“Cherry”, whose real name is “Charity”, is so-called because of her amazingly red cheeks and lips. The “Cherry Ames” series of books begins here with Cherry Ames, Student Nurse, featuring a fresh-faced 18-year old girl called Cherry. “Girls! How would you like a nursing career? I can tell you that the excitement, romance and adventure make my career thrilling, and make my books thrilling too.” On the back cover of this book is a sketch of a perky young woman, with this speech bubble: We have been experiencing a heatwave the last couple of days where I live so this truly was a leisurely sunshine read by the poolside. She enjoyed it and called it light and wholesome.

I'm not sure how many young adults could relate to this series today but I know my daughter also recently re-read it. Some of the ideologies and thoughts are also outdated. The nursing aspect seems a bit antiquated. We meet Cherry's friends and the book is more about Cherry's character development and day-to-day happenings at the hospital where she trains but there is a tiny mystery.Ĭherry is sweet and spunky. It is set in the time of the Second World War and Cherry Ames is 18 years old and nurses are in great need in hospitals in the United States. Since this is the first book in the series it sets things in motion. I can't remember if I actually read this one but when my daughter was younger I did buy her the first book in this series so I decided to read it. I read about 3 or 4 books and remember enjoying them. When I was about 11 or 12 while searching for Nancy Drew books at the school library I stumbled upon this series about a nurse. My Childhood Challenge Re-Read for the month of May Tatham later returned the Vicki Barr books to Wells in 1953 and the Cherry Ames books in 1955. And, as Francine Lewis, she penned the short-lived Polly French series (1950s), aimed at a younger readership.Īfter writing the first eight books of the Cherry Ames series and the first three Vicki Barr books, Wells decided to abandon both series to write for television and radio, and Julie Tatham took over (however, both the ninth Cherry Ames book and the fourth Vicki Barr book were published under Wells's name). She was also the author of the Vicki Barr books, about a young mystery-solving flight attendant. In 1934 Wells graduated from New York University, with a major in philosophy and a minor in sociology and psychology.ĭuring World War II, she served as a volunteer with the State Department's Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, escorting Latin American visitors in the United States.Īuthor of Cherry Ames, Nurse books, a series for young teens. Social worker turned full-time young adult writer, born in Illinois but moved with family to New York City when she was seven.

Cherry ames student nurse