Who are Betsy and Tacy?
Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly are the fictionalized versions of Maud Hart Lovelace and her best friend, Frances “Bick” Kenney, who lived in Mankato Minnesota in the early years of the 20th century. Maud wrote a series of books — the Betsy-Tacy books — giving a fictionalized account of their life and the lives of their friends in Deep Valley, Minnesota. Other characters include Betsy and Tacy’s friend Tib, as well as many other neighbors, classmates, and family members. Readers of the Betsy-Tacy books can grow up along with Betsy and Tacy. The first four books are written for young readers, and are excellent “read aloud” books. As Betsy enters high school, her world expands and we see her and Tacy and Tib facing many of the same issues that face teenagers today. The last two books in the series show Betsy as a young woman, and eventually, a new bride.
