Rusty, the youngest and only girl with four older brothers. Rusty is still mostly interested in sports, not boys, and her beloved older brother quitting the sports teams and acting odd-- over a girl, in fact-- is more than she can stand, especially as her best friend (girl) has also started giggling over boys. But despite there being a little secret about Rusty herself, she starts to become a little more comfortable with girlishness over the course of the book, appears to collect a boyfriend, and helps her brother sort out his issues.
SO SO VERY 1960s teen girl book, but it entranced me when I was 8 or 9!

"I won't cry," Rusty says to herself. "I'm not going to cry!"

Isn't it bad enough that she has red hair and freckles? That she'd rather play ball than be a 'proper girl'? That her very best friend is starting to act silly about boys? Rusty's older brother is behaving strangely too. Worst of all, she
discovers a family secret about herself. No wonder she feels like crying! Then Rusty finds a special friend - and he turns out to be someone she can count on. ( )

An adopted teenager struggles to come to terms with her looks and her past. This is a nice book for teenage girls, those I suppose that most of the nowadays would be bored or amused by its naivte. ( )