Raise your hand if you know who Cherry Ames is! I have been positively delighted to reacquaint myself with her in association with our Children’s Classics Mystery Challenge.
I first “discovered” Cherry when I was 13 or 14 years old, browsing Half Price Books and trying to find something new to read. I came across an original edition of Cherry Ames, Senior Nurse published by Grosset & Dunlap. Being familiar with G&D’s more popular characters, such as Nancy Drew, I figured I’d take a gamble and I stumbled into a world I absolutely loved (even though I have a queasy stomach when it comes to anything involving medicine and blood). While you might not think of Cherry Ames as being part of the “mystery genre” she certainly is! Thanks to Springer Publishing Company you can now revisit or meet Cherry Ames for the first time! Springer has re-released the entire series in hardback editions reminiscent of the original classics.
Cherry Ames was written by two women. Helen Wells is credited with the creation of the series and, from what I can tell, penned the first six books in the twenty book series. The series was published between the years 1943 and 1968 and was set originally in the World War II era when nurses were very much needed for the country and the war. Wells got the series going and then a lady named Julie Tatham took over, transitioning Cherry from a war time nurse to a peacetime mystery-solving nurse. Julie Tatham, by the way, is also known as Julie Campbell who you might recognize as being the authoress of the Trixie Belden series! (So if you liked the writing style of the Trixie Belden books, you aren’t going to be steered too far off course by choosing a Cherry Ames book or two to read!)
The thing I absolutely love(d) about the Cherry Ames series is that Cherry job hops like nobody’s business. Honestly, if she were a real person seeking employment from me, I’d probably ask her why she couldn’t hold a job! But if you knew Cherry, you’d know that she is a genuine, hard-working nurse who ethics cannot be questioned and who can seek out medical mysteries and help solve them with efficiency and ease. She doesn’t have a steady boyfriend, but there usually is a romantic interest in the form of a handsome doctor. She’s traveled all over the world, being a Cruise Nurse, Island Nurse and a Jungle Nurse (among other things)! Indeed, this series of books was not only published in America but was published in a myriad of other countries including Norway, Finland, Japan and Bolivia!
I loved Cherry growing up for her strong sense of patriotism and black and white outlook on life, which I associate very much with the 1940’s. At the same time, she’s a “ginger” of a girl who has many good friends that she loves and cares for and she really knows how to have a good time. She’s an admirable literary character and worth an introduction, if you haven’t made one already. The mysteries are light and enjoyable and it’s safe to assume that they frequently involve situations to be discovered in the medical field. I’ll talk more about some specific titles later but for now, I hope that if you don’t know Cherry that you’ll get to know her. She has a rich history about her and deserves a standing among the likes of Nancy, Trixie and those Hardy boys. She can match wits with the best of them and is a delight to know!
Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know and Reading My Library.
Mocha with Linda says
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Cherry Ames when I was growing up. And Sue Barton too!
Lisa writes... says
Yeah. What Linda said (except I’d forgotten ALL ABOUT Sue Barton until I saw her comment). LOVED both Sue and Cherry (and Nancy too!).
Renee says
I just LOVED Cherry Ames growing up! Wonderful post.
Stephanie's Mommy Brain says
I know I’ve read a few Cherry Ames books but I don’t remember much about them. I may have to hunt her up in my library.
Carrie, Reading to Know says
Sue Barton. The name rings a very (very) faint bell but I don’t believe I’ve ever read her! I hope one of you does though so that I can learn more about her!
Sherry Early says
I had no idea that Julie Tatham was the same person as Julie Campbell. Trixie Belden was my favorite series, back in the day, but I read some Cherry Ames, too. And my daughter loved CHerry Ames.
K. B. Kubin says
I loved reading my mom’s old Cherry Ames books when I was a girl! I thought she was better than Nancy Drew–maybe because her jobs took her to so many cool places. I’m so glad to hear they are back in print so I can share them with my own girls.
Amber Stults says
It’s so funny you wrote about this series last week. I read them when I was about 12. I hadn’t thought about Cherry Ames for years and last week I had to find out if these were out of print or not. I’m sure a new generation will enjoy this series.
rntamara says
Oh, to be Cherry Ames!!
That’s all I could think reading these books while in grade school. It’s what inspired me to become a nurse! A job I still absolutely love. I am even collecting a set of the original books – only a few to go for a complete set!
Wanda Mandeville says
I want to start collecting original Cherry Ames books. Can you give me some tips on where is the best place to buy these! Thanks for your assistance.
Carrie, Reading to Know says
Used bookstores, mostly. I check antique stores sometimes and thrift shops. You have to dig around but you can find them if you keep your eyes peeled. I just picked one up at a garage sale!
ReadingGirl says
I am wondering if anyone knows what changes were made from the originals to the Springer editions. I bought the 5-8 boxed set, because Flight Nurse was one of the few titles I didn’t read as a child. I noticed that there is a reference to a unit of “black” soldiers, who would have almost certainly been referred to as “negro” or “colored” in 1944. I went on to read Veteran’s Nurse, a title I had read before, and thought there might have been references to soldiers smoking that were omitted in the Springer edition, but I don’t have the originals for comparison so I’m not sure. Were there references to smoking in the originals? (Not that clean living Cherry ever smoked, of course!) I do remember when Cherry was serving as Chief Nurse in the Pacific, there were references to “The Japs”. Was this changed in the Springer Edition?
Carrie, Reading to Know says
Good question! I’d be curious to know the answer to that as well. As it is, I do not.
I don’t remember any of these specifics from my childhood reading so I didn’t note any differences in the new editions. Curious though!