What do you think?
Rate this book
Flight of a Chalet School Girl
304 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2022
8 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 5, 2022
Loved this fill in - one of the very best. Fascinating account of Elisaveta's (Princess) flight from Belsornia to eventually the UK and Joey. If you love Exile and the Sound of Music this is for you!
September 30, 2025
Slow start and EBD unbelievability but not a bad story
September 26, 2022
Although I really liked this fill-in novel in The Chalet School series, reading about the incredible journey Elisaveta took to escape from the invading Nazis, I had a few issues, which aren't all the author's fault. Somehow, the opening chapters, setting the background, didn't entirely ring true for me. And then there is the issue of Joey Bettany's and Elisaveta's ages, a problem created by the original author, Elinor M Brent-Dyer — Joey doesn't seem to age much between leaving school and her own escape from the Nazis. Since Elisaveta is at least a year younger, she would therefore be ridiculously young when she got married.
September 17, 2022
This book tells of Elisaveta's escape from Belsornia during WW2. If you haven't bought this, as a CS fan you ask, is it worth it, does it fit the series, so my answer is a definite yes! Great book, couldn't put it down. It starts with Elisaveta visiting Joey, and ends with her arrival at Joey during Highland Twins, so this connects the reader to the CS.
I wanted to go and check my copy of Highland Twins to compare it, but remembered that stupid Armada cut this out of their copies
The book was well researched.
While the author mentioned that she realized that traveling with a small baby would be more complex that described, but EBD would have written that too, my response it that if Chalet School girls never went to the toilet, so obviously their babies never needed nappies changed either.
Anyway, if you are a CS fan, it's worth your investment.
I wanted to go and check my copy of Highland Twins to compare it, but remembered that stupid Armada cut this out of their copies
The book was well researched.
While the author mentioned that she realized that traveling with a small baby would be more complex that described, but EBD would have written that too, my response it that if Chalet School girls never went to the toilet, so obviously their babies never needed nappies changed either.
Anyway, if you are a CS fan, it's worth your investment.
January 8, 2026
This is a “fill-in” story to Elinor Brent-Dyer’s Chalet School series. It occurs over a period of six months concurrent with “Highland Twins at the Chalet School”, set in 1942 during the war. EBD wrote of Princess Elisaveta in her third Chalet School series book “Princess of the Chalet School”.
In this story, Elisaveta and Joey have remained friends into adulthood, and the story opens with a visit by Elisaveta to Joey in the Tirol, as well as a return visit by Joey and Robin to the fictional Balkan country of Belsornia for Princess Elisaveta’s wedding. The two continue to correspond as war affects them both. Princess Elisaveta must flee with her children when the Nazis are about to invade. Her father the King remains behind, and her husband heads to Egypt to fight with the British Royal Air Force. Elisaveta travels with Arletta, her maid, and her 3 year old son Freddie, 1 year old son Carl, and 2 week old daughter Jose. The careful plans for their escape to England are thwarted almost immediately, and the two women and children make their own way south and east. They travel through Turkey and eventually grab a boat ride with some Armenian Christians fleeing Turkey from persecution. As they make their way across the Mediterranean, the ladies suffer terribly from seasickness, but eventually recover. They must abandon ship in Tunisia, and are forced to travel west on their own, avoiding civilization as much as possible. They eventually make their way to Spain, Portugal, and finally England, avoiding dangers and pitfalls, and receiving unexpected help as they go. Elisaveta reunites with Joey Maynard in Armiford, the current location of the Chalet School. Here she is able to somewhat resume her duties as Princess of Belsornia, but overall lives a regular non-royal life.
Katherine Bruce always brings a wealth of historical detail to her stories, and does EBD justice with her story of Elisaveta’s flight. The background of the escape was laid out by EBD in “Highland Twins at the Chalet School” but Katherine does an excellent job giving the story new life with all the details. The idea of traveling across the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa with 2 toddlers and a newborn is a bit mindboggling, but Katherine does a good job with EBD’s original plan and bringing it to fruition. She also provides plenty of action but avoids what more realistically could have happened in such circumstances as this is part of a school series for girls. There is a fascinating Foreword and Afterward with a wealth of information, including more info on what happens to Elisaveta and her family in later years, and their connection to the Chalet School based on EBD’s references to them in later books. Overall, a well done and excellent addition to the CS series.
Two small nitpicks—Though Elisaveta has an alias with papers for traveling, she is referred to by the Armenians as being “Elisaveta” instead of “Maria” (written on her papers). Once she arrives in England, Elisaveta suddenly starts speaking like a 15 year old school girl with her use of slang and vernacular, which struck me as a bit odd. Otherwise, I couldn’t imagine another author doing a better job writing this given the parameters set by EBD. Excellent, and don’t miss.
In this story, Elisaveta and Joey have remained friends into adulthood, and the story opens with a visit by Elisaveta to Joey in the Tirol, as well as a return visit by Joey and Robin to the fictional Balkan country of Belsornia for Princess Elisaveta’s wedding. The two continue to correspond as war affects them both. Princess Elisaveta must flee with her children when the Nazis are about to invade. Her father the King remains behind, and her husband heads to Egypt to fight with the British Royal Air Force. Elisaveta travels with Arletta, her maid, and her 3 year old son Freddie, 1 year old son Carl, and 2 week old daughter Jose. The careful plans for their escape to England are thwarted almost immediately, and the two women and children make their own way south and east. They travel through Turkey and eventually grab a boat ride with some Armenian Christians fleeing Turkey from persecution. As they make their way across the Mediterranean, the ladies suffer terribly from seasickness, but eventually recover. They must abandon ship in Tunisia, and are forced to travel west on their own, avoiding civilization as much as possible. They eventually make their way to Spain, Portugal, and finally England, avoiding dangers and pitfalls, and receiving unexpected help as they go. Elisaveta reunites with Joey Maynard in Armiford, the current location of the Chalet School. Here she is able to somewhat resume her duties as Princess of Belsornia, but overall lives a regular non-royal life.
Katherine Bruce always brings a wealth of historical detail to her stories, and does EBD justice with her story of Elisaveta’s flight. The background of the escape was laid out by EBD in “Highland Twins at the Chalet School” but Katherine does an excellent job giving the story new life with all the details. The idea of traveling across the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa with 2 toddlers and a newborn is a bit mindboggling, but Katherine does a good job with EBD’s original plan and bringing it to fruition. She also provides plenty of action but avoids what more realistically could have happened in such circumstances as this is part of a school series for girls. There is a fascinating Foreword and Afterward with a wealth of information, including more info on what happens to Elisaveta and her family in later years, and their connection to the Chalet School based on EBD’s references to them in later books. Overall, a well done and excellent addition to the CS series.
Two small nitpicks—Though Elisaveta has an alias with papers for traveling, she is referred to by the Armenians as being “Elisaveta” instead of “Maria” (written on her papers). Once she arrives in England, Elisaveta suddenly starts speaking like a 15 year old school girl with her use of slang and vernacular, which struck me as a bit odd. Otherwise, I couldn’t imagine another author doing a better job writing this given the parameters set by EBD. Excellent, and don’t miss.
February 9, 2025
Hands down the best of the fill-ins I have read to date. My favourites in the original series are the war years stories and this is a brilliant addition to them.
Most of the fill-ins suffer from the limitations placed on them, where nothing earth shattering can happen as the story must be true to the EBD version.
Elisaveta’s flight from the Nazis is true to the original stories but is also unsurprisingly full of action. It feels more as if it’s been written for us older fans than for the original CS books, which if true is wise. I don’t imagine many of these fill-in books are bought by young teenage girls from their pocket money, though happy to be proved wrong.
Against the odds mother, her two week old baby, two small sons and faithful retainer make it through to safety and, of course, to Joey. A happy ending worthy of EBD. I loved it.
Most of the fill-ins suffer from the limitations placed on them, where nothing earth shattering can happen as the story must be true to the EBD version.
Elisaveta’s flight from the Nazis is true to the original stories but is also unsurprisingly full of action. It feels more as if it’s been written for us older fans than for the original CS books, which if true is wise. I don’t imagine many of these fill-in books are bought by young teenage girls from their pocket money, though happy to be proved wrong.
Against the odds mother, her two week old baby, two small sons and faithful retainer make it through to safety and, of course, to Joey. A happy ending worthy of EBD. I loved it.
September 27, 2022
I really enjoyed this novel To have the full story of what happened to Elisaveta and her family during WWII is so wonderful. I found myself catching my breath a few times as the story unfolded, the near capture moments and near misses.
Veta has always been a favorite and I loved seeing her relationship with her family, especially her sons is really special. I found it sad while reading this to think that Veta's husband gets killed later on because he's a lovely man.
If you have a chance to purchase this book, you definitely should.
Veta has always been a favorite and I loved seeing her relationship with her family, especially her sons is really special. I found it sad while reading this to think that Veta's husband gets killed later on because he's a lovely man.
If you have a chance to purchase this book, you definitely should.
May 10, 2023
This is the story of Princess Elsaveta's flight from the Nazi invation of her beloved Belsornia. She travels with her 3 children and maid across many countries until she reaches Armford and the joy of her reunion with Joey.
It was well written, researched and kept me truning the pages.
A definite read for any Chalet School fan.
It was well written, researched and kept me truning the pages.
A definite read for any Chalet School fan.
September 11, 2022
Not my favourite Chalet School fill-in. I found some of the writing a little repetitive, and there were a few inaccuracies (as there were in EBD’s writing but they still jar). I did enjoy the way Freddie was portrayed; I have a son of a similar age and could really relate to his part in the story.
October 9, 2022
2.5, nothing particularly exciting or dramatic happens in this book
Although some events of WW II are mentioned there is no real atmosphere that this is a WW II story of the plight and perils of refugees
Although some events of WW II are mentioned there is no real atmosphere that this is a WW II story of the plight and perils of refugees
November 2, 2022
Another excellent fill-in for the Chalet School series - love the additional details about characters we already know.
February 13, 2023
Brilliant. Quite a tear jerker
November 2, 2023
Brilliant. If you are a Chalet School fan, then this is one of the best fill in books written so far. If you are a fan you will also be aware of EBD-isms, so are used to reading stories with a little poetic licence. I felt this was realistic enough, describing the privations of such a long journey across Europe in war time…it certainly had enough detail for me.
And as to other reviewers saying there is no mention of nappies (!) to me that comes under the umbrella of “she went to sort out her little daughter”, surely most reasonable people would imagine that changing goes along with feeding! It doesn’t have to be spelled out!
Glad she got to see Raphael again in England too.
You may wish to read Highland Twins concurrently with this book. But I loved it, and thought it did a great job of filling in the Princess’s escape with her children. Thank you for writing it.
And as to other reviewers saying there is no mention of nappies (!) to me that comes under the umbrella of “she went to sort out her little daughter”, surely most reasonable people would imagine that changing goes along with feeding! It doesn’t have to be spelled out!
Glad she got to see Raphael again in England too.
You may wish to read Highland Twins concurrently with this book. But I loved it, and thought it did a great job of filling in the Princess’s escape with her children. Thank you for writing it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews