Sylvia Arden Decides

"Sylvia Arden Decides" by Margaret Rebecca Piper is a book about a young woman named Sylvia Arden figuring out what she wants her future to look like. It's early in the 1900s, and everyone around Sylvia seems to know exactly what they want to do—get married or have a job. But unlike her friends, Suzanne and Barbara, Sylvia isn't so sure. The story begins at Arden Hall where Sylvia is hanging out with her friends. They’re just joking around, but it's clear that Sylvia is thinking hard about life and why she isn't content. Her friends have goals, but she just feels lost. As the girls talk about what women are supposed to do, Sylvia starts to think about her own life and what she wants. She thinks about her past, her present, and her relationship with Jack Amidon, who would be a good match for her. Throughout the novel, we get to see Sylvia wrestle with questions about love, work, and what's expected of women as she embarks on a path toward self-discovery.