First Term at Trebizon

Trebizon #1

by Anne Digby

Fresh from a London comprehensive, Rebecca Mason is plunged into life at Trebizon, the famous boarding school for girls. Lonely and anxious to prove herself, Rebecca decides to write something for the school magazine. But the piece that appears is not the one she intended and she unwittingly triggers a row which rocks the school. It's a good thing Rebecca has some new friends on her side!

Genres: Childrens, School Stories, Fiction, Boarding School, Young Adult, Middle Grade, School

125 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 1978

About the author

Anne Digby is a popular British children's author, best known for her fourteen-book Trebizon series, set at a large boarding school. In addition to her own Trebizon books, Digby has contributed new volumes to Enid Blyton's Naughtiest Girl series.

Reviews

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hurrah for Anne Digby for her fine addition to the ever-popular boarding-school canon. As another GoodReader has observed, the Chalet School may win the cup as the romantic (and historical) ideal, but Trebizon, with its oceanside west country setting and equal emphasis on the humanities and sport is where you’d really want to go.

With its tight storyline, varied characters and evocative Girls Own ambience, ‘First Term at Trebizon’ offers a short, sweet introduction to the series. And any book that references an Emily Dickinson poem as a plot-boiler has to be a winner.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh from her London comprehensive, twelve-year-old Rebecca Mason wonders how she’s going to fit in at Trebizon, the famous boarding school for girls, especially with people like Elizabeth Exton (who she immediately gets off on the wrong foot with) there. Will she ever make friends? Then, unwittingly, Rebecca sparks off a row that rocks the school and she finds that her new friends - Tish Anderson and Sue Murdoch, amongst others - are all on her side. Published in 1978, I must have been aware of this series at the time (certainly, the Trebizon bit rings a bell) but this is my first time of reading (I’d finished “Le Freak”, hadn’t taken another book on holiday with me and this was already in the cottage). Of its time, obviously and not a genre I’d read before (the only school-based books I read featured “Grange Hill”), this moved briskly, the locations were well described, there was a nicely melancholic air as Rebecca’s homesickness kicked in and the main characters - though it had too big a supporting cast, really, for the length of the book - all worked well. The teachers come across as human beings, the dastardly deed is nicely set up, Exton makes a decent villain (and her promise to get revenge is, I hope, played out in one of the later books - there are fourteen in the series) and along with an ending that celebrates friendship, this has a lot to like. I really quite enjoyed it.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Trebizon books. While the Chalet School was my romantic ideal of the perfect school when I read them as a child, obviously Trebizon is the school you would really want to attend, given the chance. So much more freedom (no one seems to know or particularly care what the girls get up to between the end of lessons and bedtime), loads of tennis, surfing, cocoa time....it sounds amazing.

I also loved that the main storyline in this first book is quite academic, which makes a lovely change from midnight feasts, practical jokes and magnificent achievements on the hockey pitch. Intrigue surrounding an essay and a poem, with a nod to Emily Dickinson, doesn’t sound terribly exciting, but it really works.

[bhavya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt amazing to read this book after so many years! I used to love this one, and it is one of my favourite children's book. I really enjoyed the simple plot even now, and the main character is really sensible and matured. It is such a fun, lighthearted book, and I really feel that it is underrated and is just as good as any Enid Blyton boarding-school story like Malory Towers. I've always loved boarding-school settings, and this is definitely one of my favourite one.

[Robin Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute hug of a book, this is school storytelling at its warm, delightful, comforting best.

[Emma Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread in December 2018. It's just the best boarding school series, truly.
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Reread in October 2017: Loved this so much once again. I'll never grow tired of Trebizon and its marvellous details - cocoa time, copying things on best paper, making friends, paying for a glossy school magazine out of your pocket money. So many things that bring me back to my childhood and yet are even better than what I ever experienced. Lovely stuff.

Reread in December 2015: As cosy as ever. Love this series so much.

Reread in February 2014: I can't believe I haven't reread these last year. It's good to go back to Trebizon, it's such a comforting world. I absolutely love the school magazine details in this.

October 2012: This was so nice! I was craving a boarding school story and this met my needs beautifully. The characters are well fleshed-out for this type of novel, the friendships are really good and the plot was gripping. I really enjoyed reading about The Trebizon Journal and the girls' creativity and drive was inspiring. Tish was my favourite character. I'm so happy I found this series, it's exactly the kind of school adventure I was looking for.

[Mhairi Gowans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful take on the boarding school story. All the trappings that are typical of the genre but a slightly more modern feel - its really amusing to think that this was only published 8 years after the last Chalet School. Just goes to show just how antiquated CS became in its later years.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we were kids, much to our mum's chagrin, we were big fans of Enid Blyton and would read over and over her Famous Fives, Faraway Tree, and boarding school books, and it was difficult to get us interested in other authors. Enter Anne Digby (who is clearly herself a fan of Enid Blyton - she has, after all, added her own contributions to the Naughtiest Girl stories). I remember the excitement of discovering another boarding school series new to us, and we loved the Trebizon books. They felt more real and grounded to us than Blyton's prim and proper Malory Towers and St. Clare's, set (and written) in our own time period for starters - and they even had boys in it! (One of the the books is called "Boy Trouble at Trebizon".) I'm now rereading them as an adult.

They are short, fun, cosy, and from what I remember, like this first one, the plot for each is usually centred around one main story (unlike Blyton's). In this, not a lot happens really - Rebecca writes a poem for the school magazine, only to have it stolen by the sixth former magazine editor and claimed as her own, and Rebecca becomes firm friends with the two girls who take a stand to do something about it. But it's charming, a solid introduction to the series.

[T.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Term at Trebizon by Anne Digby - Boarding school stories is one of my favorite genres. Somehow there is something warm and fuzzy about the friendships that form at a boarding school and the school activities have a certain charm. Also the conflicts in the stories and the problems facing the characters, while it seems serious within the world of the characters, has an nonthreatening innocent feel to the adult reader faced with more serious problems of the real world.

So I have been on the look out for boarding school stories similar to Blyton's Mallory Towers and St. Clares series.. Along with Angela Brazil, Chalet School, Jennings, Bunter, Williams, Trebizon was recommended to me as one of the newer ones. I was a bit sceptical about this author, as I was not a big fan of her extension to the Naughtiest Girl in School series. But finally decided to pick up one of her books.

I actually liked it. She is an author of a different era. She is able to do more justice with her own characters in her own world set in her own time. This one as the name suggests is the first book of the series. It starts with a new girl trying to settle at a school. This is something I relate to a lot having been the eternal new boy changing schools every 3 years.

The story has a general Enid Blyton feel to it. However the story is much simpler and shorter than Blyton's stories. There were just 4 main characters and one major and one minor conflict. Also all the fun and humor was not there. Nor the mouth watering descriptions of food. I know I am not doing justice to an author by comparing with another author over what is missing. But still I long for these elements in boarding school stories. What was there is a bit more contemporary settings. I mean it is still old. Was published before I was born. But more contemporary than the others I have mentioned.

I still liked the overall feel of the book and have placed an order for the second book of the series.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in an apparently popular series that I'd not heard of before - boarding school stories set in the 70s (which gives them a very different tone to the much earlier ones). Short, engaging, without being urgently compelling or transformative - though no doubt it would be much more interesting to young teens.

With her parents off to work in Saudi Arabia, Rebecca is off to a boarding school for the first time ever, starting in the second year (of high school) after all the others in her year have had a chance to already get to know each other. Rebecca is a literate girl with a desire to scribble poetry.

There are familiar notes - the early friend who is not, the desire to not seem pushing or overeager, the retreat into solitude after mildly mucking up in the friend department, and the dramatic and compelling injustice. Digby doesn't milk the compelling injustice, not giving Rebecca a chance to be a complete social pariah, and issues are cleared up relatively quickly. On the whole I think I prefer that to chapters of angst. Nice, light, and entertaining.

Will continue the series for at least another book.

[Nicolle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read a few of the Trebizon books when I was a girl and loved the boarding school experience and friendships in the books. Reading Harry Potter (another boarding school in a sense) made me want to revisit the series, and I recently bought the books I was missing to complete my collectIon. It was a quick easy read, looking forward to reading the ones I haven’t read before.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love books set in boarding schools. I grew up reading the Malory Towers and the Chalet school books and while I was aware of the Trebizon books I don't think I ever read one. I saw a cheap copy today and voila.

I liked the setting. I liked the "villain" - she was not totally one-dimensional. The lead character Rebecca Mason seems interesting, although it was annoying that she is portrayed as both an A-grade student and as also being talented at sports. Hockey sucks!

I kind of missed the midnight feasts from Enid Blyton's books though.

I cannot help wishing I had read it as a child because I think I would have got more out of it. But I am glad I read it and hope the second volume comes my way soon.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this online after reading Bookworm by Lucy Mangan. I have had a very busy couple of weeks so needed something I could easily read.

Rebecca Mason comes to Trebizon from a comprehensive school when her parents go to Saudi Arabia. She struggles to make friends at first and focuses on her writing but life becomes more complicated when a poem of her's ends up in the wrong hands.

I really enjoyed this and might have to read more of this series. I loved the characters and the politics. Thank you Lucy Mangan for another great recommendation!

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boarding school series which is apparently a favourite of many and a classic series etc, anyway for me it was pretty average and forgettable.
I have borrowed a number of them from the library so I will try the next one and see how it goes.
But this one, well nothing that will last too long in the memory banks.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technically a re-read as I had this book as a kid but nothing else in the series. I remembered it quite well, especially the climax. Decent English schoolgirl book, set in the 70's/80's and thus very different in feel from the famous ones like Enid Blyton's.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this as a child, and have just finished reading it with my 11 year old who also loved it! Although it was interesting trying to explain what a 'duplicating machine' is and why it was exciting!

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about life and friendships at boarding school, with a lovely message about honesty. Very enjoyable and a book I will be recommending!

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute gem of a book. I'm so glad I read this book.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nostalgic hot mug of tea on a rainy winter day type feeling, I very much enjoyed.

[Nefeli]

great book

[Alex Ankarr · Rating 2 out of 5]

well, I don't know where my sweet little review has gone. to summarize, you might say: ah, the lard-porkerin' shit-waddling scent of plagiarism~! stinks of #fandom!!!

[Abbie Birnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like being nostalgic so started reading a series again that I first read when I was 10! Basically a slightly more modern version of Malory Towers! Love it!

[Birdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia! I loved this book as a young teen and enjoyed reading it again.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for light, easy reading this past weekend so I started this series!

[Selma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book series First Term at Trebizon is an amusing girl book by Anne Digby. The main character is Rebecca Masson she goes to boarding school. She integrated the Trebizon school in the second year which makes it hard to have friends. In the beginning, Rebecca had to adapt to boarding schools and the way of living because she had never been. Rebecca had two friends Tish and Sue who were part of the Trebizon magazine. Rebecca's dormitory and girls in her class had a name which was Juniper. She then writes a story for the school magazine, but half of the school is now against her. Tish and Sue help her get through this and also a boy that she meets in her class. Robbie Anderson becomes Rebecca's boyfriend, and they make a great team altogether. By the end of the book, all the magazine drama was forgotten. Thus, Rebecca and her friends had the best first term ever.

This book taught me how boarding school life was in the 70s. In my opinion, the author wrote this book to pass an important message. To never give up even if it’s hard. In the story, we can see the older kids and people in Rebecca's class nagging her about what she wrote, but it didn’t stop her from having a fantastic time at Trebizon with her real friends. Another thing that made the story fun were the characters and how they acted towards each other. I liked all the characters except for Lucy Hubbard because she was very mean to Rebecca. My favorite character would be Rebecca because I love her way of acting and personality. This book would be one of my favorite. I like this genre of book, and this author writes a little like Jacqueline Wilson. Her book Best Friends has the same drama, and I enjoyed both of these books. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward reading all the series.

The book First Term at Trebizon includes many dramatical parts. All the book has something important is happening. This is why I had no parts I liked least every part of the book was my favorite. This book I would recommend to only girls from the age 8 to 14. Boys would not like this book because it is all about girl drama. I think girls in my class would enjoy reading it, so I recommend it to all seventh-grade girls. Lastly, I would recommend this book to teens who are going to a boarding school because they could maybe learn from Rebecca's experience. Thus, I found this book entertaining because I could easily compare the way of living of girls my age in the past to now.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a modern version of the Angela Brazil books. Rebecca is going to a girl's school. Things don't start well for her. She has to adjust to the way things are done at the school but she does manage to make friends. Rebecca is a writer and wants to be in the school magazine but there ends up being a major problem with that when plagiarism rears its ugly head, the editor the the magazine causes major problems and Rebecca must face the possibility of being kicked out of the school.

Although there are problems with adjusting to life at the school where there is still no violence, no end-of-the-word scenario, nothing like that. It's a book showing a basically gentle story that's quite enjoyable.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Term at Trebizon, is a nice, quick read about Rebecca Mason going off to boarding school. She is joining Trebizon school as the only new 2nd year. Even though this book is geared more towards the tween/teen age group, I did enjoy it. I would recommend the book especially to younger readers. I think many can identify with Rebecca. I would have liked more details about the other students and classroom life, such as was there a story behind Debbie's attitude? When I was finished, my first thought was "it's done already." I wanted to read more. I think I will read more of the books in the series to see how Rebecca and her friends grow up.

[Carolynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Digby is the latest in a long line of British authors of school stories. Written in the 1970's, they vary from more traditional school stories with the addition of boys, technology, married teachers, among other things.
Rebecca Mason, the main character, desires to achieve a name for herself by writing for the student literary magazine. An editor who has her own ideas of what makes a good school magazine causes Rebecca to miss her opportunity, but her friend Trish solves the problem her own way, making trouble for herself.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just re-read this favorite series from my childhood. Set at a British boarding school, each term Rebecca Mason and her friends solve mysteries and deal with the challenges of growing up. Reading the books back now, they are not the most well-written, but the author does a good job of capturing the angst of those early teenage years and the boarding school setting was exotic and fascinating to me.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rebecca is an interesting enough character, but I never liked the Trebizon series growing up - too modern, too many boys! I preferred the old-fashioned charm of Malory Towers. However, I eventually decided to give Trebizon another go and while I still much prefer my Blytons, it's not a bad series after all.