Spurs for Suzanna
Betty Cavanna
📚 Genre
Young Adult Fiction - Equestrian/Coming-of-Age
🏢 Publisher
The Westminster Press (Philadelphia)
📅 Publication Year
1947
🔢 ISBN
None (Pre-ISBN era)
About This Book
The story follows fifteen-year-old Suzanna Scott, who spends a summer at a farm in Pennsylvania. Initially feeling out of place and resentful of her lack of equestrian skills compared to the family she is visiting, Suzanna learns responsibility, humility, and horsemanship. It is a classic mid-century teen romance and horse story. The title page features a decorative sketch of spurs and a custom serif font.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
222 pages
Edition
Hardcover Edition (likely First or early printing based on copyright style)
Series
Standalone novel, though Cavanna wrote many similar thematic 'teen' novels.
Target Audience
Young Adult / Teen Girls (Mid-20th Century)
Collector Information
Condition
Fair/Poor. Visible 'Ex-Library' stamps from 'Delone Catholic High School Library', heavy foxing/toning on pages, hinge wear, and staining on the title page. The paper is brittle-edged.
Estimated Value
$5.00 - $15.00
Rarity
Uncommon in any condition, but Scarce in collectible condition. This specific copy is common/low value due to heavy library markings.
Historical Significance
Betty Cavanna was a pioneer of the 'teen girl' genre in the mid-20th century, helping define the young adult market before it was formally recognized as a separate industry category.
Collector Notes
Ex-library copies of mid-century YA are generally of low interest to serious collectors unless the title is exceptionally rare. To preserve, keep in a low-humidity environment to prevent further yellowing/acidic degradation of the paper. Collectors usually seek the dust jacket, which is missing here, significantly reducing the value.
Similar Books
A Girl Can Dream by Betty Cavanna, National Velvet by Enid Bagnold, The Black Stallion by Walter Farley, Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly
Notable Features
Includes illustrations by Virginia Mann. Noted for being an early example of the 'teen girl' market segment popular in the 1940s-50s.