I remember reading this YA book, which I believe had a sequel, in the mid 1970s. It took place in the early 20th century in the New York area, somewhere slightly north of New York City, possibly Westchester or Tarrytown.
The book(s) tell the story of the budding romance between the female protagonist and a boy who is a fellow student. At one point, the pair is cast to play Romeo & Juliet in a school production. Another slightly older female character (either a friend, or a sister), has a crisis (an unexpected pregnancy?) and she drinks a bottle of laudanum in response.
This is probably one of the books in Norma Johnston’s series The Keeping Days. The books were set in Yonkers, where the author’s family had lived around the year 1900. It may well be one of the first two, since my recollection is that Tish was about Juliet’s age, thirteen, when she played the part.
The Keeping Days (Keeping Days, #1)
Glory in the Flower (Keeping Days, #2)
The Sanctuary Tree (Keeping Days, #3)
A Mustard Seed of Magic (Keeping Days, #4)
A Nice Girl Like You (Keeping Days, #5)
Myself and I (Keeping Days, #6)
by Norma Johnston
Mystery solved! Thanks Ann!
Also suspecting the Keeping days, I checked “Glory in the Flower” – Tish plays Juliet in R & J in that book.
Romeo and Juliet Together (And Alive!) At Last, by Avi.
It’s hysterical.
It’s “Glory in the Flower”. Tish Sterling and Ken Latham are the drama leads, and Mary Lou Hodge is pregnant by Ken’s selfish older brother Doug. They live in West Farms, the Bronx.