Trudy Phillips, New Girl

By Barbara Bates

Illustrated by Dorothy Grider
Copyright 1953

 

It was Trudy Phillips first day at a new school and she was understandably very nervous.  Would she fit in?  Would she make any friends?  Fortunately, it doesn’t take Trudy long to find a group of girls and boys to hang out with.  She is frustrated though because for some reason she just can’t seem to get in with the beautiful, popular, and stylish Gloria Holden.  If only Trudy could befriend Gloria, she could be popular too and everything would be perfect.

There is also a mystery to solve at Trudy’s new school.  Money is being stolen – from students and from the school clubs.  The thief has been impossible to catch.  The school officials make the obviously smart decision to enlist the help of the new girl to catch the thief so they don’t have to call in the police.  Trudy plants money and hides so the culprit can be caught in the act.  It works, but Trudy is shocked to find that it is Gloria who has been stealing!

Gloria didn’t need the money, she admits.  She’s just craving some attention.  With her parents busy working all the time, Gloria is very lonely.  And then Trudy came to school and everyone liked her, so Gloria had become jealous.  That is yet another shock for Trudy.  She thought Gloria’s life was perfect, when all along Trudy was the fortunate one. 

Life lesson for Trudy Phillips:  Just because someone appears to have it all together doesn’t mean they really do!