The Nowadays Girls in the Adirondacks

The Story

The story opens in a New York apartment, where the Nowadays Club—a tight-knit circle of teenage friends—convenes under a cloud of anxiety. Sylvia Pursell, the group’s central figure, receives a telegram that her brother, Roy, has suffered a breakdown from overwork and is struggling at a remote Adirondack sanitarium. Eager to support her friend and hopeful for Roy’s recovery, Rose Bancroft joins Sylvia, along with their chums Hazel and Alice, on a journey northward. They are accompanied by the capable and protective Aunt Theodora, whose presence provides a steadying influence as the girls prepare for a summer of mountain air and forest exploration.

Upon their arrival in the Adirondacks, the girls immerse themselves in a whirl of activities characteristic of the era’s resort culture: dancing, canoeing, and golfing. Yet, the gaiety is frequently punctured by "vague apprehensions" regarding Roy’s true condition. The narrative tone shifts between lighthearted socializing and the persistent, nagging mystery of Roy’s health. During a golf match, an accidental stray ball strikes a young man, introducing the girls to a group of spirited companions who will become fixtures in their summer. As the days progress, the group decides to rent a motorboat, the Clytie, and pursue a more rugged experience by camping at Shedd Lake, reveling in the freedom of the wilderness and the novelty of living in tents.

The plot pivots into a more urgent phase when the girls travel to Saranac Lake to visit Roy, only to find he has vanished. They discover that Roy, in a confused state, has left his previous lodging to stay at a bungalow owned by a Professor Russman. When the girls finally reach the Russman bungalow, they find it deserted, save for a lingering lantern. Their initial relief at finding a base of operations is quickly replaced by dread as they learn from the professor—who arrives shortly after with his own party—that Roy has gone missing in the vast, unforgiving forest.

The search that follows serves as the emotional crucible of the summer. The girls, though instructed to stay close to the bungalow, are desperate to assist. They organize themselves and, with the help of experienced guides and the young men they encountered earlier in the woods, comb the trails for signs of the ailing young man. The uncertainty of the forest, combined with the girls’ internal struggle to maintain their composure, underscores the vulnerability of their position. Finally, the search yields fruit; Roy is located, having been lost and disoriented in the dense terrain. His recovery is not instantaneous, but the successful reunion provides a profound sense of relief and finality to the ordeal.

With Roy safe, the girls transition back into the rhythms of resort life. The tension of the mid-summer crisis evaporates, replaced by a renewed appreciation for their friendships and their capacity to navigate unexpected dangers. They return to the hotel for a final masquerade ball, where the identities hidden by masks are revealed, and the "Knight of the Overturned Canoe"—the young man who had been a constant presence in their recent escapades—reaffirms his connection to Sylvia. As the summer winds down, the girls prepare to return to the city and their respective college careers. They depart the Adirondacks not as the same girls who arrived, but as seasoned travelers who have tested their mettle against the wild and emerged with their camaraderie intact.

The People

• Sylvia Pursell: The devoted sister and leader of the Nowadays Club. Her primary motivation is the care and recovery of her brother, Roy. She is the anchor of the group, balancing a refined social demeanor with a latent, practical courage that emerges when the situation demands it.
• Rose Bancroft: A girl defined by her poise and her deep, unspoken affection for Roy. Her initial obsession with looking "smart" and avoiding "black spots" on her nose gives way to genuine vulnerability as she faces the reality of Roy’s illness. She represents the group’s emotional core.
• Hazel and Alice: The adventurous and witty companions who round out the club. Hazel is quick to laugh and prone to playful accidents, while Alice is the voice of dry observation. Together, they provide the levity that prevents the group from succumbing to the weight of their circumstances.
• Aunt Theodora: The indispensable chaperon who bridges the gap between the girls’ youthful impulses and the social expectations of the era. She is firm, protective, and surprisingly adaptable, allowing the girls autonomy while ensuring they remain within the bounds of safety.
• Roy Pursell: The catalyst for the summer’s narrative. His struggle with "overwork" and subsequent disappearance drive the girls' journey into the wilderness. He serves as the symbol of what is at stake for the club: a link to family and the fragility of health.

In Its Own Voice

The transition from urban sophistication to the realities of mountain life is captured in the girls' reaction to their sudden, storm-driven lodging:

"The chugging taxicab stopped in front of the apartment on Central Park, West, and the uniformed door attendant bowed out of it, and into the marble vestibule, a demure girl with rosy cheeks."

This initial moment of comfort contrasts sharply with their later, more rugged experiences, such as when they are forced to find shelter:

"Our four friends thus expressed themselves in turn as they stood in the little log cabin to which the guides had conducted them through the storm."

The tension of their search for Roy is best reflected in the moment they realize the gravity of their situation at the deserted bungalow:

"It was indeed, for the dense forest came down to the very edge of the lake, and there were no camps or cottages to be seen."

What It's Really About

At its heart, this book is an exploration of the "modern" teenage girl’s transition from the rigid confines of domestic, urban life into the liberating, if occasionally perilous, sphere of the outdoors. The title itself, The Nowadays Girls, is a pointed declaration of identity. It frames these characters as belonging to a new generation—one that, unlike their Victorian predecessors, is comfortable behind the wheel of a motorboat, adept at navigating wilderness trails, and capable of organizing search parties in the absence of traditional male authority. The book is not merely a travelogue of the Adirondacks; it is an argument for the competence of young women.

The wilderness serves as a neutral testing ground. When the girls are in the city, their concerns are trivial—cinder dust on a nose, the loss of an emerald ring, or the etiquette of a dance. In the Adirondacks, however, these concerns are stripped away by necessity. The "deserted bungalow" is a classic trope of isolation, forcing the girls to act independently. They are not waiting to be rescued; they are active agents in the search for Roy. The book consistently juxtaposes the "powdery imitations" of high society with the "real girls" who can handle a canoe or manage a motorboat. The Adirondacks represent a space where social hierarchies are flattened, and the ability to cook over an open fire or track a footstep is more valuable than the ability to dance a perfect waltz.

Furthermore, the book touches upon the fragility of the "newly modern" lifestyle. Roy’s illness—a result of his intensity and "overtraining" in college—serves as a cautionary counterpoint to the girls’ vitality. It suggests that while the modern age offers new freedoms and opportunities for both men and women, it also carries the risk of burnout. The girls' success in finding Roy is not just a triumph of endurance, but a triumph of community. The "Nowadays Club" is not just a social label; it is a support system that enables them to survive the transition from the manicured lawns of the hotel to the wild, dark woods. The overarching theme is that to be "nowadays" is to be resilient, capable, and, above all, loyal to one's companions in the face of the unknown.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy early 20th-century juvenile fiction will find this book a charming, albeit specific, look at a vanishing point in American history. Those who appreciate stories where young women take the lead in their own adventures—without needing to be constantly monitored or steered by elders—will likely find the Nowadays Girls to be endearing protagonists. The prose is refreshingly direct, lacking the heavy-handed moralizing found in much of its contemporary literature.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the pacing of the era. The book follows a distinct, leisurely rhythm. It does not rush toward conclusions, choosing instead to linger on the atmosphere of the Adirondacks, the mechanics of motorboats, and the minute details of hotel dance floors. There is a period-specific focus on "smartness" and social status that may feel alien, and the occasional use of language that reflects the class and racial attitudes of the 1910s is present, though it remains secondary to the primary narrative of girlhood friendship.

What lingers after reading is the sense of place. Brownell captures the Adirondacks not as a static backdrop, but as an active, breathing entity that changes the characters who visit it. You will likely walk away remembering the specific, tactile details: the smell of the damp woods, the sound of the Clytie struggling against the lake currents, and the contrast between the "mystic moon" of the dance floor and the cold, dark silence of the forest at night. It is a book for someone who wants to step back into a world where life was just beginning to be lived at a higher velocity, but where the most important thing remained, as it is now, the company of one's closest friends. It is a quiet, steady read, perfect for a slow afternoon.