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Malory Towers #3
Third Year at Malory Towers
Las chicas están en muy buena forma. Este año se puede percibir cierta tensión a causa de los exámenes, aunque no faltará la diversión del periodo de verano ni el espíritu vital e imaginativo al que nos tienen acostumbrados.
194 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
168 people are currently reading
2397 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,132 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 330 reviews
August 21, 2012
This book is just wunnerful. And if you don't know what I mean, go and read it. Read it? Okay, now isn't it just wunnerful?
Read
October 14, 2018Book #3 for my Malory Towers Challenge, or rather of me reading through the Malory Towers books chronologically. Although this one is titled ‘third year’, as always, it deals with one term at the school. The story opens as usual with Darrell preparing to return to Malory Towers, where her sister Felicity will be joining her next term. Her friend Sally is in quarantine, and they must take along Zerelda Brass, a new American student, along as they drive down. Zerelda is Blyton’s somewhat typical American student concerned with her appearance alone, and not so much with studies or the activities (sport and such) that the English girls love. She also appears a lot more grown up than she is because of this inviting disapproval from the teachers, though admiration from Gwendolen Mary. At school, we meet two other new students, Wilhemina or Bill whose whole life revolves around horses, especially her own horse Thunder, and Mavis who is supposed to have joined last term (but this is the first we meet her—I am not reading the books Blyton didn’t write for this challenge), and whose sole concern is her excellent voice which makes her rather conceited but also somewhat adored by Gwendolen Mary. Also we find, like Sally, Alicia’s pal Betty is in quarantine so Alicia decides to team up with Darrell for the time being. While we do see what the usual cast of characters get up to, the focus of this one is the three new girls, their temperaments and problems, and how Malory Towers and the girls (and indeed teachers) they meet there change their approach to life, and to school.
As I wrote in my review of book 2, reading this series, I really appreciate that Blyton has made these characters very real, even the ‘good’ ones have flaws, and not ones that get magically cured, but that creep back time and again as they do in real life, and have to be dealt with, at least by the ones who are capable of recognising these in themselves. This instalment, as I said, concentrates more on the stories of the three new girls. I wonder how Blyton formed her picture of the typical American girl, but Zerelda in this one is very like Sadie from St Clares concerned with her complexion, hair, and nails, and not much else even though they are good natured people, mostly. (Incidentally, Gwendolen Mary’s habit of fawning over a new girl each term is much like Alison of St Clares too). But even so, that is clearly not her idea of what children should be like, growing up before they need to. Zerelda of course has more to her than simply being a Sadie clone, with her ambitions to be a successful actress someday. But she realises in the course of her term at Malory Towers, that there is more to being an actress than she thinks. Mavis too has ambitions, but while she has talent as well, she lets that make her conceited, which doesn’t go down very well with the others. And Bill (Wilhemina) needs to start accepting that there is more to the world than just her horses though they will continue to be an important part of her life. I know Blyton has a specific idea of what children should ideally be like and that shows through in many of her books (therefore, weaker characters don’t come through as simply one type of person, but ones that have to become stronger), but some of these ideas—especially of being good people—are definitely something that people need to learn to be, even today (and which schools aren’t much concerned with). Of course, besides these issues, and Sally and Darrell dealing with their own problems and progress in school, there are the antics of the other girls (Irene and Belinda), Alicia playing tricks which Mam’zelle finally takes good-naturedly as always and the term time staples, making this an enjoyable read in the series.
As I wrote in my review of book 2, reading this series, I really appreciate that Blyton has made these characters very real, even the ‘good’ ones have flaws, and not ones that get magically cured, but that creep back time and again as they do in real life, and have to be dealt with, at least by the ones who are capable of recognising these in themselves. This instalment, as I said, concentrates more on the stories of the three new girls. I wonder how Blyton formed her picture of the typical American girl, but Zerelda in this one is very like Sadie from St Clares concerned with her complexion, hair, and nails, and not much else even though they are good natured people, mostly. (Incidentally, Gwendolen Mary’s habit of fawning over a new girl each term is much like Alison of St Clares too). But even so, that is clearly not her idea of what children should be like, growing up before they need to. Zerelda of course has more to her than simply being a Sadie clone, with her ambitions to be a successful actress someday. But she realises in the course of her term at Malory Towers, that there is more to being an actress than she thinks. Mavis too has ambitions, but while she has talent as well, she lets that make her conceited, which doesn’t go down very well with the others. And Bill (Wilhemina) needs to start accepting that there is more to the world than just her horses though they will continue to be an important part of her life. I know Blyton has a specific idea of what children should ideally be like and that shows through in many of her books (therefore, weaker characters don’t come through as simply one type of person, but ones that have to become stronger), but some of these ideas—especially of being good people—are definitely something that people need to learn to be, even today (and which schools aren’t much concerned with). Of course, besides these issues, and Sally and Darrell dealing with their own problems and progress in school, there are the antics of the other girls (Irene and Belinda), Alicia playing tricks which Mam’zelle finally takes good-naturedly as always and the term time staples, making this an enjoyable read in the series.
November 29, 2020
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
We are half-way through this school series and this time Blyton introduces more colourful characters. Blyton continues to keep the stories different every time and it is lovely to see all the characters growing up and moving through the school.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
We are half-way through this school series and this time Blyton introduces more colourful characters. Blyton continues to keep the stories different every time and it is lovely to see all the characters growing up and moving through the school.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
October 21, 2020
This year sees three new girls. Zerelda and Wilhelmina (Bill) are completely new to the school, while Mavis had joined in an earlier term off-screen. I found this book rather boring for several reasons. The new girls were not as fun as they could have been, and I found some nastiness against the girls from those in authority.
Zerelda Brass is American and I always have to laugh at Blyton's American stereotypes. American children all dress up as adults, are exceedingly wealthy, and cannot use 't' and 'd' in their words. It's a sort of retro payback for Hollywood stereotypes of every culture that came later. But Zerelda, despite her generosity and niceness, is a misfit. She is enamoured of film actresses, and Blyton-world rejects such things. Matron forcibly touches Zerelda to do her hair, which I found disgusting even for the era. Other mistresses are nasty to her for the simple reason that they don't like her. It's not really fun to read.
Bill is a boyish girl whose only character trait is that she loves horses, especially her own, Thunder. She goes to war hammer and tongs with Ms Peters, the form mistress, over her dreaming about her horse all through lessons. However, when Thunder falls sick, the teacher comes to the rescue and they form a friendship. Since I think horses are the most boring animals on earth, I thought that too much time was devoted to this story.
The third girl is Mavis. She is a conceited girl with a beautiful voice. She wants to be an opera singer some day and bores everyone with her dreams. In her conceit, she decides to go for a talent show without telling anyone. It all results in a bad accident and Mavis has to contend with the possibility of a future with no beautiful voice. I enjoyed this character.
The prank in this book has to be the least interesting and most juvenile in all of Blytondom! The girls plan to make the teachers sneeze ... hmmm, okay! Doh, I wouldn't have found that funny even when I was in school!
I rather liked that Gwen is now settling down. She tries to make friends with both Mavis and Zerelda, but somehow they both end up being friends and shutting her out. Also, Ms Winters is rather creepy now! Why is the governess still coming to drop off Gwen and pampering her in the holidays? The father never shows up either! Darrel shows some positive behaviour in this book too. Instead of assaulting people left, right, and centre, she actually helps Bill save her horse and earns her gratitude.
Not bad, but I think the other books in the series are far better.
Zerelda Brass is American and I always have to laugh at Blyton's American stereotypes. American children all dress up as adults, are exceedingly wealthy, and cannot use 't' and 'd' in their words. It's a sort of retro payback for Hollywood stereotypes of every culture that came later. But Zerelda, despite her generosity and niceness, is a misfit. She is enamoured of film actresses, and Blyton-world rejects such things. Matron forcibly touches Zerelda to do her hair, which I found disgusting even for the era. Other mistresses are nasty to her for the simple reason that they don't like her. It's not really fun to read.
Bill is a boyish girl whose only character trait is that she loves horses, especially her own, Thunder. She goes to war hammer and tongs with Ms Peters, the form mistress, over her dreaming about her horse all through lessons. However, when Thunder falls sick, the teacher comes to the rescue and they form a friendship. Since I think horses are the most boring animals on earth, I thought that too much time was devoted to this story.
The third girl is Mavis. She is a conceited girl with a beautiful voice. She wants to be an opera singer some day and bores everyone with her dreams. In her conceit, she decides to go for a talent show without telling anyone. It all results in a bad accident and Mavis has to contend with the possibility of a future with no beautiful voice. I enjoyed this character.
The prank in this book has to be the least interesting and most juvenile in all of Blytondom! The girls plan to make the teachers sneeze ... hmmm, okay! Doh, I wouldn't have found that funny even when I was in school!
I rather liked that Gwen is now settling down. She tries to make friends with both Mavis and Zerelda, but somehow they both end up being friends and shutting her out. Also, Ms Winters is rather creepy now! Why is the governess still coming to drop off Gwen and pampering her in the holidays? The father never shows up either! Darrel shows some positive behaviour in this book too. Instead of assaulting people left, right, and centre, she actually helps Bill save her horse and earns her gratitude.
Not bad, but I think the other books in the series are far better.
February 18, 2018
Darryl Rivers returns to Mallory Towers for her third year. At the beginning of the book we found her best friend Sally is unwell and will return to school in two weeks.
Three new girls start Zerelda a precocious child from America who wants to be a movie star. Horse mad Wilhelmina who only answers to Bill and finally Mavis who wants to be an opera singer.
A nice little story of days gone by.
Three new girls start Zerelda a precocious child from America who wants to be a movie star. Horse mad Wilhelmina who only answers to Bill and finally Mavis who wants to be an opera singer.
A nice little story of days gone by.
April 14, 2009
I enjoy this series even though I cringe periodically and find what happens exceedingly predictable. This third of six books introduces three new girls, one of them with a horse, which I’m sure very much satisfies girls who are horse crazy. I would have loved this series had I read it as a child. Reading it as an adult, I’m getting less enamored with it and perhaps it deserves only three stars, but I enjoyed it enough to give it 4. I am looking forward to reading the last 3 books in the series.
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August 14, 2024lesbian ms peters save me
January 12, 2021
So yes, while I do still tend to find certain parts of Enid Blyton's Third Year at Malory Towers as rather repetitive and also quite problematically negative (with especially Gwendoline Lacey and that she really NEVER seems to change at all for the better really starting to more than a bit get on my nerves and to rather majorly bore me as well, and indeed I also do have some personal issues with how Zerelada Brass is shown that she has no talent for acting, for even if Zerelda does indeed need to be told and to be shown that she cannot act, that she has no talent for acting, the way that Miss Hibbert then rather publicly lets poor Zerealda know this is at least in my opinion a bit too overly vicious and perhaps even bordering on being verbally abusive), on the whole, I have still managed to rather if not even massively enjoy Third Year at Malory Towers (and that it has definitely been a both fun and generally engaging reading experience for me).
For one, I certainly have enjoyed (as well as appreciated) that even with her a trifle frustrating anti-Americanism, Enid Blyton has in Third Year at Malory Towers also made her eponymous American schoolgirl Zerelada Brass into a sometimes annoying and frustrating but also generally a likeable enough and not really all that negatively depicted character, into someone who might not be "English" enough and needs to "get rid" of her American parlance and her overly mature ways of acting and dressing but is also generous, warm-hearted and indeed also in the end more than willing to learn and to lastingly change (and yes, how much of a positive difference that is to spoiled rotten and tediously unchanging and unchangeable Gwendoline). For two and furthermore (and of course essential and important for me as someone who adores horses and horse stories), I did (and do) really really enjoy that in Third Year at Malory Towers, there is a horse present, that Wilhelmina (Bill) takes her horse Thunder to Malory Towers (and yes, that the story with regard to Thunder's colic actually feels totally realistic and neither overly simplified nor overly exaggerated, not to mention that I have absolutely and utterly enjoyed reading how both Darrell and Miss Peters help Bill and how all three of them and of course the vet really do manage to save Thunder's life, as colic is something that often can prove fatal to horses).
And finally, for three, I also and equally do certainly appreciate that even though there is still a lot of preachiness depicted and present in Third Year at Malory Towers, the actual level of it has in my opinion been considerably toned down by Enid Blyton and that therefore the girls needing to learn their necessary lessons (except of course for dear Gwendoline) generally are also depicted with compassion and much positive feeling (so that yes, one does end up in Third Year at Malory Towers feeling very sorry for Mavis losing her voice and for Zerelda's issues with regard to her not being a talented actress and yes, it is indeed also very much cheering that Darrell Rivers seems to be increasingly able to reign in her explosive temper and to accept things as they are and as they happen). Recommended as a very readable (and also fun) instalment of Enid Blyton's Malory Towers series is Third Year at Malory Towers, but I still do have to point out and readily admit that I for one most definitely do continue to rather prefer Blyton's St. Clare's series over her Malory Towers series and will likely continue to do so.
For one, I certainly have enjoyed (as well as appreciated) that even with her a trifle frustrating anti-Americanism, Enid Blyton has in Third Year at Malory Towers also made her eponymous American schoolgirl Zerelada Brass into a sometimes annoying and frustrating but also generally a likeable enough and not really all that negatively depicted character, into someone who might not be "English" enough and needs to "get rid" of her American parlance and her overly mature ways of acting and dressing but is also generous, warm-hearted and indeed also in the end more than willing to learn and to lastingly change (and yes, how much of a positive difference that is to spoiled rotten and tediously unchanging and unchangeable Gwendoline). For two and furthermore (and of course essential and important for me as someone who adores horses and horse stories), I did (and do) really really enjoy that in Third Year at Malory Towers, there is a horse present, that Wilhelmina (Bill) takes her horse Thunder to Malory Towers (and yes, that the story with regard to Thunder's colic actually feels totally realistic and neither overly simplified nor overly exaggerated, not to mention that I have absolutely and utterly enjoyed reading how both Darrell and Miss Peters help Bill and how all three of them and of course the vet really do manage to save Thunder's life, as colic is something that often can prove fatal to horses).
And finally, for three, I also and equally do certainly appreciate that even though there is still a lot of preachiness depicted and present in Third Year at Malory Towers, the actual level of it has in my opinion been considerably toned down by Enid Blyton and that therefore the girls needing to learn their necessary lessons (except of course for dear Gwendoline) generally are also depicted with compassion and much positive feeling (so that yes, one does end up in Third Year at Malory Towers feeling very sorry for Mavis losing her voice and for Zerelda's issues with regard to her not being a talented actress and yes, it is indeed also very much cheering that Darrell Rivers seems to be increasingly able to reign in her explosive temper and to accept things as they are and as they happen). Recommended as a very readable (and also fun) instalment of Enid Blyton's Malory Towers series is Third Year at Malory Towers, but I still do have to point out and readily admit that I for one most definitely do continue to rather prefer Blyton's St. Clare's series over her Malory Towers series and will likely continue to do so.
December 4, 2020
Another nostalgic read from Enid Blyton’s wonderful school series. A different era but a warm, sunny read about friendships and achievements at a girls boarding school. I love these books and although I’ve read them many times, I never mind re reading them.
June 6, 2019
No es que sea gran literatura pero me lo he pasado muy bien leyendo las aventuras de Darrell y sus amigas en el internado. Probablemente mi grado de disfrute se deba en gran medida a la nostalgia pero, en cualquier caso, doy por bien empleado el tiempo de releer esta historia. Además, enseña valores a los niños y eso está muy bien.
April 22, 2012
Enid Blyton's xenophobia really shines through in this book, with the American girl Zerelda exclaiming "Gee!" or "I say!" or "That's wunnerful!" every other page, and the other girls making snide comments about how she doesn't fit in. There's no message of tolerance or accepting people's differences; it's all about Fitting The Mould. Which I agree with to some extent, but it came across as really nasty here.
But I liked the lacrosse match at the end, with Darrell scoring the winning goal (of course!). Good show, Malory Towers!
But I liked the lacrosse match at the end, with Darrell scoring the winning goal (of course!). Good show, Malory Towers!
March 24, 2020
Bill loves her horse more than anything, Zerelda longs to be a film star, and Mavis has a Voice that she believes will make her famous. None of them want to be at school, but here they all are, stuck at Malory Towers - and Darrell and her friends are stuck with them too. Will they ever fit in?
This is one of the most interesting Malory Towers books, as Blyton weaves a complex story, not just about the new girls, but with an added element of Darrell dealing with Sally’s absence and her jealousy on return - and tricks, and lacrosse... If you don’t believe that the be-all and end-all of life is to get into the school lacrosse team, the emphasis on that way of being a schoolgirl as the only correct one is annoying. I usually prefer Malory Towers to St Clare’s, but in writing St Clare’s she is more tolerant of the foibles of Alison and Claudine than she is here of Zerelda. So not my favourite Malory Towers - and one presumes Darrell, who thinks plays a waste of time in this book, has a change of heart before she gets to Fifth Form where she writes the pantomime.
This is one of the most interesting Malory Towers books, as Blyton weaves a complex story, not just about the new girls, but with an added element of Darrell dealing with Sally’s absence and her jealousy on return - and tricks, and lacrosse... If you don’t believe that the be-all and end-all of life is to get into the school lacrosse team, the emphasis on that way of being a schoolgirl as the only correct one is annoying. I usually prefer Malory Towers to St Clare’s, but in writing St Clare’s she is more tolerant of the foibles of Alison and Claudine than she is here of Zerelda. So not my favourite Malory Towers - and one presumes Darrell, who thinks plays a waste of time in this book, has a change of heart before she gets to Fifth Form where she writes the pantomime.
January 20, 2013
I think the Mallory Towers books are my favorite Blyton boarding school books. (Quite a statement, considering the number of boarding school books she's written.) And this one always makes me laugh. It's definitely a stop on the Enid Blyton Parade of Vices (bragging is bad and you will get your comeuppance!) but still: I can't believe they saw Americans like that. It's too funny for words. It's wunnerful.
(Well, if you look closely, it's completely offensive, but might I remind you: Enid Blyton.)
(Well, if you look closely, it's completely offensive, but might I remind you: Enid Blyton.)
March 28, 2018
Another series I want to pass a long - a childhood favourite for sure. Enid Blyton was always my favourite author
November 8, 2019
Was the attitude of ONE FRIEND AND ONE FRIEND ONLY really so pervasive at this time (or at boarding school)? It seems exhausting
September 14, 2020
I think that my favourite character in this book was Bill/Wilhelmina because of her obsession with horses. That obsession is kind of like my obsession with animals, so I can relate to her. I think Zerelda (that sassy American girl) doesn't really make progress until THE god of drama, Miss Hibbert tells her that she is a terrible actor when she recites the part of Juliet in front of her. I don't actually think that Darrel was as important in this book as she was in the other books because:
1: She has less importance as for most of the second half of the book she is just in the middle of Sally and Alicia's quarrel over her.
and
2: The only good thing she really does is go out with bill and save Thunder (Bill's horse). And I know that's like a really big thing to do, but come on Darrel deserves more because she was actually the first character ever in the Malory Towers series!
1: She has less importance as for most of the second half of the book she is just in the middle of Sally and Alicia's quarrel over her.
and
2: The only good thing she really does is go out with bill and save Thunder (Bill's horse). And I know that's like a really big thing to do, but come on Darrel deserves more because she was actually the first character ever in the Malory Towers series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2018
Wuaaah enak juga klo baca kumplit tuh!
Jadi tau cerita-nya Mavis and Bill. Tp kayanya Si Hadid Amerika, Zerelda ngga begitu kedengeran dibuku2 selanjutnya.
Tunggu... Tunggu... Mungkin kudu reread?
😌
Jadi tau cerita-nya Mavis and Bill. Tp kayanya Si Hadid Amerika, Zerelda ngga begitu kedengeran dibuku2 selanjutnya.
Tunggu... Tunggu... Mungkin kudu reread?
😌
August 30, 2023
cada uno es mejor que el anterior es una cosa....
September 22, 2018
This is the Third book in the Malory Tower series and the the first book I picked up during my childhood. In fact this was the only book in the series I had during my childhood. I picked up the rest during my college days. Really enjoyable tale with 2 interesting new girls - one wanting to be an actress and one crazy about horses. As usual Enid Blyton brings out interesting ethical conflicts to fore through the challenges each girl encounters and her view of how to lead life. I kind of like most of what Enid Blyton's view towards life and can be practically applicable even in today's world. Some might of course nitpick and call her old fashioned and all that. But one must read her in the context her of her times and take what is good - the eternal values anyone must hold such as taking responsibility for one's own actions, not to get too carried away with one's perceptions of one's talents, not to speak about people behind their backs etc.
July 28, 2011
Another year at Malory Towers and 2 new girls, Bill and Zerelda arrive. Both are very likeable and each has a major character flaw: Bill is obsessed with her horse, Thunder, to the point of madness and Zerelda thinks she's a 20 year old actress and looks down on the other girls while remaining friendly. Both learn the error of their ways and become better people for it; that's what Malory Towers does to people...makes them better. The usual boarding school highs and lows occur, Darrell makes it into the lacrosse match team, the girls use sneezing powder on Mam'zelle Dupont with hilarious results and Mavis and Gwendoline get what's coming to them a few times. A lovely children's read.
February 18, 2012
Another good Blyton book which touches the reality of school life closely. There is a lot that happens in this book, the number of new girls and the scrapes that they all get into never cease to amaze me, but the long standing characters are worked well into the new plots and fit with the changing circumstances. The big thing in this book centres around Bill and her horse, and the realisation that teachers may be human too in the book and not just there to work your nose to the grindstone. This book leads nicely into the 4th book...
November 12, 2012
Darrell's third year brings new friends and challenges; will Darrell be up to the task? There's being nice to the uppity Zerelda, and American with an inflated sense of worth. Mavis is annoying the whole year with her vanity, and Alicia and Sally are bickering. All the while there are Lacrosse matches to be played, and tricks to be played. Another entertaining Malory towers book!
July 2, 2007
Darrel, she is my favourite character. Hot-bloaded, like me ;) and loyal with her friends.
October 9, 2017
I love the tricks they play on the teachers. I wonder if the things they use are real or made-up. Another good book.
April 25, 2018
A short, funny read with some meaningful moments. A wonderful childhood reread.
August 17, 2022
Rating: 4.5 stars
December 21, 2024
This is definitely one of my favourites of the series. There was so much happening in it all the time! There are also some very interesting new characters in the school. A great read.
December 7, 2020
* This is a collective review for the entire Malory Towers novel sequence.*
There is something superb about reading a book for the nth time, when you know exactly what is going to happen when, when you get that slight rumble in your stomach, or when your heart begins to sink from the knowledge of what’s coming!
Malory Towers, a book that made me ache to go to a boarding school (and I ended up going!), Darrell, who inspired me so much that I asked my friends to call me Darrell ( and they do :D), the great towers that made me long to visit UK then, and even now. The exciting game of lacrosse! (whatever it is).
How I used to badger Papa to get them for me, but he would only get one at a time, and so I was forced to re-read it before the next one arrived, months later. No wonder I remember each detail so well 😂
Everything has changed since the time I first read Malory Towers as a child and yet nothing has changed about the joy it brings. Every time I read it, I am transported back to the past, in an indescribable, beautiful way.
The books generate thrill for the adolescent child who can imagine the midnight feasts, and tricks played, and an admirable balance between work and play, never really achieved in real life but very pleasant to imagine about. 😀
There is humour, fun, lessons learnt by those who need one, and “full on masti” as an Indian would say. It’s absolutely the bestest book out there, for the young and old, for the happy and the depressed. (and not just this one, but all of Malory Towers(6), St. Clare’s(9) and The Famous Five(21))
Thank you Enid Blyton for this wonderful pseudo world! What wouldn’t kids give to live there for real?☺️☺️
There is something superb about reading a book for the nth time, when you know exactly what is going to happen when, when you get that slight rumble in your stomach, or when your heart begins to sink from the knowledge of what’s coming!
Malory Towers, a book that made me ache to go to a boarding school (and I ended up going!), Darrell, who inspired me so much that I asked my friends to call me Darrell ( and they do :D), the great towers that made me long to visit UK then, and even now. The exciting game of lacrosse! (whatever it is).
How I used to badger Papa to get them for me, but he would only get one at a time, and so I was forced to re-read it before the next one arrived, months later. No wonder I remember each detail so well 😂
Everything has changed since the time I first read Malory Towers as a child and yet nothing has changed about the joy it brings. Every time I read it, I am transported back to the past, in an indescribable, beautiful way.
The books generate thrill for the adolescent child who can imagine the midnight feasts, and tricks played, and an admirable balance between work and play, never really achieved in real life but very pleasant to imagine about. 😀
There is humour, fun, lessons learnt by those who need one, and “full on masti” as an Indian would say. It’s absolutely the bestest book out there, for the young and old, for the happy and the depressed. (and not just this one, but all of Malory Towers(6), St. Clare’s(9) and The Famous Five(21))
Thank you Enid Blyton for this wonderful pseudo world! What wouldn’t kids give to live there for real?☺️☺️
July 25, 2021
Warning: Spoiler
I do love this book, and next to Upper Fourth at Malory Towers and Goodbye Malory Towers, it has to be my favourite Malory Towers books. There is something about the atmosphere and the real emotions that bring this book alive for me. Not to mention that it contains one of my three characters: Wilhelmina “Bill” Robinson. I probably shan’t be able to adequately describe the reasons why I love this book, but I hope to try.
We start off with Darrell at her house just about to leave for school and lamenting the fact that her best friend, Sally, is in quarantine for mumps. Darrell is also a little concerned that her parents have agreed to pick up a new girl, Zerelda Brass, on the way to Malory Towers. Zerelda Brass is an American girl and right from the beginning (because Darrell doesn’t like the sound of her very much) the readers are also a bit wary/intrigued by this new girl. From the description we are given of her when we first meet her, the over all impression is of disbelief, and wonderment if American girls were really so different from their English counter-parts.
Zerelda already thinks herself above the English girls and treats Darrell patronizingly when she talks to her. Zerelda also has aspirations to be a grand movie actress like her heroine, Lossie Laxton. Unfortunately, as we find out later on, Zerelda has no acting talent what so ever. She is also 16 and, as Darrell notes, likely to be in a higher form.
We feel the loss of Sally by Darrell’s side as much as Darrell does, but when she teams up with form joker Alicia, Darrell seems to stop missing her best friend because there is so much more going on. But I miss Sally. Darrell becomes a different character away from her friend, one I’m not entirely sure I like all too much, there is just something about the loss of steady Sally that means Darrell loses something. She becomes a little more daring like Alicia, a little more ambitious I suppose is the way to look at it. However, I don’t think I’ve explained things properly at all, but that’s how I feel.
The loss of Sally is somehow made up, for me anyway, by the arrival of Wilhelmina a.k.a Bill Robinson on horse back with her seven brothers! Yes you read that correctly, seven brothers. This may give you some idea of why Wilhelmina is called Bill, she is more of a boy than girl with seven brothers and love of all things horse related.
In fact this love of all things horse related and particularly her own horse, Thunder, who she is allowed to keep in the Malory Towers’ stables. Bill often daydreams about Thunder in class, causing a very funny incident with Miss Peter’s the form tutor. However, Miss Peters and the other tutors struggle to get any level of consistent work out of Bill so start punishing her by forbidding her to go to the stables, leaving Bill resentful and disobedient.
Earlier I mentioned that Zerelda is moved up to higher form, but unfortunately because of her standard of work, she is sent back down to be with the third form once more. We are treated to scenes where she wraps herself up in a curtain and table-cloth while trying to rehearse for the form’s play Romeo and Juliet (Zerelda just LOVES Shakespeare “Gee he’s just wunnerful!”) During the rehearsal for the play, Miss Hibbert who takes the third for their plays tells Zerelda in no uncertain terms that she is dreadful as an actress, shattering the young girls dreams.
BUT this is the making of Zerelda in a way. She has a chance to start from the ground up and discover what she really is good at, and become an all together nicer person.
Rather late in the book, Sally comes back. You almost get the feeling that Blyton had forgotten about her slightly, what with all the drama she was planning. Sally’s return, while joyous for me and Darrell, is sour for Alicia who had gotten used to having Darrell all to herself as her best friend Betty was also off ill with whooping cough. Sally and Alicia dislike each other the most in this book I feel. We see them butt heads in the Second Form when Sally is head girl, but now it’s personal. Both of them want Darrell’s friendship, and Sally doesn’t like the idea that Darrell has been hanging around with Alicia, this makes her jealous. Alicia plays up to this because she doesn’t see why she should give up Darrell’s friendship entirely. There is a section where Darrell is considering the situation, and Blyton says that Darrell couldn’t understand Sally’s jealousy because she had never been jealous herself; this almost taints Sally’s steady, wholesome image but if you recall in the First Term at Malory Towers, Sally is described as being jealous of her baby sister.
We get a lot of this push and pull from Sally and Alicia, and my loyalty lies with Sally, I don’t tend to feel as much for Alicia as I do for Sally, and wish to simply be there to help Sally through her jealousy.
We are have two big dramatic scenes in this book: I shan’t give them away, but one has to do with Bill and her horse, and one to do with a character called Mavis. I would honestly rather not describe things for you too much because otherwise I shall really spoil the books.
One of the nice things that happens at the end of the book is that we get to see Darrell play in her first lacrosse match after training hard all term and it’s a super scene to read, full of action and excitement. Truly wonderful.
Then we come to the end of the book, it’s a full packed adventure this one, with wonderful sub-plots and fascinating new characters. Out of all the Malory Towers books, if you don’t read any of the others, you need to read this one. It’s just a perfect example of what I wanted school to be!
I do love this book, and next to Upper Fourth at Malory Towers and Goodbye Malory Towers, it has to be my favourite Malory Towers books. There is something about the atmosphere and the real emotions that bring this book alive for me. Not to mention that it contains one of my three characters: Wilhelmina “Bill” Robinson. I probably shan’t be able to adequately describe the reasons why I love this book, but I hope to try.
We start off with Darrell at her house just about to leave for school and lamenting the fact that her best friend, Sally, is in quarantine for mumps. Darrell is also a little concerned that her parents have agreed to pick up a new girl, Zerelda Brass, on the way to Malory Towers. Zerelda Brass is an American girl and right from the beginning (because Darrell doesn’t like the sound of her very much) the readers are also a bit wary/intrigued by this new girl. From the description we are given of her when we first meet her, the over all impression is of disbelief, and wonderment if American girls were really so different from their English counter-parts.
Zerelda already thinks herself above the English girls and treats Darrell patronizingly when she talks to her. Zerelda also has aspirations to be a grand movie actress like her heroine, Lossie Laxton. Unfortunately, as we find out later on, Zerelda has no acting talent what so ever. She is also 16 and, as Darrell notes, likely to be in a higher form.
We feel the loss of Sally by Darrell’s side as much as Darrell does, but when she teams up with form joker Alicia, Darrell seems to stop missing her best friend because there is so much more going on. But I miss Sally. Darrell becomes a different character away from her friend, one I’m not entirely sure I like all too much, there is just something about the loss of steady Sally that means Darrell loses something. She becomes a little more daring like Alicia, a little more ambitious I suppose is the way to look at it. However, I don’t think I’ve explained things properly at all, but that’s how I feel.
The loss of Sally is somehow made up, for me anyway, by the arrival of Wilhelmina a.k.a Bill Robinson on horse back with her seven brothers! Yes you read that correctly, seven brothers. This may give you some idea of why Wilhelmina is called Bill, she is more of a boy than girl with seven brothers and love of all things horse related.
In fact this love of all things horse related and particularly her own horse, Thunder, who she is allowed to keep in the Malory Towers’ stables. Bill often daydreams about Thunder in class, causing a very funny incident with Miss Peter’s the form tutor. However, Miss Peters and the other tutors struggle to get any level of consistent work out of Bill so start punishing her by forbidding her to go to the stables, leaving Bill resentful and disobedient.
Earlier I mentioned that Zerelda is moved up to higher form, but unfortunately because of her standard of work, she is sent back down to be with the third form once more. We are treated to scenes where she wraps herself up in a curtain and table-cloth while trying to rehearse for the form’s play Romeo and Juliet (Zerelda just LOVES Shakespeare “Gee he’s just wunnerful!”) During the rehearsal for the play, Miss Hibbert who takes the third for their plays tells Zerelda in no uncertain terms that she is dreadful as an actress, shattering the young girls dreams.
BUT this is the making of Zerelda in a way. She has a chance to start from the ground up and discover what she really is good at, and become an all together nicer person.
Rather late in the book, Sally comes back. You almost get the feeling that Blyton had forgotten about her slightly, what with all the drama she was planning. Sally’s return, while joyous for me and Darrell, is sour for Alicia who had gotten used to having Darrell all to herself as her best friend Betty was also off ill with whooping cough. Sally and Alicia dislike each other the most in this book I feel. We see them butt heads in the Second Form when Sally is head girl, but now it’s personal. Both of them want Darrell’s friendship, and Sally doesn’t like the idea that Darrell has been hanging around with Alicia, this makes her jealous. Alicia plays up to this because she doesn’t see why she should give up Darrell’s friendship entirely. There is a section where Darrell is considering the situation, and Blyton says that Darrell couldn’t understand Sally’s jealousy because she had never been jealous herself; this almost taints Sally’s steady, wholesome image but if you recall in the First Term at Malory Towers, Sally is described as being jealous of her baby sister.
We get a lot of this push and pull from Sally and Alicia, and my loyalty lies with Sally, I don’t tend to feel as much for Alicia as I do for Sally, and wish to simply be there to help Sally through her jealousy.
We are have two big dramatic scenes in this book: I shan’t give them away, but one has to do with Bill and her horse, and one to do with a character called Mavis. I would honestly rather not describe things for you too much because otherwise I shall really spoil the books.
One of the nice things that happens at the end of the book is that we get to see Darrell play in her first lacrosse match after training hard all term and it’s a super scene to read, full of action and excitement. Truly wonderful.
Then we come to the end of the book, it’s a full packed adventure this one, with wonderful sub-plots and fascinating new characters. Out of all the Malory Towers books, if you don’t read any of the others, you need to read this one. It’s just a perfect example of what I wanted school to be!
January 26, 2024
Not as good as the first, but I believe the books get better from here on out (if my over 10+ year old memory serves right)
The issue with the past two books is that Blyton introduces too many characters, with too little personalities, and then forgets them the next. Also, Alicia is a vicious character, I remember her being my favourite as a kid, but she’s just a bit of a knob head for no reason
For example, a pivotal character in book 2 is Ellen, and in this book, she’s exempt (apart from two lines of dialogue) because Blyton just writes her off to be in another form.
With the other books, at least it felt like a cohesive storyline with child life lessons sprinkled throughout, with some exciting scenes, with this book, it didn’t really have that.
Also, I understand it was in the common vocabulary back then, and it means weird, but the word “queer” is an adjective that keeps showing up, a thesaurus could’ve been consulted.
The issue with the past two books is that Blyton introduces too many characters, with too little personalities, and then forgets them the next. Also, Alicia is a vicious character, I remember her being my favourite as a kid, but she’s just a bit of a knob head for no reason
For example, a pivotal character in book 2 is Ellen, and in this book, she’s exempt (apart from two lines of dialogue) because Blyton just writes her off to be in another form.
With the other books, at least it felt like a cohesive storyline with child life lessons sprinkled throughout, with some exciting scenes, with this book, it didn’t really have that.
Also, I understand it was in the common vocabulary back then, and it means weird, but the word “queer” is an adjective that keeps showing up, a thesaurus could’ve been consulted.
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