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The Chalet School #25
Shocks for the Chalet School
In the few days before the beginning of term, Miss Annersley, Rosalie Dene and Matey receive the first two shocks of the book.
The first shock is the announcement - by telegram - of the imminent arrival of fire-raiser Emerence Hope (aged thirteen and eleven months) from Australia, sent on recommendation of Con Mackenzie, formerly history teacher Miss Stewart. Emerence is a handful with no manners, who has never been told "no". The second is when, unexpectedly, Jack Maynard turns up from Canada with startling news about Joey.
The next shocks are for Bride Bettany, who returns to school to find that she and her circle are now the "grandees" of the school. Bride herself is in for a worrying term due to family illness, but Elfie does provide her with a more pleasant surprise after half term.
Excitements follow thick and fast. By the time of the Christmas Play Emerence has been more or less assimilated into the school and the last-minute arrival of another visitor from Canada provides the nicest shock of the term.
The first shock is the announcement - by telegram - of the imminent arrival of fire-raiser Emerence Hope (aged thirteen and eleven months) from Australia, sent on recommendation of Con Mackenzie, formerly history teacher Miss Stewart. Emerence is a handful with no manners, who has never been told "no". The second is when, unexpectedly, Jack Maynard turns up from Canada with startling news about Joey.
The next shocks are for Bride Bettany, who returns to school to find that she and her circle are now the "grandees" of the school. Bride herself is in for a worrying term due to family illness, but Elfie does provide her with a more pleasant surprise after half term.
Excitements follow thick and fast. By the time of the Christmas Play Emerence has been more or less assimilated into the school and the last-minute arrival of another visitor from Canada provides the nicest shock of the term.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
111 people want to read
About the author
Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
171 books113 followersElinor M. Brent-Dyer was born as Gladys Eleanor May Dyer on 6th April 1894, in South Shields in the industrial northeast of England, and grew up in a terraced house which had no garden or inside toilet. She was the only daughter of Eleanor Watson Rutherford and Charles Morris Brent Dyer. Her father, who had been married before, left home when she was three years old. In 1912, her brother Henzell died at age 17 of cerebro-spinal fever. After her father died, her mother remarried in 1913.
Elinor was educated at a small local private school in South Shields and returned there to teach when she was eighteen after spending two years at the City of Leeds Training College. Her teaching career spanned 36 years, during which she taught in a wide variety of state and private schools in the northeast, in Middlesex, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, and finally in Hereford.
In the early 1920s she adopted the name Elinor Mary Brent-Dyer. A holiday she spent in the Austrian Tyrol at Pertisau-am-Achensee gave her the inspiration for the first location in the Chalet School series. However, her first book, 'Gerry Goes to School', was published in 1922 and was written for the child actress Hazel Bainbridge. Her first 'Chalet' story, 'The School at the Chalet', was originally published in 1925.
In 1930, the same year that 'Jean of Storms' was serialised, she converted to Roman Catholicism.
In 1933 the Brent-Dyer household (she lived with her mother and stepfather until her mother's death in 1957) moved to Hereford. She travelled daily to Peterchurch as a governess.
When her stepfather died she started her own school in Hereford, The Margaret Roper School. It was non-denominational but with a strong religious tradition. Many Chalet School customs were followed, the girls even wore a similar uniform made in the Chalet School's colours of brown and flame. Elinor was rather untidy, erratic and flamboyant and not really suited to being a headmistress. After her school closed in 1948 she devoted most of her time to writing.
Elinor's mother died in 1957 and in 1964 she moved to Redhill, where she lived in a joint establishment with fellow school story author Phyllis Matthewman and her husband, until her death on 20th September 1969.
During her lifetime Elinor M. Brent-Dyer published 101 books but she is remembered mainly for her Chalet School series. The series numbers 58 books and is the longest-surviving series of girls' school-stories ever known, having been continuously in print for more than 70 years. One hundred thousand paperback copies are still being sold each year.
Among her published books are other school stories; family, historical, adventure and animal stories; a cookery book, and four educational geography-readers. She also wrote plays and numerous unpublished poems and was a keen musician.
In 1994, the year of the centenary of her Elinor Brent-Dyer's birth, Friends of the Chalet School put up plaques in Pertisau, South Shields and Hereford, and a headstone was erected on her grave in Redstone Cemetery, since there was not one previously. They also put flowers on her grave on the anniversaries of her birth and death and on other special occasions.
Elinor was educated at a small local private school in South Shields and returned there to teach when she was eighteen after spending two years at the City of Leeds Training College. Her teaching career spanned 36 years, during which she taught in a wide variety of state and private schools in the northeast, in Middlesex, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, and finally in Hereford.
In the early 1920s she adopted the name Elinor Mary Brent-Dyer. A holiday she spent in the Austrian Tyrol at Pertisau-am-Achensee gave her the inspiration for the first location in the Chalet School series. However, her first book, 'Gerry Goes to School', was published in 1922 and was written for the child actress Hazel Bainbridge. Her first 'Chalet' story, 'The School at the Chalet', was originally published in 1925.
In 1930, the same year that 'Jean of Storms' was serialised, she converted to Roman Catholicism.
In 1933 the Brent-Dyer household (she lived with her mother and stepfather until her mother's death in 1957) moved to Hereford. She travelled daily to Peterchurch as a governess.
When her stepfather died she started her own school in Hereford, The Margaret Roper School. It was non-denominational but with a strong religious tradition. Many Chalet School customs were followed, the girls even wore a similar uniform made in the Chalet School's colours of brown and flame. Elinor was rather untidy, erratic and flamboyant and not really suited to being a headmistress. After her school closed in 1948 she devoted most of her time to writing.
Elinor's mother died in 1957 and in 1964 she moved to Redhill, where she lived in a joint establishment with fellow school story author Phyllis Matthewman and her husband, until her death on 20th September 1969.
During her lifetime Elinor M. Brent-Dyer published 101 books but she is remembered mainly for her Chalet School series. The series numbers 58 books and is the longest-surviving series of girls' school-stories ever known, having been continuously in print for more than 70 years. One hundred thousand paperback copies are still being sold each year.
Among her published books are other school stories; family, historical, adventure and animal stories; a cookery book, and four educational geography-readers. She also wrote plays and numerous unpublished poems and was a keen musician.
In 1994, the year of the centenary of her Elinor Brent-Dyer's birth, Friends of the Chalet School put up plaques in Pertisau, South Shields and Hereford, and a headstone was erected on her grave in Redstone Cemetery, since there was not one previously. They also put flowers on her grave on the anniversaries of her birth and death and on other special occasions.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 30, 2016
I first read this book about 35 years ago, and it was this edition, showing the mini-skirted, long-legged prefects wallowing in the mud. I think I must have read it after enjoying 'Barbara' (because I don't remember being puzzled about who this Joey person in Canada was) - so, in the wrong order from the off - and for years and years I had no idea that there are three books between them, one covering exactly the same term but at the new Swiss finishing branch. Given EBD's inability to keep track of events and characters within the space of a single chapter, a second book covering the same period of time was a really bad idea.
Reading 'Shocks' now, Bill's absence leaves a gaping hole (although it's good to see Rosalie stepping up as a result), and I really can't understand how Loveday (previously hardly rating a mention) ends up as head girl, or why Elfie is suddenly Bride's best friend. But Emerence is still just as entertaining as she was for me all those years ago and I do enjoy how they deal with her (particularly the prefects getting her to clean out their cupboards). Joey is 'busy' in Canada (to say more would be a spoiler for new readers, not that there can be many) so the Chalet School staff have to sort out this particular problem new girl without her help. To some extent they are successful although Emerence doesn't ever really achieve 'proper' Chalet girl status, except perhaps in comparison to Joan Baker.
The EBDisms mainly relate to people suddenly arriving on the Island ('Jack Maynard!' 'Madame!') - did the other characters simply not notice them travelling on the same ferry? Or were they in disguise? I suspect there are lots of others, mainly relating to who is in which form, and the layout of the grounds, but only the EBDism about Kitty Burnett grated (for years I thought there was a fourth Burnett sister, Betty, because of this).
I can't say that the Christie/Lloyd family history particularly gripped me, and as usual I skipped through the Christmas play, but otherwise a fairly action-packed Chalet, and I can see why my younger self wanted to find out if there were any more books in the set ...
Update April 2016 after reading the GGB edition: my Armada paperback apparently having minor frequent cuts, I invested in the GGB edition. Armada readers shouldn't worry, because the cuts are barely noticeable (although one of them explains the mystery of how Jack got onto the island unnoticed). The only thing that really struck me was the relationship between Miss Annersley and Commander Christie, which seemed much closer than I remembered. Maybe there was a bit of a love triangle going on there with Kester Bellever. No wonder the paperbacks were trimmed.
Reading 'Shocks' now, Bill's absence leaves a gaping hole (although it's good to see Rosalie stepping up as a result), and I really can't understand how Loveday (previously hardly rating a mention) ends up as head girl, or why Elfie is suddenly Bride's best friend. But Emerence is still just as entertaining as she was for me all those years ago and I do enjoy how they deal with her (particularly the prefects getting her to clean out their cupboards). Joey is 'busy' in Canada (to say more would be a spoiler for new readers, not that there can be many) so the Chalet School staff have to sort out this particular problem new girl without her help. To some extent they are successful although Emerence doesn't ever really achieve 'proper' Chalet girl status, except perhaps in comparison to Joan Baker.
The EBDisms mainly relate to people suddenly arriving on the Island ('Jack Maynard!' 'Madame!') - did the other characters simply not notice them travelling on the same ferry? Or were they in disguise? I suspect there are lots of others, mainly relating to who is in which form, and the layout of the grounds, but only the EBDism about Kitty Burnett grated (for years I thought there was a fourth Burnett sister, Betty, because of this).
I can't say that the Christie/Lloyd family history particularly gripped me, and as usual I skipped through the Christmas play, but otherwise a fairly action-packed Chalet, and I can see why my younger self wanted to find out if there were any more books in the set ...
Update April 2016 after reading the GGB edition: my Armada paperback apparently having minor frequent cuts, I invested in the GGB edition. Armada readers shouldn't worry, because the cuts are barely noticeable (although one of them explains the mystery of how Jack got onto the island unnoticed). The only thing that really struck me was the relationship between Miss Annersley and Commander Christie, which seemed much closer than I remembered. Maybe there was a bit of a love triangle going on there with Kester Bellever. No wonder the paperbacks were trimmed.
January 15, 2026
There's a point somewhere around Peggy that the Chalet School series seems to start to mark time a little. The novelty of the Island setting has worn off, a batch of eminent faces have been shipped off to the Oberland and Canada respectively, and so we're left with a school that doesn't quite have the right feel to it because it's waiting for the status quo(s) to be restored. But then there's Emerence, and everything comes back right again.
Shocks is the debut of Emerence Hope, a little "firebug" from Australia, and she's obnoxious and brilliant. I'd forgotten how much I loved her, but then, really, she does everything that she does in this book and it's a delight. It's so easy for Brent-Dyer to present girls who adapt and thrive, but she steps back from this with Emerence. She's allowed to be hideous; and it's interested to read this sanctioned bad behaviour against somebody like Eustacia who, simply, isn't allowed to get away with anything remotely similar without being badly physically punished. (I adore Eustacia, she is my secret star of the series).
One of the great things about having so many characters removed from the forefront is that it allows some others to step up. There's some lovely character work here for Jack Maynard and Captain Christie respectively, whilst the book also contains one of my favourite moments in the entire series. It's a moment of ferocious particularity but one which has always stuck with me. I won't spoil it for you but suffice to say it was the first thing to teach me what tautology was. Vocabulary tuition! Plus a lifelong concern about dying from hiccups! What a series this is!
Shocks is the debut of Emerence Hope, a little "firebug" from Australia, and she's obnoxious and brilliant. I'd forgotten how much I loved her, but then, really, she does everything that she does in this book and it's a delight. It's so easy for Brent-Dyer to present girls who adapt and thrive, but she steps back from this with Emerence. She's allowed to be hideous; and it's interested to read this sanctioned bad behaviour against somebody like Eustacia who, simply, isn't allowed to get away with anything remotely similar without being badly physically punished. (I adore Eustacia, she is my secret star of the series).
One of the great things about having so many characters removed from the forefront is that it allows some others to step up. There's some lovely character work here for Jack Maynard and Captain Christie respectively, whilst the book also contains one of my favourite moments in the entire series. It's a moment of ferocious particularity but one which has always stuck with me. I won't spoil it for you but suffice to say it was the first thing to teach me what tautology was. Vocabulary tuition! Plus a lifelong concern about dying from hiccups! What a series this is!
August 9, 2020
We do so love a firebrand - or would that be "firebug" in this case - in the Chalet School! Emerence Hope turns up on the Welsh island of St Briavel's and proceeds to insert her delightfully obnoxious little self into the school's daily routine.
As a child, I loved the way Emerence asserted herself, from turning up insouciantly in the prefects' room to her stubborn refusal to take the stairs she's meant to take. She was plainly wrong, of course, but there's something quite charming about her behaviour.
As an adult, I appreciate the way Elinor M. Brent-Dyer continues to make her adult characters as real and relatable as her schoolgirls. I will miss Bill a.k.a. Miss Wilson forever (still believe she was the greatest loss suffered by the School proper in its relocation to the Oberland) but it's lovely to see school secretary Rosalie Dene come to the fore here.
I don't think I'd have noticed it in the same way as a kid, but I also so enjoyed seeing Madge Russell on the page again - her warmth and her wit, her heart and humour, are so much a part of the soul of the School. I understand the need for Brent-Dyer to pass that mantle on to Joey Bettany/Maynard as the school's most popular and enduring character (in effect, the prototype Chalet School girl). But oh, I miss Madame dearly, and will gladly take whatever I can get of her, absolutely whenever!
The writing isn't quite as sharp as Brent-Dyer at her best - she's already started to litter the series with expository callbacks to earlier books and incidents, which probably worked to hint at continuity for younger readers, but feels rather tedious for adults (especially when we become more discerning and spot all the EBDisms crowded into these pages). (WHO IS MADGE DAVISON? Is this a typo of Madge Dawson?)
I do always love revisiting a Chalet School book when I finally have an unabridged copy too - especially since there really were quite a few substantial cuts made throughout Shocks In The Chalet School. Not enough to disrupt the general thrust of the narrative, of course - but it does whittle away at some of the book's charm and the school's atmosphere.
This time around, I spotted quite a few excised paragraphs and details - from mentions of cannibals to a mistress maligning a picture of a baby by comparing its subject to an inmate in a lunatic asylum. Far from politically correct, but I loved it lol. Quite a lot of Miss Annersley's conversations with Commander Christie about mud and overflow were also cut, which is unfortunate because it was lovely to see her being treated by Matron for chilling out (literally) while waiting for him to... root around in mud or something.
Definitely full of shocks, though none as heart-stopping as the kind that used to plague the School in the Tiernsee. 3.5 stars.
As a child, I loved the way Emerence asserted herself, from turning up insouciantly in the prefects' room to her stubborn refusal to take the stairs she's meant to take. She was plainly wrong, of course, but there's something quite charming about her behaviour.
As an adult, I appreciate the way Elinor M. Brent-Dyer continues to make her adult characters as real and relatable as her schoolgirls. I will miss Bill a.k.a. Miss Wilson forever (still believe she was the greatest loss suffered by the School proper in its relocation to the Oberland) but it's lovely to see school secretary Rosalie Dene come to the fore here.
I don't think I'd have noticed it in the same way as a kid, but I also so enjoyed seeing Madge Russell on the page again - her warmth and her wit, her heart and humour, are so much a part of the soul of the School. I understand the need for Brent-Dyer to pass that mantle on to Joey Bettany/Maynard as the school's most popular and enduring character (in effect, the prototype Chalet School girl). But oh, I miss Madame dearly, and will gladly take whatever I can get of her, absolutely whenever!
The writing isn't quite as sharp as Brent-Dyer at her best - she's already started to litter the series with expository callbacks to earlier books and incidents, which probably worked to hint at continuity for younger readers, but feels rather tedious for adults (especially when we become more discerning and spot all the EBDisms crowded into these pages). (WHO IS MADGE DAVISON? Is this a typo of Madge Dawson?)
I do always love revisiting a Chalet School book when I finally have an unabridged copy too - especially since there really were quite a few substantial cuts made throughout Shocks In The Chalet School. Not enough to disrupt the general thrust of the narrative, of course - but it does whittle away at some of the book's charm and the school's atmosphere.
This time around, I spotted quite a few excised paragraphs and details - from mentions of cannibals to a mistress maligning a picture of a baby by comparing its subject to an inmate in a lunatic asylum. Far from politically correct, but I loved it lol. Quite a lot of Miss Annersley's conversations with Commander Christie about mud and overflow were also cut, which is unfortunate because it was lovely to see her being treated by Matron for chilling out (literally) while waiting for him to... root around in mud or something.
Definitely full of shocks, though none as heart-stopping as the kind that used to plague the School in the Tiernsee. 3.5 stars.
May 7, 2021
Emerence a "firebug" from Australia arrives to make her mark on the Chalet school. Yet more breeding from Joey. And the land around the school provides some surprises for everyone.
I found this installment hilarious in places - especially the staff night with Miss Armitage's mouth of corrugated iron! Plus, an extra bonus star for a mention of Dorothy L Sayers "Whose body?"
I found this installment hilarious in places - especially the staff night with Miss Armitage's mouth of corrugated iron! Plus, an extra bonus star for a mention of Dorothy L Sayers "Whose body?"
December 30, 2020
_Shocks_ (for Lucy)
1. New girl arrives from Australia, no warning/chance to say no
2. Baby twins
3. Teacher falls down unexpected well in garden
4. Well turns out to lead to old smuggler's rest
5. Owner of school turns up, surprise
6. Missing pupil returns due to family circumstances
7. Australian new girl gets locked in cupboard, entirely her own fault
8. Obstacle race at staff party (gosh!)
9. Australian new girl blocks flow of stream from well, flooding playing fields
10. Joey comes back to school, with the new twins
1. New girl arrives from Australia, no warning/chance to say no
2. Baby twins
3. Teacher falls down unexpected well in garden
4. Well turns out to lead to old smuggler's rest
5. Owner of school turns up, surprise
6. Missing pupil returns due to family circumstances
7. Australian new girl gets locked in cupboard, entirely her own fault
8. Obstacle race at staff party (gosh!)
9. Australian new girl blocks flow of stream from well, flooding playing fields
10. Joey comes back to school, with the new twins
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2025
Book 25 in the 60 book series.
More pranks from the middles, and some problems with Emerence Hope, the main new girl. Disobedience, disrespect and laziness are discouraged in all the books.
I really didn't care that much for this book, probably because I went from book 14 to this one, so I felt quite out of place. I didn't really know anyone in the school, which made it harder to be interested in it. I would definitely say to, if at all possible, read the books in order.
--------
Mlle fished out Priscilla's book and showed that the beginning of practically every sentence was crossed through. "That child! She has begun almost each sentence with 'voilà' and I have spent three lessons-but /three/," she spoke impressively, "explaining that 'voilà' is used when you point to something and that in this case it should have been 'il y a'."
"But have they /all/ done that?" Biddy asked.
"Oh, no; that is only Priscilla. But Frances Wilford has not once remembered to make her adjectives agree in gender and number with their nouns; and Emerence Hope has /invented/ words-and such words!"
"/What/ words? Oh, do let us see!" Implored Peggy.
For answer, Mlle held out the book and the delighted Staff read: 'C'est un tableau d'un cour de la ferme. Il y a une taurelle à la porte, et trois moutons bianca. Un mouton-chien-'
At this point Biddy O'Ryan let herself go and shouted with laughter. "Oh, /oh!/" "Un mouton-chien!" "Where on earth did she get that?"
"Mais j'en ai dit. C'est une invention!" Mlle replied indignantly.
"What else has she said? This is rich! I must copy it for Jo-she'll love it!" And Biddy reached over to her table for paper and pencil and calmly copied out Emerence's exercise, pausing to chuckle over such weird inventions such as 'une elle-coq', for hen; 'un foin-colline', for a haystack, and finally, 'un grand chacal est dans l'étable.'
"A jackal in the stable?" Miss Derwent said, puzzled. Then she saw it and went off into fits of laughter. "She means 'un cheval'!"
-Shocks for the Chalet School, Chapter XVI
More pranks from the middles, and some problems with Emerence Hope, the main new girl. Disobedience, disrespect and laziness are discouraged in all the books.
I really didn't care that much for this book, probably because I went from book 14 to this one, so I felt quite out of place. I didn't really know anyone in the school, which made it harder to be interested in it. I would definitely say to, if at all possible, read the books in order.
--------
Mlle fished out Priscilla's book and showed that the beginning of practically every sentence was crossed through. "That child! She has begun almost each sentence with 'voilà' and I have spent three lessons-but /three/," she spoke impressively, "explaining that 'voilà' is used when you point to something and that in this case it should have been 'il y a'."
"But have they /all/ done that?" Biddy asked.
"Oh, no; that is only Priscilla. But Frances Wilford has not once remembered to make her adjectives agree in gender and number with their nouns; and Emerence Hope has /invented/ words-and such words!"
"/What/ words? Oh, do let us see!" Implored Peggy.
For answer, Mlle held out the book and the delighted Staff read: 'C'est un tableau d'un cour de la ferme. Il y a une taurelle à la porte, et trois moutons bianca. Un mouton-chien-'
At this point Biddy O'Ryan let herself go and shouted with laughter. "Oh, /oh!/" "Un mouton-chien!" "Where on earth did she get that?"
"Mais j'en ai dit. C'est une invention!" Mlle replied indignantly.
"What else has she said? This is rich! I must copy it for Jo-she'll love it!" And Biddy reached over to her table for paper and pencil and calmly copied out Emerence's exercise, pausing to chuckle over such weird inventions such as 'une elle-coq', for hen; 'un foin-colline', for a haystack, and finally, 'un grand chacal est dans l'étable.'
"A jackal in the stable?" Miss Derwent said, puzzled. Then she saw it and went off into fits of laughter. "She means 'un cheval'!"
-Shocks for the Chalet School, Chapter XVI
December 27, 2023
Emerence, a wild, unruly girl from Australia, is to be sent to the Chalet School. It doesn't help that the entire sixth form have moved to the new 'finishing' branch, just opened in the Oberland, so that this year's new prefects are all fairly inexperienced.
The main part of the book is a fairly run-of-the-mill school story, although further shocks emerge during the term, including a surprise announcement from Canada, and the unearthing (literally) of an old well. Elinor M Brent-Dyer evidently decided to give her views on child-raising a good airing in this book, but I didn't feel that Emerence ever quite lived up to her potential, although she is mostly treated sympathetically by the staff.
I previously read this in paperback and now have a full hardback, but it doesn't change the story as such. Worth reading for continuity as part of the series, but I don't think this book is anything special.
Latest longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
The main part of the book is a fairly run-of-the-mill school story, although further shocks emerge during the term, including a surprise announcement from Canada, and the unearthing (literally) of an old well. Elinor M Brent-Dyer evidently decided to give her views on child-raising a good airing in this book, but I didn't feel that Emerence ever quite lived up to her potential, although she is mostly treated sympathetically by the staff.
I previously read this in paperback and now have a full hardback, but it doesn't change the story as such. Worth reading for continuity as part of the series, but I don't think this book is anything special.
Latest longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
January 19, 2011
Emerence Hope, a spoiled, outspoken Australian youngster with a past penchant for setting fires, starts out to be a very compelling anti-heroine in the best Brent-Dyer style, but she soon fizzles out as she adapts to the Chalet School model. Her unasked-for presence at the school proves to be the biggest shock of the term. Others are an unlikely accident to Miss Burnett (pictured on the cover), big news from Joey (which should not be such a shock: we've been down this road before), and the withdrawal of Elfie as the result of a family tragedy. Elfie's departure is the most significant "shock" in my opinion, at least to her friend Bride, but less is made of it than it deserves, and it is resolved all too easily. A Chalet School book with lots of action and nothing terribly preposterous.
March 22, 2010
The most "shocking" book in the series!
First shock, Emerence Hope is being sent to the Chalet School by her parents, without even having been enrolled. She's a mischief-maker, her final act was to set fire to a small building on the property, and in the process, almost burning down her house and the neighbor's house as well!
Second shock, Joey has twins! She's now got 8 children (of course, her first babies were triplets).
Thirdly, Miss Burnett disappears down a hole one day, whilst everyone is out in the garden for their gardening session. When rescued, it's discovered that the hole used to be an old well, and it's filling up quickly.
This book is full of shocks and excitements, and is really fun to read.
First shock, Emerence Hope is being sent to the Chalet School by her parents, without even having been enrolled. She's a mischief-maker, her final act was to set fire to a small building on the property, and in the process, almost burning down her house and the neighbor's house as well!
Second shock, Joey has twins! She's now got 8 children (of course, her first babies were triplets).
Thirdly, Miss Burnett disappears down a hole one day, whilst everyone is out in the garden for their gardening session. When rescued, it's discovered that the hole used to be an old well, and it's filling up quickly.
This book is full of shocks and excitements, and is really fun to read.
November 28, 2015
I honestly thought I'd already read this, but when my copy of the unabridged version arrived from Girls Gone By, I realised that although I'd read a lot of the books around it - which reference Emerence's early exploits, the arrival of second twins (which also feature in Oberland, which runs pretty much concurrently I think) and the start of the end for St Briavels. And it's a lot of fun - Mary Lou isn't too annoying, Emerence is hair-raising and the Christmas play doesn't take up too much of the book. Yes they're very old school and a bit dated now, but I still love them!
February 4, 2015
Love the title of chapter 5 “Miss Annersley Throws A Few Bombs” What with chapter 9: “Miss Burnett Creates A Sensation” no better excuse could not be found for reading under the bedcovers by torch (flash) light!
December 7, 2014
The introduction of Emerance Hope! Another great set of adventures for the chalet girls - this one unusually lacking more than a mention of Jo and her antics as she is in Canada. Nice use of the guys (Dr Jack) and Mr Christie.
May 20, 2009
At last, the arrival of Emerence Hope! YES! Bring it ON!
February 17, 2024
One of the weaker books in the series
Preposterous that a girl of 13 would be sent all the way by herself from Australia just to attend a specific school
Too much time spent on the well / tunnel in the grounds
Preposterous that a girl of 13 would be sent all the way by herself from Australia just to attend a specific school
Too much time spent on the well / tunnel in the grounds
July 3, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this after a short break on my run through. Frustrating how major developments are brought in gradually being hinted at for ages before we start to get the real facts!
March 25, 2020
Loved the staff party!!!!
July 6, 2021
Pretty good, but I could definitely tell I was reading the abridged version. Emerence is a great name. As usual, I skimmed the interminable description of the school play.
October 26, 2025
Emerence refusing to go up the back stairs and down again, and Miss Dene sitting at the foot of the stairs with her typing all morning until Emerence gives in, actually is as iconic an event as EBD makes it sound in later books.
September 11, 2015
The shocks begin before the term even starts when the Head receives a cable from Australia to let her know a new pupil is on the way! Then last term's Fifth Formers realize that some of them will be this year's prefects. But one of their crowd, slated to be Games Pre, won't be returning after all, since her stepmother just died. And that is just the beginning! So much happens, this book is hard to put down.
February 28, 2025
Shocks for The Chalet School is book 27 of a reread (I started at Exile don’t @ at me, then went back to School at the Chalet and continued forward from there), and is book 25 in the series, being one of the books set on St Briavel. First reread of the Chalet School books since I went to Pertisau.
A fun read introducing Emerence Hope. At least there’s no crazy aunt in this one.
A fun read introducing Emerence Hope. At least there’s no crazy aunt in this one.
July 15, 2012
For unabridged hardback. I need to switch edition when properly online.
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