some at our town’s used bookstore next time I go! Cheers

Request #100

 I’m trying to find the title/author of a story that we studied in my 10th/11th grade English Literature class (1975-1977). There must have been a protagonist youth character..but the character that stands out was a soccer player with the nickname “Le Boucher”..the butcher..that the crowd would shout as a rallying cry. I know that isn’t much to go on.

Request #99

Please help.
Book I read in grade school, 4th grade maybe? Which means this would be 1983, 84.
Sisters go on a camping trip with a group. One of the sisters is smart and responsible, and the other sister is a bit spoiled. Very into her looks. On the trip the spoiled, and I think younger, sister goes missing. As the trip progresses little things at the campsite also start to go missing, including a set of the missing sister’s curlers. The older sister puts the pieces of the puzzle together and realizes her sister is sending her a message with these missing items. Turns out one of their crew kidnapped her and kept her hidden in these ancient Indian caves. The guilty party’s name is Michael Waverly.
Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Request #98

Trying to find the name of a book I used to take out of the library as a school-aged child in early 90s. I think it took place in 70s. I don’t think it was a chapter book, but it’s hard to recall whether there were illustrations. About a family that moves to a new big house (an old Victorian, I think?). And the little girl has her own room for the first time and writes in her diary and talks of feeling very grown up now that her mother lets her get dressed up for dinner. Getting harder and harder to recall the other details! Hoping your followers can help! Suggestion: A Room for Cathy by Catherine Woolley