Teenage romance by Eve Bennett  

At nineteen, Ruth Merrill made the most shattering decision of her life. She refused to marry Tracy Starbuck, a handsome young man who had everything but love for her little sister.  Naomi, nicknamed ‘Little Bit,’ had been born with a brain injury and would be unable to walk or talk.

This is the story of a brave girl who held stubbornly to her own convictions, and learned that sacrifice can be tempered by compassionate understanding of self and others. Eve Bennett writes with deep emotion, taking us into the very heart of a problems which many families face every day. Little Bit is an inspirational adventure, and also a love story of surpassing tenderness.

Julian Messner, Inc (copyright 1961)

This book is no longer in print but can be found at many online booksellers.