Bobbie, General Manager: A Novel

"Bobbie, General Manager: A Novel" by Olive Higgins Prouty is an early 20th-century story about sixteen-year-old Lucy "Bobbie" Vars, who finds herself in charge of her family after her mother passes away. Bobbie, who dreams of becoming a writer, juggles managing her household, dealing with teenage feelings, and navigating tricky family relationships in their not-so-great living situation; as a high school junior, Bobbie feels insecure about how she looks and her lack of coolness, especially as she has to be like a mom to her siblings. When her brother Tom brings his new wife, Elise, to visit, Bobbie worries about their run-down house and trying to impress Elise, which shows the struggle between wanting to take care of her family and wanting to be accepted socially; this sets the scene for Bobbie's internal battles as she tries to balance her responsibilities with her desires for herself.