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Malory Towers #4
Pitty als vierde klasser
Pitty's zusje Lizzy, gaat na de vakantie mee naar Malory Towers. Ze is blij maar ook een beetje angstig. Het lijkt erop dat het nichtje van Alice op onprettige manier de baas gaat spelen over Lizzy. Ook blijkt dat Connie haar tweelingzusje Ruth overheerst. In beide gevallen moet Pitty, als klasseleidster, de problemen aanpakken. Via Clarissa krijgen de meisjes een tafel vol heerlijkheden om er een groot nachtfeest mee te vieren. En dat doen ze bij het zwembad!
Arme Mam'zelle wordt er weer eens flink tussen genomen.
Arme Mam'zelle wordt er weer eens flink tussen genomen.
143 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
131 people are currently reading
1951 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,133 books6,299 followersSee also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
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November 9, 2018
Book #4 for my Malory Towers challenge.
Upper Fourth at Malory Towers picks up a couple of terms after the previous book when Darrell and her friends were in their third form. Now they have spent some time in the Upper Forth taught by Miss Williams and are preparing to take their certificate exams. But that doesn’t of course stop school life from going on as it usually does. This is the first term in which Felicity has joined Malory Towers. Darrell is excited to show her little sister around and help settle her in, but before she can do that Alicia’s rather nasty little cousin, June, takes Felicity under her wing, and out of Darrell’s way, something the latter can’t approve. To add to the situation, Darrell has been made head-girl of the form, a post she is proud to occupy but her temper rears its ugly head again, putting everything that she’s been working for at risk. There are also new girls of course, the meek and unattractive Honourable Clarissa Carter, who Gwendolen (rather like St Clares’ Alison in this respect) is keen to befriend, and (non-identical) twins Connie and Ruth, opposites of each other in more than one way.
This was another interesting instalment in the series once again focusing on the girls’ different temperaments, and how this leads them to like or repel each other, and causes differences as well. At the end of the day, the message if one can call it that, which comes through is that one must be responsible for one’s own acts, face up to one’s own failings and deal with them if one wishes to be a good human being, not merely a winner of prizes and scholarships (the very same that Miss Grayling gives her new students each year). Some of the girls (Clarrisa, for one, Felicity another) must learn to see their ‘so-called’ friends for who they really are rather than the face they put on for them. Darrell must learn to face her temper and deal with it, or else face the consequences, just as Gwendolen must do for her deception and machinations. The twins have to learn to deal with each other’s personalities, and not get overshadowed by the other, while Alicia has to learn not to scorn other just because she has some gifts that others do not. For some these lessons have long-term results, but others merely fall back into their own ways.
That was the serious side, but there is a lighter side too. This was the first of the Malory Towers books where the girls actually had a midnight feast (St Clares seemed to have far more), which is fun though it does get interrupted and has some unpleasant cosequences. They also play a trick, once again on the unsuspecting Mam’zelle Dupont, who doesn’t realise what is happening (not even once its all over), much to the amusement of the girls, and Miss Williams. And of course, there is the usual fun of term time, a picnic, games and swimming which some girls are excited about while others perpetually try to get out of, Belinda and Irene’s madcap antics, and the usual fun. All-in-all a good read again. I think I’m appreciating these better reading them now, than when I read them as a child.
p.s.: An interesting fact I learnt from this book was that EB was a regular contributor to Encyclopaedia Britannica on English fauna. I knew she wrote nature books and was very knowledgeable about nature (something that reflects in her other books too) but not that she was a contributor to Britannica too.
A version of this review is on my blog here: https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
Upper Fourth at Malory Towers picks up a couple of terms after the previous book when Darrell and her friends were in their third form. Now they have spent some time in the Upper Forth taught by Miss Williams and are preparing to take their certificate exams. But that doesn’t of course stop school life from going on as it usually does. This is the first term in which Felicity has joined Malory Towers. Darrell is excited to show her little sister around and help settle her in, but before she can do that Alicia’s rather nasty little cousin, June, takes Felicity under her wing, and out of Darrell’s way, something the latter can’t approve. To add to the situation, Darrell has been made head-girl of the form, a post she is proud to occupy but her temper rears its ugly head again, putting everything that she’s been working for at risk. There are also new girls of course, the meek and unattractive Honourable Clarissa Carter, who Gwendolen (rather like St Clares’ Alison in this respect) is keen to befriend, and (non-identical) twins Connie and Ruth, opposites of each other in more than one way.
This was another interesting instalment in the series once again focusing on the girls’ different temperaments, and how this leads them to like or repel each other, and causes differences as well. At the end of the day, the message if one can call it that, which comes through is that one must be responsible for one’s own acts, face up to one’s own failings and deal with them if one wishes to be a good human being, not merely a winner of prizes and scholarships (the very same that Miss Grayling gives her new students each year). Some of the girls (Clarrisa, for one, Felicity another) must learn to see their ‘so-called’ friends for who they really are rather than the face they put on for them. Darrell must learn to face her temper and deal with it, or else face the consequences, just as Gwendolen must do for her deception and machinations. The twins have to learn to deal with each other’s personalities, and not get overshadowed by the other, while Alicia has to learn not to scorn other just because she has some gifts that others do not. For some these lessons have long-term results, but others merely fall back into their own ways.
That was the serious side, but there is a lighter side too. This was the first of the Malory Towers books where the girls actually had a midnight feast (St Clares seemed to have far more), which is fun though it does get interrupted and has some unpleasant cosequences. They also play a trick, once again on the unsuspecting Mam’zelle Dupont, who doesn’t realise what is happening (not even once its all over), much to the amusement of the girls, and Miss Williams. And of course, there is the usual fun of term time, a picnic, games and swimming which some girls are excited about while others perpetually try to get out of, Belinda and Irene’s madcap antics, and the usual fun. All-in-all a good read again. I think I’m appreciating these better reading them now, than when I read them as a child.
p.s.: An interesting fact I learnt from this book was that EB was a regular contributor to Encyclopaedia Britannica on English fauna. I knew she wrote nature books and was very knowledgeable about nature (something that reflects in her other books too) but not that she was a contributor to Britannica too.
A version of this review is on my blog here: https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
January 23, 2021
So yes, I have certainly quite enjoyed reading in Enid Blyton’s Upper Fourth at Malory Towers about Gwendoline Lacey's unsuccessful ploys to get out of writing that big fourth form school certification exam (in a perverse and Schadenfreude heavy manner I guess), and yes, that the failure to successfully have said plan come to fruition for her ends up causing arrogant, stuck-up and always full of herself Gwendoline very much "good for her in the long run" grief, like having to go on a serious diet whilst at school and to become more engaged in games and swimming at Malory Towers (in order to lose her excess weight), not to mention that Gwendoline also has to write the exam she was trying by subterfuge to get out of and with no preparation as she had of course thought she could easily get out of it by pretending to be ill with a heart flutter (and me also appreciating how Enid Blyton has Alicia Johns realise that she should not be so uncaring and hard towards schoolmates who do not have as easy an academic time as she usually does, when she tries to write the exam whilst ill with the measles and fails miserably as she, as Alicia just cannot seem to get her thoughts straight). And of course, I did also and naturally find it very much cheering that Clarissa (by the end of Upper Fourth at Malory Towers) turns out to be as much of a horse fanatic as Bill and that the two of them become almost inseparable friends (and that once again, dear Gwendoline ends up holding the bag so to speak, as Clarissa thankfully and wisely chooses Bill as a friend and vice versa and is thus removed from Gwendoline's toxicity and deep down nastiness).
However and my appreciation of certain parts and certain plot lines of Upper Fourth at Malory Towers quite notwithstanding (see above), I for the most part (and regarding the majority of Enid Blyton's themes and contents as she presents them to us readers) do have to admit that I have not really enjoyed my reading time regarding Upper Fourth at Malory Towers all that much and have certainly found much of Enid Blyton's presented text teeming not only with the to be expected repetitiveness and typecasting but also really rather tediously and at times even majorly uncomfortably with unrelentingly negative scenarios and characters (rather like Second Form at Malory Towers but probably even with a trifle more instances of exaggeration and too much of especially the presented villains being thin and like stiffly unbending, lacking in depth cardboard).
And honestly, I actually also do tend to think that in Upper Fourth at Malory Towers, our main protagonist Darrell Rivers, well, I actually have found her for most of the story almost as much of a royal pain in the you know what (almost as intolerable) as Gwendoline Lacey, with her, with Darrell's overprotectiveness of her younger and first form sister Felicity and Darrell obviously also actively striving to choose which friends are suitable for her sister. For although I might indeed not (and much akin to Darrell) find Alicia Johns' cousin June as really good and positive friendship material for Felicity, she really and truly should be allowed to make her own decisions with regard to this, and in fact, Darrell Rivers acting (as fourth form head girl, at least until she gets into trouble) as rather a dictator sometimes and really in my opinion being totally nasty towards June just because she does not like her (and then once again rather massively losing her temper, and this time at June), this really has been a rather repetitively tedious and monotonous scenario (an often repeated almost verbatim scenario that has been continuously described by Enid Blyton as a recurring problem for Darrell Rivers since the first Malory Towers novel and one that I do begin to find more than a bit dragging and frustrating and just like I always seem to find and consider Gwendoline Lacey's spoiled and entitled behaviours and actions as rather one-sided, same old, same old and as such also very much uninteresting).
Combined with the fact that some of the plot elements of Upper Fourth at Malory Towers also and equally seem to and for me to be rather tacked on and as such not really all that much organically woven into Malory Towers' narrative fibre (such as the entire Connie and Ruth scenario, which I for one have found rather painfully artificial in scope and especially with the ending of the so-called Connie affair feeling as though Enid Blyton has added this just to get Darrell Rivers by her actions and her advice to Ruth back into fourth form mistress Miss Williams's good graces and to therefore be made head girl of the fourth form once again), while I have definitely quite enjoyed some of the minor parts of Fourth Form at Malory Towers, generally my reading experience on the whole has been a rather frustrating and disappointing one (and indeed, only a rather low and grudging two star ranking at best, and I am indeed at present only still continuing with the Malory Towers series because I do want to finish what I have started reading).
However and my appreciation of certain parts and certain plot lines of Upper Fourth at Malory Towers quite notwithstanding (see above), I for the most part (and regarding the majority of Enid Blyton's themes and contents as she presents them to us readers) do have to admit that I have not really enjoyed my reading time regarding Upper Fourth at Malory Towers all that much and have certainly found much of Enid Blyton's presented text teeming not only with the to be expected repetitiveness and typecasting but also really rather tediously and at times even majorly uncomfortably with unrelentingly negative scenarios and characters (rather like Second Form at Malory Towers but probably even with a trifle more instances of exaggeration and too much of especially the presented villains being thin and like stiffly unbending, lacking in depth cardboard).
And honestly, I actually also do tend to think that in Upper Fourth at Malory Towers, our main protagonist Darrell Rivers, well, I actually have found her for most of the story almost as much of a royal pain in the you know what (almost as intolerable) as Gwendoline Lacey, with her, with Darrell's overprotectiveness of her younger and first form sister Felicity and Darrell obviously also actively striving to choose which friends are suitable for her sister. For although I might indeed not (and much akin to Darrell) find Alicia Johns' cousin June as really good and positive friendship material for Felicity, she really and truly should be allowed to make her own decisions with regard to this, and in fact, Darrell Rivers acting (as fourth form head girl, at least until she gets into trouble) as rather a dictator sometimes and really in my opinion being totally nasty towards June just because she does not like her (and then once again rather massively losing her temper, and this time at June), this really has been a rather repetitively tedious and monotonous scenario (an often repeated almost verbatim scenario that has been continuously described by Enid Blyton as a recurring problem for Darrell Rivers since the first Malory Towers novel and one that I do begin to find more than a bit dragging and frustrating and just like I always seem to find and consider Gwendoline Lacey's spoiled and entitled behaviours and actions as rather one-sided, same old, same old and as such also very much uninteresting).
Combined with the fact that some of the plot elements of Upper Fourth at Malory Towers also and equally seem to and for me to be rather tacked on and as such not really all that much organically woven into Malory Towers' narrative fibre (such as the entire Connie and Ruth scenario, which I for one have found rather painfully artificial in scope and especially with the ending of the so-called Connie affair feeling as though Enid Blyton has added this just to get Darrell Rivers by her actions and her advice to Ruth back into fourth form mistress Miss Williams's good graces and to therefore be made head girl of the fourth form once again), while I have definitely quite enjoyed some of the minor parts of Fourth Form at Malory Towers, generally my reading experience on the whole has been a rather frustrating and disappointing one (and indeed, only a rather low and grudging two star ranking at best, and I am indeed at present only still continuing with the Malory Towers series because I do want to finish what I have started reading).
October 27, 2020
The books become more interesting from the fourth form onwards. There are more interactions, and I think Blyton also got into the groove of plotting much better. This year, the girls are sitting for their School Certificate exams and have their noses to the grindstone. Another new element is the introduction of Darrel's sister, Felicity, and Alicia's cousin, June, who start school in the first form. This gives some interesting focus away from the main girls and just makes the story better.
There are three new girls: Clarissa Carter, and the Batten twins, Connie and Ruth. I rather enjoyed the twins. Connie is domineering and bossy and does everything for Ruth - makes her bed, ties up her laces, etc. She also is constantly responding whenever anyone talks to Ruth, while Ruth appears to be devoid of any personality. When Connie becomes the target of malicious attacks, it is Darrel who solves the problem.
Clarissa is an aristocrat, and Gwen is happy to make friends with her. It is annoying to see that the other girls don't want Gwen to make friends and constantly try to upset the relationship. Even Daphne, the erstwhile thief and fake friend to Gwen, now thinks it is good fun to see her lose her one friendship. Eventually, Clarissa ends up making friends with someone else with whom she discovers something in common.
Back to Gwen, this is the first book in which she actually does something bad. Her gullible mother and her completely useless father, who only appears to say nasty things to her, are clearly to blame! I cannot express how much her father annoys me. He obviously does not give a damn for connecting with his daughter and explaining things to her. He only ever says 'hurtful' things. Ugh!
In a spectacularly bad decision, Darrel is made head girl. What were the teachers smoking?! The decision has its expected result - she assaults another girl. This time, she didn't even pick on someone her own size. Instead, she picks on a first former to beat up! Darrel is a classic bully, and I don't understand why she is a heroine. Sally gets to clean up Darrel's mess as she is then appointed head girl. But as soon as Darrel helps someone, she gets her position back without any consideration for Sally's feelings, who does a better job anyway! Ugh, ugh, and ugh!
The introduction of Felicity and June leads to a lot of fun. Though Felicity is shy and a bit annoying, June is an interesting character and lends some sorely required jazz to the story. She is unapologetically upfront and refuses to be bullied, even by Darrel. Of course, she isn't perfect.
Overall, it was a fun read. The best books are yet to come, though!
There are three new girls: Clarissa Carter, and the Batten twins, Connie and Ruth. I rather enjoyed the twins. Connie is domineering and bossy and does everything for Ruth - makes her bed, ties up her laces, etc. She also is constantly responding whenever anyone talks to Ruth, while Ruth appears to be devoid of any personality. When Connie becomes the target of malicious attacks, it is Darrel who solves the problem.
Clarissa is an aristocrat, and Gwen is happy to make friends with her. It is annoying to see that the other girls don't want Gwen to make friends and constantly try to upset the relationship. Even Daphne, the erstwhile thief and fake friend to Gwen, now thinks it is good fun to see her lose her one friendship. Eventually, Clarissa ends up making friends with someone else with whom she discovers something in common.
Back to Gwen, this is the first book in which she actually does something bad. Her gullible mother and her completely useless father, who only appears to say nasty things to her, are clearly to blame! I cannot express how much her father annoys me. He obviously does not give a damn for connecting with his daughter and explaining things to her. He only ever says 'hurtful' things. Ugh!
In a spectacularly bad decision, Darrel is made head girl. What were the teachers smoking?! The decision has its expected result - she assaults another girl. This time, she didn't even pick on someone her own size. Instead, she picks on a first former to beat up! Darrel is a classic bully, and I don't understand why she is a heroine. Sally gets to clean up Darrel's mess as she is then appointed head girl. But as soon as Darrel helps someone, she gets her position back without any consideration for Sally's feelings, who does a better job anyway! Ugh, ugh, and ugh!
The introduction of Felicity and June leads to a lot of fun. Though Felicity is shy and a bit annoying, June is an interesting character and lends some sorely required jazz to the story. She is unapologetically upfront and refuses to be bullied, even by Darrel. Of course, she isn't perfect.
Overall, it was a fun read. The best books are yet to come, though!
January 27, 2021
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Continuing with my favourite childhood series, I think this is one of my most preferred of the stories at Malory Towers. Whilst most of the main characters remain the same, I think the stories that Blyton has created are more interesting to read.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Continuing with my favourite childhood series, I think this is one of my most preferred of the stories at Malory Towers. Whilst most of the main characters remain the same, I think the stories that Blyton has created are more interesting to read.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
May 9, 2021
Another nostalgic read! This time the girls are much more grownup and although they are still having adventures you can see that they are starting to let the younger members of the school take the lead. Darrell’s sister Felicity has now joined Mallory Towers and is making friends. Love these books.
July 26, 2021
The fourth book in the Malory Towers series sees the girls gearing up to sit their School Certificate. Once more we are treated to a lot of ups and down in the school term not only for Darrell and her friends, but with her young sister Felicity attending Malory Towers for the first time we catch a glimpse into life in the younger forms once more.
We start with the Rivers family leaving their house and driving to the train station where Darrell and Felicity will catch the train to Malory Towers in Cornwall. The idea is that it will be good for Felicity so she can make friends on the train, but the only friend she seems to make is June, a girl in her form and Alicia John’s cousin. Almost immediately you are not supposed to like June, at least I never felt that she would be a good character. She prises Felicity away from Darrell almost immediately and is really quite an obnoxious child.
Part of June’s hard headedness and encouraging Felicity away from Darrell is because she believes that every older sister is like her cousin Alicia, w ho wants nothing to do with June. June interprets this as meaning that everyone in the upper forms is like Alicia; however Darrell was very much looking forward to being the one to show Felicity around Malory Towers. In contrast to Darrell, Felicity seems to be a fairly weak character because she lets herself be taken in by June but it is worth remembering that Darrell got taken in by Alicia when she first started.
Once at Malory Towers, we have the usual saga of Irene’s health certificate and where has she left it this time! At the same time we are treated to the introduction of two new girls, the Baton Twins, Ruth and Connie. The girls are disappointed that the twins are not identical because if they had been they could have played a few tricks on the mistresses.
The other new girl is one that Gwendoline Mary Lacey looks forward to meeting. The Honourable Clarissa Carter arrives the next day and dear old Gwen decides to be nice to her because she thinks that Clarissa will be the grand friend she has always wanted at Malory Towers!
The first big excitement for the Upper Fourth is who will be head girl is for the term. To everyone’s surprise, including her own, Darrell Rivers is made head girl of the Upper Fourth! It really is a moment of pride for the reader as well as Darrell because you truly feel that she deserves it and that you’re proud of her for getting that all important role at least once in her school life. However, things start getting a little tricky for Darrell as this is the book that I like to think of as ‘the Glint book’. Alicia is the first one to focus in on Darrell’s glint when she tells Betty off for interrupting the North Tower Girls’ prep. This glint is supposed to be something that happens to Darrell when she gets angry but this is the only book we see it. It works in a way because it’s supposed to be used as a mechanism for Alicia and the others to wind Darrell up about her temper.
Each chapter in Upper Fourth includes a little event that culminates in the spectacular way that Darrell ends up losing her temper. I shan’t spoil too much for you, but it’s very dramatic.
We are also treated to a Malory Tower’s midnight feast at last. The girls decide to have the thrilling meal down by the pool as it was so hot, but before they can get stuck in, the heavens open and they are driven inside, where things become difficult. They hear someone moving around upstairs as someone was taken ill, not to mention Alicia’s cousin June joins the party with Felicity.
After the big midnight feast in where even when it came to owning up, there was no punishment for any of the form except Darrell, we are treated to Gwendoline’s most underhand and nasty trick so far. She gets nervous about the exam and starts to put it about that she thinks she has a weak heart to try and get her taken out of school before the exam. She got the idea from Clarissa, who has a weak heart and which is why she was late on joining the year.
Naturally Gwendoline’s plans don’t wash with everybody, such as Darrell, Sally, Alicia, etc, all those who see through her pretence. However Mary-Lou, Clarissa, Bill and Mam’zelle Dupont all believe in Gwen’s weak heart. At half-term Gwen’s overprotective, silly mother hears of Gwen’s weak heart from Mam’zelle Dupont and Gwen is immediately taken home. A week later however, she is back in school with nothing wrong with her heart. Unfortunately the doctor has ordered Gwen to take part in a strict exercise regime to help ‘get her fat off’. Gwendoline hasn’t prepared for the exam either, so we assume she fails the School Cert.
During the School Cert Alicia develops measles and faints during the last exam. She has not been feeling well all week and wonders if she is being punished because she is always so quick to learn and doesn’t really have to try at work. This is a comeuppance for her in a way, because of her attitude towards Darrell this term, her horridness to Sally in the second form, and her gloating over the work. Alicia starts off her recovery by realising that she needs to change her ways.
We near the end of the book with a big mystery. Who is stealing and damaging Connie’s things? Darrell takes it upon herself to find out with interesting consequences.
The term is rounded off with a magnificent trick on poor old Mam’zelle who always seems to be the target for ‘treeks’. Poor old Mam’zelle. Still this trick has to be one of my favourites because its so simple and engaging!
Overall I had forgotten how packed to the brim with little episodes Upper Fourth was, and my second edition is a rather slim volume and looks sad and thin against the other five novels. It is a brilliant read, and you can feel yourself once more going on a journey with Darrell through this term.
Altogether a brilliant read, and full of fun. Like with all the other Malory Towers books, I thoroughly recommend it!
We start with the Rivers family leaving their house and driving to the train station where Darrell and Felicity will catch the train to Malory Towers in Cornwall. The idea is that it will be good for Felicity so she can make friends on the train, but the only friend she seems to make is June, a girl in her form and Alicia John’s cousin. Almost immediately you are not supposed to like June, at least I never felt that she would be a good character. She prises Felicity away from Darrell almost immediately and is really quite an obnoxious child.
Part of June’s hard headedness and encouraging Felicity away from Darrell is because she believes that every older sister is like her cousin Alicia, w ho wants nothing to do with June. June interprets this as meaning that everyone in the upper forms is like Alicia; however Darrell was very much looking forward to being the one to show Felicity around Malory Towers. In contrast to Darrell, Felicity seems to be a fairly weak character because she lets herself be taken in by June but it is worth remembering that Darrell got taken in by Alicia when she first started.
Once at Malory Towers, we have the usual saga of Irene’s health certificate and where has she left it this time! At the same time we are treated to the introduction of two new girls, the Baton Twins, Ruth and Connie. The girls are disappointed that the twins are not identical because if they had been they could have played a few tricks on the mistresses.
The other new girl is one that Gwendoline Mary Lacey looks forward to meeting. The Honourable Clarissa Carter arrives the next day and dear old Gwen decides to be nice to her because she thinks that Clarissa will be the grand friend she has always wanted at Malory Towers!
The first big excitement for the Upper Fourth is who will be head girl is for the term. To everyone’s surprise, including her own, Darrell Rivers is made head girl of the Upper Fourth! It really is a moment of pride for the reader as well as Darrell because you truly feel that she deserves it and that you’re proud of her for getting that all important role at least once in her school life. However, things start getting a little tricky for Darrell as this is the book that I like to think of as ‘the Glint book’. Alicia is the first one to focus in on Darrell’s glint when she tells Betty off for interrupting the North Tower Girls’ prep. This glint is supposed to be something that happens to Darrell when she gets angry but this is the only book we see it. It works in a way because it’s supposed to be used as a mechanism for Alicia and the others to wind Darrell up about her temper.
Each chapter in Upper Fourth includes a little event that culminates in the spectacular way that Darrell ends up losing her temper. I shan’t spoil too much for you, but it’s very dramatic.
We are also treated to a Malory Tower’s midnight feast at last. The girls decide to have the thrilling meal down by the pool as it was so hot, but before they can get stuck in, the heavens open and they are driven inside, where things become difficult. They hear someone moving around upstairs as someone was taken ill, not to mention Alicia’s cousin June joins the party with Felicity.
After the big midnight feast in where even when it came to owning up, there was no punishment for any of the form except Darrell, we are treated to Gwendoline’s most underhand and nasty trick so far. She gets nervous about the exam and starts to put it about that she thinks she has a weak heart to try and get her taken out of school before the exam. She got the idea from Clarissa, who has a weak heart and which is why she was late on joining the year.
Naturally Gwendoline’s plans don’t wash with everybody, such as Darrell, Sally, Alicia, etc, all those who see through her pretence. However Mary-Lou, Clarissa, Bill and Mam’zelle Dupont all believe in Gwen’s weak heart. At half-term Gwen’s overprotective, silly mother hears of Gwen’s weak heart from Mam’zelle Dupont and Gwen is immediately taken home. A week later however, she is back in school with nothing wrong with her heart. Unfortunately the doctor has ordered Gwen to take part in a strict exercise regime to help ‘get her fat off’. Gwendoline hasn’t prepared for the exam either, so we assume she fails the School Cert.
During the School Cert Alicia develops measles and faints during the last exam. She has not been feeling well all week and wonders if she is being punished because she is always so quick to learn and doesn’t really have to try at work. This is a comeuppance for her in a way, because of her attitude towards Darrell this term, her horridness to Sally in the second form, and her gloating over the work. Alicia starts off her recovery by realising that she needs to change her ways.
We near the end of the book with a big mystery. Who is stealing and damaging Connie’s things? Darrell takes it upon herself to find out with interesting consequences.
The term is rounded off with a magnificent trick on poor old Mam’zelle who always seems to be the target for ‘treeks’. Poor old Mam’zelle. Still this trick has to be one of my favourites because its so simple and engaging!
Overall I had forgotten how packed to the brim with little episodes Upper Fourth was, and my second edition is a rather slim volume and looks sad and thin against the other five novels. It is a brilliant read, and you can feel yourself once more going on a journey with Darrell through this term.
Altogether a brilliant read, and full of fun. Like with all the other Malory Towers books, I thoroughly recommend it!
December 22, 2024
I enjoyed this one on the whole. June, who is Alicia's cousin and starting at Malory Towers, is a royal pain in the butt! She just annoyed me so much throughout and I disliked her as much at the end as at the beginning. Darrell got herself in hot water in this one quite a bit.
August 20, 2022
They’re so mean to each other.
September 2, 2024
I'm in love with Klaus and I wanna go to Malory Towers.
February 19, 2018
Listened to in Audio format.
This year Darryl's sister Felicity joins Mallory Towers, along with The Honourable Clarissa Carter and twins Connie and Ruth. This year Darryl and her friends are studying for their School Certificate and Darryl becomes Head Girl.
Darryl is concerned when Felicity makes friends with Alicia's cousin June. When Darryl organises a midnight feast June invites herself to the party. Later June decides she wants to confess to get Alicia into trouble. Darryl as Head Girl tries to dissuade June but Unfortunately Darryl's temper gets the better of her. Darryl pushes June and gets the Headship taken off her.
Gwendolyn worries that she will not be pass along with the others but what will she do? I am really enjoying listening to this series again.
This year Darryl's sister Felicity joins Mallory Towers, along with The Honourable Clarissa Carter and twins Connie and Ruth. This year Darryl and her friends are studying for their School Certificate and Darryl becomes Head Girl.
Darryl is concerned when Felicity makes friends with Alicia's cousin June. When Darryl organises a midnight feast June invites herself to the party. Later June decides she wants to confess to get Alicia into trouble. Darryl as Head Girl tries to dissuade June but Unfortunately Darryl's temper gets the better of her. Darryl pushes June and gets the Headship taken off her.
Gwendolyn worries that she will not be pass along with the others but what will she do? I am really enjoying listening to this series again.
October 10, 2017
Another good book.
Read
August 14, 2024Fun fact Bill and clarissa were the first couple I ever shipped as a wee nine year old. Love a my butch x femme horse girl lesbians <3 They were pivotal in my role in discovering I was a lesbian lmao :)))
Also the Malory towers TV show is finally adapting this book!!! Ahhh can't wait to watch it!!!!
Also the Malory towers TV show is finally adapting this book!!! Ahhh can't wait to watch it!!!!
October 27, 2009
Blyton's protagonist, lively Darrell Rivers, takes a leadership role in her term in the Upper Fourth Form, which irritates the hapless Gwendoline, who is unrelentingly unpleasant as well as lazy and overweight (of course: that's the Blyton stereotype of a villain). She is dismayed when little sister Felicity is befriended by the brazen June, who is cousin to Darrell's nemesis Alicia and whom Darrell does not trust. The book is full of stock characters (including twins who are opposite personalities and an Honorable who is shy and unassuming), typical Blyton adventures (including of course a midnight feast), and all kinds of problems for Darrell and Felicity, but somehow Blyton's moral compass manages to hold steady and things turn out for the best. Fun for school story lovers, but I like Blyton's Naughtiest Girl series better (and the education is better, too!)
February 8, 2017
Adorei, gostei imenso de ver a evolução das personagens desde o primeiro livro até aqui, a autora fê-lo de uma forma brilhante.
May 7, 2019
My "I've started so I'll finish" the series continues, but the fourth was somewhat of a dud. Unlike the second and third, where there's definite thrills, the fourth sort of lacks. Aside from a rather dull subplot involving a pair of twins, the main story revolves around an ugly duckling who (of course) turns into a swan. I know, I know, I shouldn't feel my feminist heckles rising at this sort of stereotype but, they do. The downside of reading classic children's books is that the dated tropes won't necessarily be so obvious to a young audience, and there's an argument to say that I shouldn't judge them on today's standards, but I do, so only two stars.
October 29, 2020
A great book!! Although this is the second time I read it, it's my first review! It explores different issues girls in boarding schools face.
The love of twins, but still it's irritating. The honor of guiding your younger sister through her first year, and how it's taken away by a cheeky two-faced brat. The new girl in school, who is rich, and not a snob. And upon all of that, a lazy spoiled snob attempts to get out of exams!
Even though this is the fourth installation, it doesn't have any plausible plotholes!!
Really love Blyton! The greatest children authors of all times!!
The love of twins, but still it's irritating. The honor of guiding your younger sister through her first year, and how it's taken away by a cheeky two-faced brat. The new girl in school, who is rich, and not a snob. And upon all of that, a lazy spoiled snob attempts to get out of exams!
Even though this is the fourth installation, it doesn't have any plausible plotholes!!
Really love Blyton! The greatest children authors of all times!!
April 19, 2021
i loved the book it was the first one i read but im sure ill read of the rest of the sersior and if i had to chocie my fav part it would of been the bubbles that went ping popmb or how attcha gew was to classricer than stop being freinds then thought she was surt of not rich then looks preetty and was rich and all the rest oof that story i loved it
March 27, 2011
I think this could possibly be my favorite out of all of the Malory Towers books. The author did not make you suspect that Daphne was the one stealing, yet I still find myself shocked when I re-read it.
August 17, 2022
Rating: 4.5 stars
February 12, 2024
I don't remember the girls being such bullies!
March 4, 2021
This book is a significant milestone in the Malory Towers series for a number of reasons. This is where we first meet June and Felicity, who become significant characters, for the first time. The storyline begans to expand at this point, to encompass other forms, where earlier it only had a passing mention of characters like Betty from West Tower. From here onwards, we see much more interaction between the forms. Presumably, this mirrors the expanding world of a schoolgirl as she progresses from 11 into her teens.
We also meet a number of other interesting characters (Clarissa, Ruth & Connie) and get to see some evolution in other side characters (Mavis, Alicia, Gwen). Their subplots take precedence over the previously confined story of Darrel Rivers's adventures & her inner life.
And finally this is the book where we first get a midnight feast in the series. All in all, a substantial mid-series book.
We also meet a number of other interesting characters (Clarissa, Ruth & Connie) and get to see some evolution in other side characters (Mavis, Alicia, Gwen). Their subplots take precedence over the previously confined story of Darrel Rivers's adventures & her inner life.
And finally this is the book where we first get a midnight feast in the series. All in all, a substantial mid-series book.
February 11, 2018
Het begint een beetje repetitive te worden. Verder was er te veel focus op Gwendoline's POV, en wow zo veel fatshaming niet normaal
January 5, 2020
Ik kan me herinneren dat ik het boek met precies dezelfde omslag had en die kleding zo leuk vond
February 4, 2023
Darrell and her gal pals are about to do their school certificate whilst at boarding school. There's not even an interesting international student to bully this time, although they're happy to take on the new "your highness" student.
Also, maybe I have an American copy, but when do you have "biscuits" for breakfast with clotted cream? Or is that a word that's changed over the last 80 years.
Also, maybe I have an American copy, but when do you have "biscuits" for breakfast with clotted cream? Or is that a word that's changed over the last 80 years.
November 18, 2024
3.5 stars
December 8, 2024
Muy entretenido que te enseña muchas cosas porque “En Torres de Molory no hay quien se aburra”
December 27, 2021
Enid Blyton's writing style is one of my favorites.
There are things I like and dislike about the story but I can give it a 4 out of 5.
There are things I like and dislike about the story but I can give it a 4 out of 5.
October 8, 2019
The twins- Connie and Ruth, I had guessed it from the start that there's going to be a big show-down between thd two and it did and I was glad that neither Connie wasn't aware of what was happening behind her back nor the whole form. Miss Grayling was right, such things could lead to very serious problems later on and it's good that they are going to be in different terms. And I am saying this again, Darrell earns another admirer- Ruth!
Alicia and her measles, Blyton was skillfully building up as it was mentioned many times in the narrative that she needn't do much work yet pass with flying colours. Now, hopefully, Alicia will tone down her hardness and spite for those who are weaker than her, academically or in sports.
'Glint' in Alicia's words and temper in normal words cost Darrell enough to lose her Head-Girl position. June, seems to be a even worse version than her cousin, Alicia and it seems nice that Felicity Rivers, sister of Darrell made Susan, her special friend. Or mostly the result would be how things ended between Alicia and Darrell. Though fancy both sisters' having the same way of the first year. Darrell's dislike for June for taking away her sister was partially right and then, in another perception l think, Darrell should leave her sister alone a bit! But it was fun to see Darrell's temper have a comeback, hopefully temporary.
Clarissa Carter and Bill, the latter was my favourite always after Sally and now she has her own special friend! Gwendoline fails to be a good friend with Clarissa and this time, it serves her right! Riches and wealth shouldn't be a factor for making a friend and how I wish I could have seen Gwen's face when she found out dear Clarissa was indeed rich!
The midnight feast, a fail but the the names of the food was enough to make my mouth drool and the 'Ping' prank was so fun to read! Glad Mam'zelle Dupont and Miss Williams was a sport but now I have a thought what would happen if they play a prank on the strict, thin Mam'zelle Rougier?!
Lovely book!
Alicia and her measles, Blyton was skillfully building up as it was mentioned many times in the narrative that she needn't do much work yet pass with flying colours. Now, hopefully, Alicia will tone down her hardness and spite for those who are weaker than her, academically or in sports.
'Glint' in Alicia's words and temper in normal words cost Darrell enough to lose her Head-Girl position. June, seems to be a even worse version than her cousin, Alicia and it seems nice that Felicity Rivers, sister of Darrell made Susan, her special friend. Or mostly the result would be how things ended between Alicia and Darrell. Though fancy both sisters' having the same way of the first year. Darrell's dislike for June for taking away her sister was partially right and then, in another perception l think, Darrell should leave her sister alone a bit! But it was fun to see Darrell's temper have a comeback, hopefully temporary.
Clarissa Carter and Bill, the latter was my favourite always after Sally and now she has her own special friend! Gwendoline fails to be a good friend with Clarissa and this time, it serves her right! Riches and wealth shouldn't be a factor for making a friend and how I wish I could have seen Gwen's face when she found out dear Clarissa was indeed rich!
The midnight feast, a fail but the the names of the food was enough to make my mouth drool and the 'Ping' prank was so fun to read! Glad Mam'zelle Dupont and Miss Williams was a sport but now I have a thought what would happen if they play a prank on the strict, thin Mam'zelle Rougier?!
Lovely book!
December 30, 2013
Twin stories are always interesting ones - they show how difficult it must be to be so alike and yet complete individuals at the same time. After reading the first few Malory towers books, you get into the typical Blyton spirit, so it was good to finally see some of her typical picnics and midnight feasts truly come to life. The only factors I did not much appreciate were little things that took away detail from the story, such as that it was only mentioned partially that Zerelda had decided not to go back to the English school and that Ellen had been moved up a form after she was supposed to have done badly in the school exams as well. The introduction of Clarissa and the affect on Gwen was quite a fun one to observe, and it always makes me glad to see that Bill ends up with a friend afterall instead of just her horses and Thunder. Another fun year at Malory towers!
July 18, 2021
The amount of fatphopia towards Gwen in this is horrendous and down right nasty. Some of the comment Darrel and Alica made towards her were mean and uncalled for. I get they don't like Gwen and find her annoying but it went too far. And the way Gwen was trying to get out of sitting her exams by faking a disability is disgusting. Darrel also jumps on a poor first former for no reason and is fairly out of character for a chunk of the book. However the book was enjoyable and had some good lessons especially with the new twins, Connie and Ruth, and Alica.
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