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The Famous Five #1
Five on a Treasure Island
The very first Famous Five adventure, featuring Julian, Dick, Anne, not forgetting tomboy George and her beloved dog, Timmy! There's a shipwreck off Kirrin Island! But where is the treasure? The Famous Five are on the trail - looking for clues - but they're not alone! Someone else has got the same idea. Time is running out for the Famous Five, who will follow the clues and get to the treasure first?
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1942
1382 people are currently reading
16362 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,227 books6,393 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,944 reviews
August 22, 2010
Jess, my 7-year old girl, gives it 5 stars.
Comments while reading:
"Georgina is a girl but she wants to be called 'George'. Is she a tomboy?"
"Who says that boys never cry? The boys in my class cry. A lot!"
"Uncle Quentin is scary!"
"George is like a volcano --- she's always angry or is about to get angry."
"How can a kid own an island?"
"Awww, Tim is so cute!"
"Why can't Anne keep a secret? She's such a baby!"
"I like it when George took an axe and wrecked the bad guys' motorboat. She's so fierce!"
"I want to read more Famous Five books."
"Why are they famous? Is it because they have adventures?"
"Are they real? No, of course Pokemons are not real!"
Comments while reading:
"Georgina is a girl but she wants to be called 'George'. Is she a tomboy?"
"Who says that boys never cry? The boys in my class cry. A lot!"
"Uncle Quentin is scary!"
"George is like a volcano --- she's always angry or is about to get angry."
"How can a kid own an island?"
"Awww, Tim is so cute!"
"Why can't Anne keep a secret? She's such a baby!"
"I like it when George took an axe and wrecked the bad guys' motorboat. She's so fierce!"
"I want to read more Famous Five books."
"Why are they famous? Is it because they have adventures?"
"Are they real? No, of course Pokemons are not real!"
May 8, 2018
I remember putting this book back down in 2006 because it was "too big" to read. The number of pages of Secret Seven were tiny in comparison to this one.
I was reading a book this summer and not liking the immoral personalities present in there.
Guess, you sometimes need a break from these grown-up melodramas. And who better to go to than Enid?
The treasure hunting and ship wreck brought me back the memories of why I loved the Secret Seven. George and Tim are a delight to watch together. Coming together of all five of them over a beautiful island, fighting off the rogues and the thrill of an adventure -Enid Blyton is an all time classic.
Surely, I am going to read this entire series too.
January 4, 2026
The first volume of the 23 Famous Five books sets up a number of patterns and themes that are returned to many times in the series.
It also establishes some basic groundwork that Enid Blyton later forgot and changed, leading to curious inconsistencies.
For example: Julian, Dick, and Anne discover they have a ten year old cousin they have never met. Georgina, daughter of their father's brother Quentin who lives in Kirrin Bay, a region that their own father has only visited once and can remember very little of.
Later we discover that Kirrin Cottage (where Uncle Quentin lives with Aunt Fanny), Kirrin Farm, and Kirrin Island are, or were, all owned by Aunt Fanny's family, along with significant other amounts of land.
But later in the series Julian, Dick and Anne are described as Kirrins (& on one occasion Bancrofts). Which would make Quentin a Kirrin too ... which makes no sense if their father has no association with Kirrin Bay and it was their aunt's family who owned it all...
In this book we see George acquire Timmy the dog, the 5th of the Famous Five. At the start Timmy is staying with the fisher boy Alf, who in later books mysteriously changes his name to James.
We establish George as the hot-tempered girl who wants to be a boy (which I guess these days might have her on a path to gender reassignment -- incidentally we meet at least two other girls who want to be boys in the series and everyone is cool with it but it is specifically stated that a boy can't grow his hair long to be like a girl, that would be madness).
We establish Uncle Quentin as a brilliant, forgetful, hot tempered scientist of unknown discipline - this confusion lasts the entire series despite his work being the centre of at least a third of the adventures. I suspect this is in part because Blyton had almost no understanding of science, didn't bother to find out anything as she assumed her readers would not care, and wanted to keep it fluid anyhow so it could spawn plots as required.
We are also introduced to Kirrin Island and its remarkably well preserved castle wherein the children discover the first of their many hoards of gold. In this instance it alleviates the curious poverty of George's father and mother.
The Famous Five are defined by one main characteristic each. Julian is level headed. Dick is good humoured. Anne is compassionate and "girly". George is hotheaded. Timmy is a Swiss Army knife of a dog possessed of vast intelligence and the power to overcome any three men.
Anyway, the action centres on the island. A dodgy sort from London wants to buy it but the children discover his motivation is the rumours of hidden gold, and wouldn't you know it, ten minutes with a spade and the bags of gold are theirs, all theirs!
On this occasion, as on many others in the series, the bad men have guns. There is, to a modern British eye, a ridiculously high prevalence of revolvers in these books. Possibly the proximity of WW2 and the 1940/50s laws actually made this easier to swallow.
Anyway, it's a jolly romp with lots of aspirational goodness for young children, and when I was 9 I was a big fan.
My star rating is fairly arbitrary here.
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...
It also establishes some basic groundwork that Enid Blyton later forgot and changed, leading to curious inconsistencies.
For example: Julian, Dick, and Anne discover they have a ten year old cousin they have never met. Georgina, daughter of their father's brother Quentin who lives in Kirrin Bay, a region that their own father has only visited once and can remember very little of.
Later we discover that Kirrin Cottage (where Uncle Quentin lives with Aunt Fanny), Kirrin Farm, and Kirrin Island are, or were, all owned by Aunt Fanny's family, along with significant other amounts of land.
But later in the series Julian, Dick and Anne are described as Kirrins (& on one occasion Bancrofts). Which would make Quentin a Kirrin too ... which makes no sense if their father has no association with Kirrin Bay and it was their aunt's family who owned it all...
In this book we see George acquire Timmy the dog, the 5th of the Famous Five. At the start Timmy is staying with the fisher boy Alf, who in later books mysteriously changes his name to James.
We establish George as the hot-tempered girl who wants to be a boy (which I guess these days might have her on a path to gender reassignment -- incidentally we meet at least two other girls who want to be boys in the series and everyone is cool with it but it is specifically stated that a boy can't grow his hair long to be like a girl, that would be madness).
We establish Uncle Quentin as a brilliant, forgetful, hot tempered scientist of unknown discipline - this confusion lasts the entire series despite his work being the centre of at least a third of the adventures. I suspect this is in part because Blyton had almost no understanding of science, didn't bother to find out anything as she assumed her readers would not care, and wanted to keep it fluid anyhow so it could spawn plots as required.
We are also introduced to Kirrin Island and its remarkably well preserved castle wherein the children discover the first of their many hoards of gold. In this instance it alleviates the curious poverty of George's father and mother.
The Famous Five are defined by one main characteristic each. Julian is level headed. Dick is good humoured. Anne is compassionate and "girly". George is hotheaded. Timmy is a Swiss Army knife of a dog possessed of vast intelligence and the power to overcome any three men.
Anyway, the action centres on the island. A dodgy sort from London wants to buy it but the children discover his motivation is the rumours of hidden gold, and wouldn't you know it, ten minutes with a spade and the bags of gold are theirs, all theirs!
On this occasion, as on many others in the series, the bad men have guns. There is, to a modern British eye, a ridiculously high prevalence of revolvers in these books. Possibly the proximity of WW2 and the 1940/50s laws actually made this easier to swallow.
Anyway, it's a jolly romp with lots of aspirational goodness for young children, and when I was 9 I was a big fan.
My star rating is fairly arbitrary here.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
February 19, 2021
This fresh and ingenious children's book is for me, divided into two parts. The first part gets 5 stars from me, but from the point where the children succeed, to past the climax, the book barely holds its own.
I really liked the first part. Many of the ideas were more than can be hoped in such a simple book. The children were lifelike. Their holidays's details were evocative. The Kirrin House, the island, the boat and the sea, and the people in the story were distinctive.
But when the villains made their appearance, I felt nothing. I really ought to like the climax, but the starkly real world felt like a doll's house.
I'm giving the book its due but I also cannot give the book more than it deserves. There were lots of positives to take from the story. I hope to reread this book one day and revisit the premise. For a while it made me feel like a wonderstruck person.
I really liked the first part. Many of the ideas were more than can be hoped in such a simple book. The children were lifelike. Their holidays's details were evocative. The Kirrin House, the island, the boat and the sea, and the people in the story were distinctive.
But when the villains made their appearance, I felt nothing. I really ought to like the climax, but the starkly real world felt like a doll's house.
I'm giving the book its due but I also cannot give the book more than it deserves. There were lots of positives to take from the story. I hope to reread this book one day and revisit the premise. For a while it made me feel like a wonderstruck person.
May 26, 2020
I owe this series a lot. This series is the first series I read well over 40 years ago, installing a love of reading that has stayed with me.
After finishing a brilliant but dark novel, I felt that I needed a palette cleanser. This book and the rest of the 21 book series written between 1942-1963, are perfect for this. It is a very quick and enjoyable read. Set in a different era, with no sign of health and safety, or hint of any danger to young children going off for several days on their own. All wonderful fun, adventure, and some mystery for the summer.
The basic story is that of 4 children aged 10-13? And a dog having lots adventures during their summer holidays, in this case searching for lost gold ingots on a small island.
I had forgotten how much I loved this book, the characters, Enid Blyton's way with words, her vivid descriptions. I felt as if I was there. I escaped from boring, adult life for 183 pages, and it. was. great. I will be re-reading the rest of the series, its great being a child again! With lashings of Ginger Beer.
After finishing a brilliant but dark novel, I felt that I needed a palette cleanser. This book and the rest of the 21 book series written between 1942-1963, are perfect for this. It is a very quick and enjoyable read. Set in a different era, with no sign of health and safety, or hint of any danger to young children going off for several days on their own. All wonderful fun, adventure, and some mystery for the summer.
The basic story is that of 4 children aged 10-13? And a dog having lots adventures during their summer holidays, in this case searching for lost gold ingots on a small island.
I had forgotten how much I loved this book, the characters, Enid Blyton's way with words, her vivid descriptions. I felt as if I was there. I escaped from boring, adult life for 183 pages, and it. was. great. I will be re-reading the rest of the series, its great being a child again! With lashings of Ginger Beer.
August 1, 2019
4,50 sterren - Nederlandse hardcover 🌹🌹🌹
Quote uit het boek : Hij nam het boek en sloeg hem open. “ Het is een logboek van zijn scheepsreizen van je over-over-overgrootvader heeft bijgehouden, voor zover ik dat kan beoordelen tenminste, zei hij. “ Het handschrift is zo pietepeuterig en onduidelijk dat ik het bijna niet kan ontcijferen.” 🐳🐳🐳
Jeugd sentiment. Het blijft jeugdsentiment deze boeken. Als kind vond ik de verhalen geweldig spannend. Het is een blijft voor mij ook een goede schrijfster die voor de kinderen de juiste spanning kan stoppen in haar verhalen van de vijf. Hoe meer verhalen je van dit groepje leest hoe meer je van hun karakters ontdekt. Hier en daar is het een beetje oubollig omdat er nog geen computers en mobiele telefoons waren. Voor mij doet het niets af aan het verhaal. 🦋🦋🦋
Quote uit het boek : Hij nam het boek en sloeg hem open. “ Het is een logboek van zijn scheepsreizen van je over-over-overgrootvader heeft bijgehouden, voor zover ik dat kan beoordelen tenminste, zei hij. “ Het handschrift is zo pietepeuterig en onduidelijk dat ik het bijna niet kan ontcijferen.” 🐳🐳🐳
Jeugd sentiment. Het blijft jeugdsentiment deze boeken. Als kind vond ik de verhalen geweldig spannend. Het is een blijft voor mij ook een goede schrijfster die voor de kinderen de juiste spanning kan stoppen in haar verhalen van de vijf. Hoe meer verhalen je van dit groepje leest hoe meer je van hun karakters ontdekt. Hier en daar is het een beetje oubollig omdat er nog geen computers en mobiele telefoons waren. Voor mij doet het niets af aan het verhaal. 🦋🦋🦋
August 23, 2018
After finishing a rather emotionally taxing suspense novel, I needed a palate cleanser. Usually I turn to children's literature after reading harsh adult fiction. My brain needed something happy and sweet. Recently, I heard about the Famous Five series, a popular series of British books about the adventures of 4 kids and their dog. It sounded like just the thing....so I found a copy of the first book on Open Library. So glad I did! What a delightful and fun book!
The basics....Julian, Dick and Anne are disappointed when they can't go to their favorite place for a holiday. But the trio become excited when they learn they are going to stay with their aunt and uncle, plus their cousin Georgina (who demands to be called George). The kids happily travel to Kirrin Bay to meet their cousin for the first time and spend the summer having adventures....including searching for lost gold!
I loved this story! George is my favorite character. She doesn't want to be a girl and play with dolls. She wants to have short hair, wear comfortable boys clothes and romp outside having adventures with her dog. Both sets of parents seemed almost totally unlikable for me though. George's father is a domineering ass and her mother seems weak willed. I guess you'd have to be to live with an ass. Julian, Dick and Anne's parents seem to not be very concerned with their kids. The 3 kids attend boarding school most of the year. Then when they do come home for summer break, their parents decide to go to Scotland without them and dump the kids at their uncle's house to spend the summer with a cousin they've never even met. The kids don't seem to mind....they want holiday adventures on their own. Their parents seem totally flighty though. Uninvolved. Better than being a helicopter parent, I guess. Luckily, despite a bit of danger, the kids had a great time and ended the summer all in one piece.
There are 21 books in the Famous Five series. The series was written from 1942-1963. I really enjoyed this first book. I'm going to read more of the series. It was a nice palate cleanser....a quick, enjoyable read about kids having fun, adventure, and some mystery for the summer!
The basics....Julian, Dick and Anne are disappointed when they can't go to their favorite place for a holiday. But the trio become excited when they learn they are going to stay with their aunt and uncle, plus their cousin Georgina (who demands to be called George). The kids happily travel to Kirrin Bay to meet their cousin for the first time and spend the summer having adventures....including searching for lost gold!
I loved this story! George is my favorite character. She doesn't want to be a girl and play with dolls. She wants to have short hair, wear comfortable boys clothes and romp outside having adventures with her dog. Both sets of parents seemed almost totally unlikable for me though. George's father is a domineering ass and her mother seems weak willed. I guess you'd have to be to live with an ass. Julian, Dick and Anne's parents seem to not be very concerned with their kids. The 3 kids attend boarding school most of the year. Then when they do come home for summer break, their parents decide to go to Scotland without them and dump the kids at their uncle's house to spend the summer with a cousin they've never even met. The kids don't seem to mind....they want holiday adventures on their own. Their parents seem totally flighty though. Uninvolved. Better than being a helicopter parent, I guess. Luckily, despite a bit of danger, the kids had a great time and ended the summer all in one piece.
There are 21 books in the Famous Five series. The series was written from 1942-1963. I really enjoyed this first book. I'm going to read more of the series. It was a nice palate cleanser....a quick, enjoyable read about kids having fun, adventure, and some mystery for the summer!
May 26, 2010
This is one that lured me into the reading world. I still remember it like yesterday; it was during my 4th grade summer vacations. I was down with high fever and was crying for days for missing out on my yearly trip.So to pacify my tantrums , i was gifted this book. Ah! the mysterious world of Julian, Anne, Dick and my favorite George made me forget my pain and i ended up reading the whole series volume in that summer. Thanks Enid! for bringing me to a world of limitless imagination.
May 14, 2025
Fifth grade me really thought reading Enid Blyton was peak cool girl behaviour.
February 16, 2019
Ah, the Famous Five! Talk about your blasts from the past. I haven't read these books since my age was still in single digits.
Re-reading them as an adult, their appeal is their innocence and the joy of recalling how I used to think my friends and I could have adventures just like the Famous Five! This book brought a big smile to my face.
There's another level of enjoyment to be had reading this book as an adult with a twisted sense of humour, as hardly a page goes by without some kind of unintended sexual innuendo... at least, I'm pretty sure it's unintended.
Buddy read with Sunshine Seaspray.
Re-reading them as an adult, their appeal is their innocence and the joy of recalling how I used to think my friends and I could have adventures just like the Famous Five! This book brought a big smile to my face.
There's another level of enjoyment to be had reading this book as an adult with a twisted sense of humour, as hardly a page goes by without some kind of unintended sexual innuendo... at least, I'm pretty sure it's unintended.
Buddy read with Sunshine Seaspray.
July 2, 2019
Prvi put sam čitala ovaj serijal kada sam imala 10 godina. Sada, 30 godina kasnije, uživam ponovo. Jer je čitam naglas svom sinu. ❤️
October 8, 2023
Back when I was a kid, Enid Blyton was MY author. Reading her books - and I read dozens of them - taught me, not to read, but to actually ENJOY reading. I remember feeling how it was a magical experience and twenty years later I still feel that when sitting down with a book today.
I've been wanting to catch up with Blyton as an adult, to see how her work stands up, and I finally got my chance with this handsome hardback. I remember that the Famous Five and the Secret Seven weren't my favourite of her books - that was the Five Find-Outers - but FIVE ON A TREASURE ISLAND was nonetheless a book I read because it was the first in a long-running (21 books!) series. I also had the computer game of this back on my old ZX Spectrum so after reading the book I could go and 'experience' the adventures for myself!
As for the book, I think it holds up admirably. Of course, Blyton's stories are dated, but therein lies their appeal. This is a world before the internet, before consoles, where children could go out by themselves and camp on a deserted island for a week without the threat of child molesters or the nanny state reporting their guardians for neglect. It's a fantasy world nowadays, but how great it is to go back there!
Blyton's strength lies in her vivid description, and the island, the ruined castle and the shipwreck make perfect backdrops for the simplistic action. The kids are great characters, and George is still the author's most interesting character. The descriptions of picnic and ginger beer we all remember are delightful, as is Timmy the dog. As an adult, I was surprised to find this book wasn't 'twee' at all - there are descriptions of blood gushing from body parts, and even the dog has a gun pressed against his head at one point, so 'real life' is addressed. Yes, there are mistakes, like the weight of gold ingots, but these are easy to look over. The parts in the well and the storm sequence I found particularly impressive and well written.
This is a children's book that cannot fail to inspire children of the right age to love reading. I enjoyed every second of it and flew through it as an adult reader. I was reminded, favourably, of childhood, and ended up with a warm and cosy feeling inside. I'm looking forward to catching up with more of the author's work in future.
I've been wanting to catch up with Blyton as an adult, to see how her work stands up, and I finally got my chance with this handsome hardback. I remember that the Famous Five and the Secret Seven weren't my favourite of her books - that was the Five Find-Outers - but FIVE ON A TREASURE ISLAND was nonetheless a book I read because it was the first in a long-running (21 books!) series. I also had the computer game of this back on my old ZX Spectrum so after reading the book I could go and 'experience' the adventures for myself!
As for the book, I think it holds up admirably. Of course, Blyton's stories are dated, but therein lies their appeal. This is a world before the internet, before consoles, where children could go out by themselves and camp on a deserted island for a week without the threat of child molesters or the nanny state reporting their guardians for neglect. It's a fantasy world nowadays, but how great it is to go back there!
Blyton's strength lies in her vivid description, and the island, the ruined castle and the shipwreck make perfect backdrops for the simplistic action. The kids are great characters, and George is still the author's most interesting character. The descriptions of picnic and ginger beer we all remember are delightful, as is Timmy the dog. As an adult, I was surprised to find this book wasn't 'twee' at all - there are descriptions of blood gushing from body parts, and even the dog has a gun pressed against his head at one point, so 'real life' is addressed. Yes, there are mistakes, like the weight of gold ingots, but these are easy to look over. The parts in the well and the storm sequence I found particularly impressive and well written.
This is a children's book that cannot fail to inspire children of the right age to love reading. I enjoyed every second of it and flew through it as an adult reader. I was reminded, favourably, of childhood, and ended up with a warm and cosy feeling inside. I'm looking forward to catching up with more of the author's work in future.
April 11, 2020
I haven't read these books since I was a child when I read them repeatedly and it was such a treat to read this first in the series at a time when I needed a comforting and nostalgic read.
The characters are adorable and I just wish I lived in a world of picnics, adventures, swimming, seaside and sunshine - fantastic!
I bought the first three on kindle for 99p so be prepared for more Famous Five shenanigans!
The characters are adorable and I just wish I lived in a world of picnics, adventures, swimming, seaside and sunshine - fantastic!
I bought the first three on kindle for 99p so be prepared for more Famous Five shenanigans!
April 15, 2026
3.5 stars (rounded to four for nostalgia) ⭐️ Children’s Classic/Secular - Middle-Grade Historical
My (British) Nana sent me this book when I was a little girl with a Cadbury chocolate care package and I absolutely adored this book, reading it multiple times. I never continued with the series, but with this reread, I hope to change that.
I listened to the audiobook while gardening and the narrator was great! As far as the characters, George is described as “fierce and hot-tempered” which fits, but also “misunderstood” which I would argue about. More like a brat who has been given her demands, but perhaps that’s just my no-nonsense approach to a child hating her gender and her parents letting her do what she wants. An unpopular opinion on social media in 2026, but I don’t think most parents would think twice about this element when it was first published in the 1940s…nowadays it raises some eyebrows. 😅 I didn’t remember how awful George’s father was, though. I was already to tar and feather him for his meanness to the children and then the ending with him was unsatisfactory. I liked the sibling trio, but especially Anne. She is a sweetheart and there’s one particular scene of her sacrificing her happiness for her brothers that makes my heart warm as her sweet sister attitude.
Main Content-
Spiritual-
Anne makes a a comment on wishing to see the old-time people that were last on the island, but Dick disagrees with wanting to see that happen.
Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of a church.
Language + Attitudes-
Some name calling like ‘idiot’ (x3), ‘stupid’, and ‘baby’ between the cousins/siblings (mostly towards Anne); George’s father also calls her “a baby” over her comment about finding treasure; ‘Golly’ and ‘my word’ are said/exclaimed multiple times.
George is rude to her cousins as she didn’t want them to come, but quickly starts to like being with them and is glad they came because it’s nice to do things with others; George says she’ll hate the cousins if they start to tell her what is good for her like her parents do (which are always things she hates); In the middle of the book, George thinks to herself that she was more like her cousins (cheerful and kind) and that it’s “no wonder” her father doesn’t like her and scolds her often (because of her being bad-tempered); She tells Julian that she wishes she could be nice like them and he tells her that she is nice and “you can’t help being an only child. They’re always a bit odd, you know, unless they’re mighty careful.”; George starts to realize about “sharing pleasures doubles their joy” when sharing her island with her cousins & *Spoiler* .
George has a “defiant tone” and poor attitude often (including to her father); George becomes furious at the thought of her parents allowing people onto her island and them considering selling the island (due to money concerns) as her mother has said it was George’s island (Julian thinks that George doesn’t realize there was no good fighting a grown-up because they can do whatever they wish); George calls her parents “unkind” because of their decision, but Julian says that really aren’t because they need the money badly.
Anne says that George doesn’t need to hang out with the sibling trio if she wants to go do her own thing, adding that they won’t tell on her to her parents; George says she gets into awful trouble at home, and dares to say it’s her fault, but she gets tired of it; George’s mother is hurt when George doesn’t want her mother to tag along with them, but it’s really because of the dog she’s keeping a secret; Julian sneaks into his uncle office (while he uncle is taking a nap in the room) to get an item he conf from the children when they mad too much noise.
George’s father is strict/fierce with her often & the children are frightened of him (including not allowing the children a full breakfast when they arrive late to the table, him barking at them and scaring Anne into crying, and doesn’t believe the children when they are telling him something important); It’s noted at George’s father had “never much liking or admiration for any children—he always thought they were noisy, tiresome, and silly” but changes his mind about these four children at the end; *Spoiler* .
George is keeping a pet dog a secret from her parents (at first they were okay with the dog, but then it chewed things up and her father hit the dog, which made George be rude to her father and receive a punishment for it); George makes the cousins promise to keep the dog a secret from her parents; When Anne slips up or nearly slips up about secrets, she is kicked under the table by George and her brothers (which her aunt witnesses and gets upset about); *Spoiler* .
Negative + Dangerous Situations-
Two adult men threaten to harm the children, threaten to shoot a dog to get what the children to do what they want (there is an illustration of this in my physical edition), & lock the children in a dungeon.
Throughout the book, the children have free will to run off, go swimming and sailing, leave home without telling an adult, sneak onto a wrecked ship, & go exploring an abandoned island (there’s a few dangerous/perilous moments in their adventuring, but everything works out and no one is badly hurt besides a cut on the cheek; Their aunt later comments that one child could have been killed climbing in a dangerous spot and that it was brave of the boy).
Mentions of injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to a couple sentences); Mentions of ship wrecks, stolen items, & thieves; A mention of prison; A mention of a cigarette.
Some things that worked for the time period this book was written/revised in, but might raise eyebrows now-
George’s actually name is “Georgina”, but she hates being a girl and her parents and everyone else calls her “George, as if she were a boy” because she won’t answer to Georgina at all (the sibling trio thinks she sounds “rather exciting” when hearing this); George says she hates being a girl and “won’t be” one because she doesn’t like the things that girls like and prefers to do things boys do like climbing, swimming, and sailing; When George is telling Anne this, Anne says that she “doesn’t care” what she calls her cousin, that George is a nice name, and that George looks like a boy (due to her short hair, which George is happy to hear); George asks if Anne hates being a girl and Anne says she doesn’t because she likes pretty frocks and dolls, which makes George make scornful comments about it and call Anne a “baby” for liking that; George glares when a cousin calls her Georgina and he apologizes and corrects himself; George says she never cries because boys don’t cry, but Anne interrupts that boys do cry (which George disagrees with and says it’s “babyish”); George hugs Anne and then seems ashamed at herself because she thinks no boy would have done that; A boy refers to George as “Master George” as she pays him to look after her dog; Dick corrects himself when telling George “bad luck, old girl — I mean, old boy” (which George comments that she’s been behaving like a girl lately (emotional)); George later doesn’t want to sleep with Anne and be classed as a girl, but stays with Anne anyway because Anne doesn’t want to be alone.
George’s father says her mother is “guided by” him about selling the island.
The audiobook I listened to had “queer” used a few times, but my physical copy had “strange” written instead.
My (British) Nana sent me this book when I was a little girl with a Cadbury chocolate care package and I absolutely adored this book, reading it multiple times. I never continued with the series, but with this reread, I hope to change that.
I listened to the audiobook while gardening and the narrator was great! As far as the characters, George is described as “fierce and hot-tempered” which fits, but also “misunderstood” which I would argue about. More like a brat who has been given her demands, but perhaps that’s just my no-nonsense approach to a child hating her gender and her parents letting her do what she wants. An unpopular opinion on social media in 2026, but I don’t think most parents would think twice about this element when it was first published in the 1940s…nowadays it raises some eyebrows. 😅 I didn’t remember how awful George’s father was, though. I was already to tar and feather him for his meanness to the children and then the ending with him was unsatisfactory. I liked the sibling trio, but especially Anne. She is a sweetheart and there’s one particular scene of her sacrificing her happiness for her brothers that makes my heart warm as her sweet sister attitude.
Main Content-
Spiritual-
Anne makes a a comment on wishing to see the old-time people that were last on the island, but Dick disagrees with wanting to see that happen.
Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of a church.
Language + Attitudes-
Some name calling like ‘idiot’ (x3), ‘stupid’, and ‘baby’ between the cousins/siblings (mostly towards Anne); George’s father also calls her “a baby” over her comment about finding treasure; ‘Golly’ and ‘my word’ are said/exclaimed multiple times.
George is rude to her cousins as she didn’t want them to come, but quickly starts to like being with them and is glad they came because it’s nice to do things with others; George says she’ll hate the cousins if they start to tell her what is good for her like her parents do (which are always things she hates); In the middle of the book, George thinks to herself that she was more like her cousins (cheerful and kind) and that it’s “no wonder” her father doesn’t like her and scolds her often (because of her being bad-tempered); She tells Julian that she wishes she could be nice like them and he tells her that she is nice and “you can’t help being an only child. They’re always a bit odd, you know, unless they’re mighty careful.”; George starts to realize about “sharing pleasures doubles their joy” when sharing her island with her cousins & *Spoiler* .
George has a “defiant tone” and poor attitude often (including to her father); George becomes furious at the thought of her parents allowing people onto her island and them considering selling the island (due to money concerns) as her mother has said it was George’s island (Julian thinks that George doesn’t realize there was no good fighting a grown-up because they can do whatever they wish); George calls her parents “unkind” because of their decision, but Julian says that really aren’t because they need the money badly.
Anne says that George doesn’t need to hang out with the sibling trio if she wants to go do her own thing, adding that they won’t tell on her to her parents; George says she gets into awful trouble at home, and dares to say it’s her fault, but she gets tired of it; George’s mother is hurt when George doesn’t want her mother to tag along with them, but it’s really because of the dog she’s keeping a secret; Julian sneaks into his uncle office (while he uncle is taking a nap in the room) to get an item he conf from the children when they mad too much noise.
George’s father is strict/fierce with her often & the children are frightened of him (including not allowing the children a full breakfast when they arrive late to the table, him barking at them and scaring Anne into crying, and doesn’t believe the children when they are telling him something important); It’s noted at George’s father had “never much liking or admiration for any children—he always thought they were noisy, tiresome, and silly” but changes his mind about these four children at the end; *Spoiler* .
George is keeping a pet dog a secret from her parents (at first they were okay with the dog, but then it chewed things up and her father hit the dog, which made George be rude to her father and receive a punishment for it); George makes the cousins promise to keep the dog a secret from her parents; When Anne slips up or nearly slips up about secrets, she is kicked under the table by George and her brothers (which her aunt witnesses and gets upset about); *Spoiler* .
Negative + Dangerous Situations-
Two adult men threaten to harm the children, threaten to shoot a dog to get what the children to do what they want (there is an illustration of this in my physical edition), & lock the children in a dungeon.
Throughout the book, the children have free will to run off, go swimming and sailing, leave home without telling an adult, sneak onto a wrecked ship, & go exploring an abandoned island (there’s a few dangerous/perilous moments in their adventuring, but everything works out and no one is badly hurt besides a cut on the cheek; Their aunt later comments that one child could have been killed climbing in a dangerous spot and that it was brave of the boy).
Mentions of injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to a couple sentences); Mentions of ship wrecks, stolen items, & thieves; A mention of prison; A mention of a cigarette.
Some things that worked for the time period this book was written/revised in, but might raise eyebrows now-
George’s actually name is “Georgina”, but she hates being a girl and her parents and everyone else calls her “George, as if she were a boy” because she won’t answer to Georgina at all (the sibling trio thinks she sounds “rather exciting” when hearing this); George says she hates being a girl and “won’t be” one because she doesn’t like the things that girls like and prefers to do things boys do like climbing, swimming, and sailing; When George is telling Anne this, Anne says that she “doesn’t care” what she calls her cousin, that George is a nice name, and that George looks like a boy (due to her short hair, which George is happy to hear); George asks if Anne hates being a girl and Anne says she doesn’t because she likes pretty frocks and dolls, which makes George make scornful comments about it and call Anne a “baby” for liking that; George glares when a cousin calls her Georgina and he apologizes and corrects himself; George says she never cries because boys don’t cry, but Anne interrupts that boys do cry (which George disagrees with and says it’s “babyish”); George hugs Anne and then seems ashamed at herself because she thinks no boy would have done that; A boy refers to George as “Master George” as she pays him to look after her dog; Dick corrects himself when telling George “bad luck, old girl — I mean, old boy” (which George comments that she’s been behaving like a girl lately (emotional)); George later doesn’t want to sleep with Anne and be classed as a girl, but stays with Anne anyway because Anne doesn’t want to be alone.
George’s father says her mother is “guided by” him about selling the island.
The audiobook I listened to had “queer” used a few times, but my physical copy had “strange” written instead.
June 20, 2015
I had the opportunity to read the whole Famous Five series during my school vacations when i was an eleven year old and 'Five on a Treasure Island' was the first book that introduced me to the magical writings of Enid Blyton. It was during those school vacations that i chanced upon such highly addictive children's series like Secret Seven (from the same author), Nancy Drew, Dana Girls Mysteries, Hardy Boys etc. Hunting down and gobbling up each of those titles was a pure delight.
All the titles in the Famous Five series is written based on the same simple formula - a band of four kids (Julian, Dick, George and Anne) and their dog Tim going through one wonderful adventure after another chasing mysteries and unraveling criminal plots - but the highly entertaining way in which Enid Blyton narrates these tales of adventure is something very unique. Each scene is narrated by the author in such a way to spark the imagination of the young reader and make them enjoy every moment of reading.
In this first book of the series siblings Julian, Dick and Anne visits their uncle's for the summer holidays and are introduced to their cousin 'George' who is actually a hot tempered little girl with the name 'Georgina' and who dresses like a boy and is tomboyish. After a bit of initial quarrel the four of them become thick friends and George introduces them to her her faithful dog Timothy. George invite them to investigate a nearby island that belongs to George's mother and the band of four along with Timothy plunges directly into a whirlwind of adventure with lots of danger, excitement, an ancient ship wreck with a fortune of gold,creepy secret tunnels and cunning villains.
In my opinion factors like:
· the vivid clarity that the author uses to describe the scenes of the adventure;
· the mouth watering details of the food items that the Famous Five take during their mealtime - loads and loads of jam tarts, hard boiled eggs, slabs of cakes, fresh tomatoes, cool lemonade and ginger ale;
· the colorful and often envy inducing descriptions of the picnics they take;
· a bunch of highly likeable characters (after reading the famous five books who won't be longing for a cool dog like Timmy);
· a collection of exotic crooks like smugglers, treasure hunters and foreign agents;
these were enough to make young readers go drooling over Enid Blyton books.
All the titles in the Famous Five series is written based on the same simple formula - a band of four kids (Julian, Dick, George and Anne) and their dog Tim going through one wonderful adventure after another chasing mysteries and unraveling criminal plots - but the highly entertaining way in which Enid Blyton narrates these tales of adventure is something very unique. Each scene is narrated by the author in such a way to spark the imagination of the young reader and make them enjoy every moment of reading.
In this first book of the series siblings Julian, Dick and Anne visits their uncle's for the summer holidays and are introduced to their cousin 'George' who is actually a hot tempered little girl with the name 'Georgina' and who dresses like a boy and is tomboyish. After a bit of initial quarrel the four of them become thick friends and George introduces them to her her faithful dog Timothy. George invite them to investigate a nearby island that belongs to George's mother and the band of four along with Timothy plunges directly into a whirlwind of adventure with lots of danger, excitement, an ancient ship wreck with a fortune of gold,creepy secret tunnels and cunning villains.
In my opinion factors like:
· the vivid clarity that the author uses to describe the scenes of the adventure;
· the mouth watering details of the food items that the Famous Five take during their mealtime - loads and loads of jam tarts, hard boiled eggs, slabs of cakes, fresh tomatoes, cool lemonade and ginger ale;
· the colorful and often envy inducing descriptions of the picnics they take;
· a bunch of highly likeable characters (after reading the famous five books who won't be longing for a cool dog like Timmy);
· a collection of exotic crooks like smugglers, treasure hunters and foreign agents;
these were enough to make young readers go drooling over Enid Blyton books.
January 31, 2009
I read the whole series (all 21 books) when I was about 13; those were the first books I read in English. I loved them, both the stories, the mystery and the writing. I liked the relationships (that was the time when I dearly wished I had siblings), the companionship and the good old picnicks in the woods/fields :)
Looking back, I don't quite agree with the view of girls/women presented. Still, at that time, while feeling most kinship with Anne and being drawn to Georgina, it didn't matter to me.
The books are a lovely memory of my first brush with English "literature" :) and therefore very dear to me.
Looking back, I don't quite agree with the view of girls/women presented. Still, at that time, while feeling most kinship with Anne and being drawn to Georgina, it didn't matter to me.
The books are a lovely memory of my first brush with English "literature" :) and therefore very dear to me.
January 5, 2019
4.5/5
I read so much Enid Blyton as a child, that when my cousin wanted to do a book swap (he's reading The Ice Monster at the moment) I immediately said yes. And I'm *so* glad I did! I forgot how much I loved this book, the characters, Blyton's way with words, her vivid descriptions. I felt as though I could escape from annoying, often boring, adult life for 183 pages, and it. was. great. Will I be re-reading the rest? Damn right I will!
I read so much Enid Blyton as a child, that when my cousin wanted to do a book swap (he's reading The Ice Monster at the moment) I immediately said yes. And I'm *so* glad I did! I forgot how much I loved this book, the characters, Blyton's way with words, her vivid descriptions. I felt as though I could escape from annoying, often boring, adult life for 183 pages, and it. was. great. Will I be re-reading the rest? Damn right I will!
July 18, 2018
Visiting these books again love this author so much they really are the best books. Even if your child is reading or learning to these would be the best books ever full of fun so they are. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
November 17, 2018
Seit zwei Jahrzehnten bin ich Drei???-Nerd und in all den Jahren erschien es mir geradezu abwegig, auch mal etwas von der "Konkurrenz" zu lesen. Warum sollte ich mich mit Kinderkram abgeben, wo ich mit Justus, Peter und Bob schon glücklich war - nichts konnte und kann meine Begeisterung für die drei übertreffen.
Nun ist es aber doch passiert: Aus einer plötzlichen Laune heraus, habe ich mich für den ersten Band der Fünf Freunde entschieden - und war positiv überrascht! Etwas altbacken fand ich zwar die Geschlechterklischees und mit allzuviel Logik darf man auch nicht an das Buch herangehen, aber die Atmosphäre der Felseninsel, des Wracks und der alten Burgruine, das hat was! Und wenn ich bedenke, dass das Buch 1941 erschienen ist, dann kann ich auch über die Schwächen in der Charakterisierung etwas hinwegsehen.
Nun ist es aber doch passiert: Aus einer plötzlichen Laune heraus, habe ich mich für den ersten Band der Fünf Freunde entschieden - und war positiv überrascht! Etwas altbacken fand ich zwar die Geschlechterklischees und mit allzuviel Logik darf man auch nicht an das Buch herangehen, aber die Atmosphäre der Felseninsel, des Wracks und der alten Burgruine, das hat was! Und wenn ich bedenke, dass das Buch 1941 erschienen ist, dann kann ich auch über die Schwächen in der Charakterisierung etwas hinwegsehen.
March 28, 2023
The story is very attractive and suspenseful, but the ageist and sexist concepts are completely interwoven in the story. I read this for my Women Writers' class and we got to compare different versions of the book as well. Apparently the newer versions have been censored partly, which makes the problem even bigger, because the sexist concepts remain in the book in a more subtle way, easy for inexperienced readers to overlook. This novel might have been a great choice for 1942 when it was published, but doesn't seem to be appropriate for children now.
July 29, 2021
I really like this book. It makes me want to go on holiday and explore old ruins. It's a really good adventure story and I like the characters. My favourite is George because she is bold and brave and I like her dog Timmy, he's funny. I think girls would like this story most but boys might like it too.
Read
October 1, 2019This was cute but boiiiiiiiiii it did not age well.
April 26, 2020
I loved this and I knew I would as it's a childhood re-read.
I had forgotten a lot of the details and this book still had me at the edge of my seat at the age of 21. I just love it.
I recommend you read it, even if you think you've outgrown it!
A classic, fun, tense, warming, summery read.
I feel at home reading it.
I had forgotten a lot of the details and this book still had me at the edge of my seat at the age of 21. I just love it.
I recommend you read it, even if you think you've outgrown it!
A classic, fun, tense, warming, summery read.
I feel at home reading it.
November 2, 2017
Loved the famous five books when I was a child my children and Grandchildren loved them too.
Still have my Enid blyton club badge somewhere. How's that for nostalgia.
Recommended.
Still have my Enid blyton club badge somewhere. How's that for nostalgia.
Recommended.
July 18, 2019
This was lovely!🥰
Classic oldschool story about summer adventures of brave children and their wonderful dog. ♥️
I’m sure I will read more Famous Five stories!
🛶🏰💰☀️🐶
Classic oldschool story about summer adventures of brave children and their wonderful dog. ♥️
I’m sure I will read more Famous Five stories!
🛶🏰💰☀️🐶
August 13, 2022
I loved these as a child so it was interesting reading this 40-odd years later! Still enjoyed it and still adore Tim the dog. Looking forward to dipping into the next adventure.
November 4, 2023
This took me back to the teenage years when I read all the 21 Famous Five books in order, but I didn't read a Secret Seven book.
Julian, Dick, and Anne go to stay with their cousin Georgina (George) in the south-west of England. Everything is jolly idyllic as the four children get to know each other and meet Timothy the dog, who isn't allowed in the house by George's parents.
There's an island, Kirrin Island, close to George's house. George owns the island. The children row across to the island, but have to shelter when a monstrous storm hurls itself at the island, bringing a shipwreck up from the seabed and depositing it on the rocks.
Of course, the children investigate the wreck and find a treasure map in a tin-lined box. For reasons outside their control, the box and map end up in the wrong hands, although the children make a copy of the map, which has a vital word on it - ingots.
You can probably guess the rest, but it's still a good story that hurries along at an impressive pace.
Julian, Dick, and Anne go to stay with their cousin Georgina (George) in the south-west of England. Everything is jolly idyllic as the four children get to know each other and meet Timothy the dog, who isn't allowed in the house by George's parents.
There's an island, Kirrin Island, close to George's house. George owns the island. The children row across to the island, but have to shelter when a monstrous storm hurls itself at the island, bringing a shipwreck up from the seabed and depositing it on the rocks.
Of course, the children investigate the wreck and find a treasure map in a tin-lined box. For reasons outside their control, the box and map end up in the wrong hands, although the children make a copy of the map, which has a vital word on it - ingots.
You can probably guess the rest, but it's still a good story that hurries along at an impressive pace.
May 14, 2022
Kupila sam prvi dio koji ponovo izdaje jedna izdavačka kuća, s ciljem da vidim oko čeg se to tolika prašina diže. Nekako mi je promaklo čitat ih u djetinjstvu, evo zbilja ne znam kako. A sad stalno slušam kako je to divan serijal za mlade, ma kakav Harry Potter, on je ništa prema ovome.
Kupuju se, traže i prodaju stalno po grupama za prodaju/potragu za starim knjigama. I sad konačno, novo izdanje. Je li vrijedno kupiti? 🤔
E pa, meni kao zakletom Potterovcu, to nije dalo mira. I kupila ja. Da vidim. Hoće li se mom 9-godišnjaku to svidjeti kao i HP, kojeg je pročitao, svih 7 knjiga 💪🏻
Ali prvo sam ja pročitala. Sviđa mi se. No, nećemo pretjerivati, Harry je ipak Harry.
Sad samo preostaje da vidimo što će klinac reći. Da li kupujem i ostalih 20, ili ostajemo na ovoj jednoj 🤔
Kupuju se, traže i prodaju stalno po grupama za prodaju/potragu za starim knjigama. I sad konačno, novo izdanje. Je li vrijedno kupiti? 🤔
E pa, meni kao zakletom Potterovcu, to nije dalo mira. I kupila ja. Da vidim. Hoće li se mom 9-godišnjaku to svidjeti kao i HP, kojeg je pročitao, svih 7 knjiga 💪🏻
Ali prvo sam ja pročitala. Sviđa mi se. No, nećemo pretjerivati, Harry je ipak Harry.
Sad samo preostaje da vidimo što će klinac reći. Da li kupujem i ostalih 20, ili ostajemo na ovoj jednoj 🤔
June 9, 2017
Ένα μικρό, μονοήμερο διάλειμμα από την ''κανονική'' αναγνωστική μου ροή, με ένα βιβλίο από την παρέα που μικρός είχα λατρέψει. Το διάβασα χαμογελώντας.
October 30, 2025
রূপান্তর এর গুণে এটা হয়ে দাঁড়ায় তিন গোয়েন্দা সিরিজের সাগরসৈকত, যেটা মূলটার থেকে অনেক বেশি ভালো এবং অবশ্যই সেটা রকিব হাসানের জাদুকরী কলম এবং ভাবনার কারণে। রকিবদাকে শতকোটি প্রণাম।
3.5/5
3.5/5
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