Young Adult Historical Fiction for girls, probably written in the 1970's or 80's.

I am looking for a book (it was actually part of a series of books) tjat was in my school library when I was in 7th grade or so back in like 1990. The book was part of a series of Historical Fiction novels for girls, sort of coming-of-age type novels, all set in a different era of U.S. history, and all of the books' had a girl's first name for the title. The book I am looking for is called "Jacqueline", and in the book, Jacqueline was a girl in about her late teens who was a member of a very wealthy family in the 1920's. It has been over 20 years since I read this book so I don't remember every detail, but I know that the book is mostly about her family's experience during the Great Depression. If anyone knows what I am talking about, please reply. I know that this is called Name that Book, and that I know the name of the book, but I am mostly wondering if anyone has heard of this book, or maybe the series and might know where I can find it. I have searched the internet high and low for this thing and you would swear it never existed. I can't remember who wrote it and that doesn't help either. Thanks in advance for your help!

My first thought was the American Girl book series that were printed to accompany the collectable dolls. But the books were geared to an earlier age, 10-13 I believe? And I'm not seeing an exact match with any of the character biographies. The character closest to your description is Samantha, a wealthy early-1900s girl (her first book published 1990). Other dolls in near that era are, Rebecca, a Jewish-American girl from 1914 and Kit and Ruthie, girls living in the Depression; bu their books published later than your time-frame.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Girl#Historical_Characters

So your question is more Name that Series. Close enough.

It sounds interesting, but not familiar. Hope you find it!

http://www.librarything.com/author/shuramaryfrancis

What about this author's books. They've been asked for before. I haven't read them though.

Was it in the form of a diary? Scholastic has a huge series of historical fiction diaries called "Dear America." There is an entry on Wikipedia that lists them, and I didn't see a Jacqueline, but you might give it a try.

This is the Sunfire series, for sure. That would make the book you read Jacquelyn by Jeffie Ross Gordon.

>6 rarm:: I concur. You were first! ;)

>1 Brandy77:: There were numerous titles in the series. In fact, I just googled "sunfire romance," and I found multiple blogs devoted to reminiscing/gushing about the books. I read several of the books when I was in the 5th/6th grades. I also remember discovering that the boy on the cover was usually not the boy the heroine ended up with at novel's end--so I found this blog, whose author noticed the same, amusing.

Interestingly, the last link I posted contains an email link to someone who is doing her graduate thesis on the Sunfire series and wants readers to contact her with their opinions on the books. I'm not sure I agree with her thesis that the novels were particularly progressive for the 1980s--I remember Merrie in particular making me want to throw things because she couldn't wear her hair down in Puritan New England. Oh well, I suppose that was accurate. Anyone else read a few books in the series and have thoughts on this?

>6 rarm::

This is exactly the book I was looking for!!! Thank you SOOOO much!! This has been driving me crazy for years. I have two daughters who will soon be of an appropriate age for these books and I would really like to be able to find them so they can read them. Thank you again!!

>1 Brandy77::

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question! Unfortunately, this is not the series I was thinking of. Thank you again for your time, though!!

>4 bookel::

Thank you for your suggestion. This is not the series I was looking for, but might be one I would like to look in to. Thanks again!

>5 MerryMary::

I am familiar with the Dear America books as I have two young daughters :). Thank you for your response!

>7 LibraryPerilous::

Thanks to your response I will be checking out the blog you mentioned. I absolutely LOVED these books. :)