Wild Kitty: A Story of Middleton School

by L.T. Meade

In this story Mrs. Meade gives a picture of school-girl life, in which many varied characters play a part, the most interesting and original being Kitty Malone from Castle Malone in Ireland, who earns the nickname of Wild Kitty because of her love of mischief and her unconventional manners.

Genres: Classics, School Stories, Childrens, Fiction

335 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1897

About the author

Mrs. L.T. Meade (Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Toulmin Smith), was a prolific children's author of Anglo Irish extraction. Born in 1844, Meade was the eldest daughter of a Protestant clergyman, whose church was in County Cork. Moving from Ireland to London as a young woman, after the death of her mother, she studied in the Reading Room of the British Museum in preparation for her intended career as a writer, before marrying Alfred Toulmin Smith in September 1879.

The author of close to 300 books, Meade wrote in many genres, but is best known for her girls' school stories. She was one of the editors of the girls' magazine, Atalanta from 1887-93, and was active in women's issues. She died in 1914.

Reviews

[Jennifer Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not too heavy not too light

A great book for a couple days reading while down with 24 HR bug. I have been a fan of Ms. Madee. For years

[Brenda Tirado · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming read; I’m glad I read it!

[Peter B Creedon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't bad, but I just thank the higher powers that be that she didn't put any religious overtones in the book.

Kitty Malone comes from Ireland.

There seems to have been a stereotype at the time that Irish people weren't "civilized" and it rubs off on Kitty (It's funny that she writes the stereotype, and is I believe of Irish extraction.)

The other characters are dismayed that Kitty is coming. One of them even broke down into tears because of it (Oh no, an IRISH person is coming! They're not even people. We ENGLISH are people. Not actual dialogue, but I got the impression.) Just shut up Alice.

Of course there's also the rich "princess" type character.

She was really, really boring and pompous.

I guess all of this was too much for Kitty to take, so she just ran away.

Bad move. The staff of her boarding school actually go hunt for her.

Not as good as Angela Brazil, but entertaining nonetheless.

[Kirsti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah wow. So basically this story ends in the middle of the resolution, a habit that frustrates me to no end. There is also no point whatsoever to a character that refuses utterly to grow or change opinion when proven wrong, or at least come to see the other person's point of view. Kitty stays exactly the same; rude, thoughtless, tactless, selfish, uncouth. She drives me utterly insane in her complete inability to appreciate the feelings of other characters. On the other hand, the other characters remain the same too, and Kitty Malone might as well have never visited merry old England.

I hated this book, but I still liked the school parts. Two stars.