Victoria

by Barbara Brooks Wallace

Timid, eleven-year-old Dylis Rattenbury, afraid to cross the street without holding someone's hand, idolizes bold, free-spirited, indifferent Victoria Corcoran. When both are sent to boarding school, Dylis is miserable at being separated from her parents, while Victoria seems only concerned that boarding school does not provide room service. With their two roommates she forms a secret club, ostensibly to ward off the "evil forces" in the school, but privately to help get herself expelled."A boarding school story far from the old formula junior novel." - Children's Books"An unusual and entertaining novel, well told." - Publishers Weekly

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Award-winning American children's writer. Has received, among others, the NLAPW Children's Book Award and International Youth Library "Best of the Best" for 'Claudia' (2001), as well as the William Allen White Children's Book Award for 'Peppermints in the Parlor' (1983).

Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China, but then moved to the United States. San Francisco was often a port of entry for her family, who lived in a huge, white-pillared mansion on the side of a hill, later to become the Sugar Hill Hall mansion which served as the setting for some of her most popular books. She was a UCLA graduate.

Wallace won two Edgar Allan Poe Awards from the Mystery Writers of America for 'The Twin in the Tavern' (1994) and for 'Sparrows in the Scullery' (1998). 'Cousins in The Castle' (1997 and 'Ghosts in the Gallery' (2001) were also nominated for an Edgar Award.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little melodramatic... but aren't the emotional lives of tween & young teen girls, esp. in a boarding school, full of passions & chaos themselves? Of course a child would see some clues towards the revelations of the climax coming, but would still appreciate the clarifications, and would very likely want to go back and read the whole thing over again to see the other clues as they were dropped. (Well, I would have, if I'd read this when I was 10 or so... which I could have as that is exactly how old the book is...). Adult me loves the ending just as much as child me would have. Even if you don't have the patience to read the whole thing, do read the last paragraph.

Some compare Victoria to Harriet (the Spy). I get it, but I despise that book and heroine, and feel much more fond of and compassionate towards this one.

Discovery in a Little Free Library in Tulsa Oklahoma.
I have it on 'keep forever' shelf but will probably pass it on after one more read.
I will look for more by the author.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insecure, shy, and rather sheltered, eleven-year-old Dylis Rattenbury idolized her self-confident neighbor Victoria Corcoran, who always seemed to know just what she wanted, and how to go about getting it. More than anything, Dylis wanted Victoria to consider her a friend, and to say so, but although she did just what the other girl told her to, somehow it never seemed to happen. When the two girls are sent to a boarding school in upstate New York together, the trend continues, as Dylis falls in with all of Victorian's plans, joining her secret club - the Victorians - and defending her use of "The Black Book," even though she doesn't enjoy performing the deeds it prescribes. But when Victoria seems to turn on Scarlett - Dylis and Victoria's roommate, and one of the four Victorians - Dylis' long-simmering resentment boils over, and an unexpected confrontation develops...

Published in 1972, and long out of print, Barbara Brooks Wallace's Victoria is a book I would most likely never have happened upon, or chosen to pick up, had it not turned up on a list of school stories - a genre I am currently exploring. I can't say that I found it wildly appealing - this is a low three star rating, I think - but I'm not sorry to have read it. Dylis is an interesting character, in that her observations of the world around her, and the people in it, are not always entirely accurate. I think I would have preferred if the 'truth' about Victoria had unfolded a little more organically, rather than seeing it dumped all at once in Dylis' lap by Miss Lawrence - too much of a deus ex machina for me - as it made the conclusion feel a little rushed. All in all, an interesting book, but more of a young person's 'problem novel,' than a school story.

[Michelle Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a young teen and then forgot about it until about 20-something years later when I ran across the word "hassock." I could picture Victoria's red hassock in my head, but couldn't remember why it was so familiar and attached to such a feeling of sadness as well. So I Googled the term and rediscovered this gem of a book. Read it for an entertaining and gut-wrenching journal through the life of a two young friends.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book as a kid--numerous times, actually. As an adult I've remembered it often for its interesting insight into female friendship. This is pre-Mean Girls take on girls, friendship, cruelty, compassion and more. As an adult, I still find the book to be a really good, slightly dark read. Maybe not as dark as my pre-adolescent brain remembered--but then again I can see why some of the friendship slights that happen here have haunted me for life.

[slauderdale]

I liked “Andrew the Big Deal” more, and I can’t say I’m very fond of Dilys, the POV character. But I relate to the peripatetic childhoods of children in in traveling families, and this book confirms in me a general desire to read more Barbara Brooks Wallace books.

[Peacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Harriet the Spy , you'll love this! The story is set in a boarding school and follows a group of girls lead by the crusty , arrogant Victoria who creates a secret organization ( the Victorians - modest isn't she? Well , in all truth it wasn't her idea. ) And with use of a mysterious black book Victoria relies on they attempt to change the hierarchy at school and improve their good fortune. But really it's also about shy Dilys , who is trying like mad to get a verbal affirmation out of Victoria that their friendship matters.

[Dubhease · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a child, but the story stuck with me. I think I was intrigued with the idea of boarding schools and being part of a secret club.

Re-reading it as an adult, it's almost dark academia for children, with the strange rituals (including many at night) that they perform. The bossing and bullying amongst tween and young teen girls is still relevant all these years later.

[Patty Kenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding this up to 3.5 because I had such fond memories of it as a child - not quite as enamored of it as an adult. This story centers around 2 girls who are sent to boarding school, written and taking place in the early 1970's. Dilys is shy and sheltered and desperately wants to be friends with Victoria, who is worldly and unemotional. Once there, they start a club with their 2 roommates, based on the superstitious included in Victoria's Black Book - which was gifted to her from a former nanny. My guess is, as a child, I was attracted to the secret club and the romance of boarding school, but reading it as an adult, I was struck with how big of a bully Victoria is. I do like that Dilys finds her voice and the ability to stand up for others and that she's taught a lesson about understanding why people act the way they do but I'm not sure Victoria actually deserved such an easy forgiveness.

[Kbreach · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favorites circa 1974-1976, grades 4-6. I wanted to be Victoria's friend!! Read and re-read over and over.

[Cindie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a child, I loved this book. I checked it out multiple times from the library so I wanted to look at it with adult eyes. After the re-read, I can see what it is that attracted me all those years ago, but I can't say my love stands the test of time. I'm happy I re-read it, though. It brought back fond memories of wishing for boarding school and roommates and secret clubs.

[Madame Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice boarding school tale.

[Desi A]

A weird book I remembered reading as a pre-teen. I think I still have it somewhere.

[Claire Ma · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books as a pre-teen. I loved the idea of the adventure of boarding school and the mysterious character of Victoria. I always thought I would have fallen over myself to be her friend too. I remember relating to the vulnerabilities of each of the girls' characters.