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The Naughtiest Girl #1
Lilly mischt die Schule auf
Nova zbirka avtorice Pet prijateljev in Skrivnih sedem.
Nika je enajstletna edinka, ki vselej dobi, kar hoče. Ko nobena zasebna učiteljica ne želi več ostati pri njej, se starši odločijo, da jo pošljejo v šolo. Seveda Nika noče v šolo, zato sklene, da bo tam tako zelo nagajala, da jo bodo kmalu poslali nazaj domov. Ampak v šoli hitro ugotovi, da biti najhujša nagajivka na šoli ni tako preprosto, sploh ker ji sčasoma postane na šoli všeč in celo spozna svojo prvo najboljšo prijateljico …
Nika je enajstletna edinka, ki vselej dobi, kar hoče. Ko nobena zasebna učiteljica ne želi več ostati pri njej, se starši odločijo, da jo pošljejo v šolo. Seveda Nika noče v šolo, zato sklene, da bo tam tako zelo nagajala, da jo bodo kmalu poslali nazaj domov. Ampak v šoli hitro ugotovi, da biti najhujša nagajivka na šoli ni tako preprosto, sploh ker ji sčasoma postane na šoli všeč in celo spozna svojo prvo najboljšo prijateljico …
Hardcover
Published August 16, 2018
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About the author
Enid Blyton
5,137 books6,323 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 483 reviews
May 7, 2017
Forget 1984 and Animal Farm - if you thought that was scary, you should read The Naughtiest Girl in the School. In this Stalinisque exposé of life under a brutal regime, we see the conversion of little Elizabeth Allen from a normal little girl to one who learns how to knuckle down to the system and praise it.
Elizabeth is a pretty eleven year old little girl who has spurts of fun and laughter, like any normal little girl. She is given to a bit of naughtiness (like pinning her governess' stockings together and laughing about it) and the obvious conclusion her parents arrive is to send her away to boarding school about which she is not told until a week before she has to leave. Nor is she given any information about the school and how it functions and her very natural fears of going to a strange place and meeting strange people is not put to rest, except to tell her that she will become a better person because no one would put up with her nonsense at Whyteleafe School. Way to go with the great parenting bit!
So poor Elizabeth lands up at Whyteleafe, and before she even reaches, she is for some strange reason, ostracised by the students because she again very naturally, refuses to make friends at first sight with random strangers. The real trouble starts once they reach the school, where we make the acquaintance of monitor Nora, who probably later hopped over and joined the Cheka or something. Like a good upholder of the values of the regime, Nora has locked away Elizabeth's cherished belongings, threatened to do her bodily violence, and mocked at her distress, all of within one day of the starting of the school. But Elizabeth's trials are not yet over.
The weekly Meeting is yet to come her way. In this school, the students govern themselves and have weekly meetings to dole out punishments and rewards in public, all presided over by William and Rita, the head boy and girl. Brrrr!!! In theory, this appears rather progressive, but in practice, it's more reminiscent of North Korea than anything else. The students often have lessons taken away from them (whut?!) and they are sometimes forced to do manual labour if they made mistakes. They also have a system where all children have to put in their entire pocket money into a common fund and each person gets two shillings to spend per week. You can ask for something extra but it is up to William and Rita to sanction it. In short, you have to ask permission from the regime leaders to spend your own goddamned money - and it can actually be refused! Moreover, much of the money actually ends up being used on the beautification of the school or some such nonsense! What exactly do they do with the fees, then?
When Elizabeth very properly decides not to hand over her parents' hard earned money to these thugs, her money is stolen from her! Literally grabbed and plonked into the common fund and moreover, she does not get her two shillings either! You don't mess withNorth Korea Whyteleafe School! Because if you do, you also get mocked in full assembly. Your ancestry is torn apart and your parents are mocked in front of everyone else. I am not exactly sure if they are carted off to the Gulag for your perceived crimes, but it appears to be a distinct possibility.
I actually found this book extremely terrifying when I read it for the first time. Unlike with the Malory Towers or St Claire's series, I never dreamed of studying in Whyteleafe School. The later books in the series are better (mostly as Elizabeth becomes the enforcer rather than the enforcee) but the first one makes me shudder as Elizabeth's spirit was slowly and gradually broken down by all the mocking, threats and punishments she receives for absolutely no reason at all. The teachers seem powerless to help her, and mob power is given full reign in this system. I dare R L Stine to come up with something so scary!
Elizabeth is a pretty eleven year old little girl who has spurts of fun and laughter, like any normal little girl. She is given to a bit of naughtiness (like pinning her governess' stockings together and laughing about it) and the obvious conclusion her parents arrive is to send her away to boarding school about which she is not told until a week before she has to leave. Nor is she given any information about the school and how it functions and her very natural fears of going to a strange place and meeting strange people is not put to rest, except to tell her that she will become a better person because no one would put up with her nonsense at Whyteleafe School. Way to go with the great parenting bit!
So poor Elizabeth lands up at Whyteleafe, and before she even reaches, she is for some strange reason, ostracised by the students because she again very naturally, refuses to make friends at first sight with random strangers. The real trouble starts once they reach the school, where we make the acquaintance of monitor Nora, who probably later hopped over and joined the Cheka or something. Like a good upholder of the values of the regime, Nora has locked away Elizabeth's cherished belongings, threatened to do her bodily violence, and mocked at her distress, all of within one day of the starting of the school. But Elizabeth's trials are not yet over.
The weekly Meeting is yet to come her way. In this school, the students govern themselves and have weekly meetings to dole out punishments and rewards in public, all presided over by William and Rita, the head boy and girl. Brrrr!!! In theory, this appears rather progressive, but in practice, it's more reminiscent of North Korea than anything else. The students often have lessons taken away from them (whut?!) and they are sometimes forced to do manual labour if they made mistakes. They also have a system where all children have to put in their entire pocket money into a common fund and each person gets two shillings to spend per week. You can ask for something extra but it is up to William and Rita to sanction it. In short, you have to ask permission from the regime leaders to spend your own goddamned money - and it can actually be refused! Moreover, much of the money actually ends up being used on the beautification of the school or some such nonsense! What exactly do they do with the fees, then?
When Elizabeth very properly decides not to hand over her parents' hard earned money to these thugs, her money is stolen from her! Literally grabbed and plonked into the common fund and moreover, she does not get her two shillings either! You don't mess with
I actually found this book extremely terrifying when I read it for the first time. Unlike with the Malory Towers or St Claire's series, I never dreamed of studying in Whyteleafe School. The later books in the series are better (mostly as Elizabeth becomes the enforcer rather than the enforcee) but the first one makes me shudder as Elizabeth's spirit was slowly and gradually broken down by all the mocking, threats and punishments she receives for absolutely no reason at all. The teachers seem powerless to help her, and mob power is given full reign in this system. I dare R L Stine to come up with something so scary!
November 6, 2023
5.0 ⭐
GENRE - FICTION - KIDS CLASSIC - COMEDY.
What a wonderful book by Enid Blyton!
I had received this book 24 years ago while I was in a Boarding School, recently I was just cleaning my library and got hold of it once again, I started to read it and to my surprise couldn't put it down and completed it in a few hours.I wished I had read this novel In my schooling years.
The book is about this Girl Elizabeth who is the only daughter to her parents, she is rich, bright and beautiful most importantly she is a Naughty spoilt brat.
Her mother recognizing the fact she is getting spoilt being the only child decides to put her in a Boarding School.
Elizabeth is quite furious with this decision and takes a vow to be the be Naughtiest little rascal in school and that Whyteleafe School gets tired of her and expells her, at the same time although she wants to go home she also falls in love with her new school and also develops a bond with a few characters in the Novel.
This book is for anyone who loves to read kid novels like Malgudi Days, the author Enid Blyton has written it very well so much so that you will fall in love with it and with every chapter your appetite to know more shall grow deeper.
This is the first part of the Naughtiest Girl series by Enid Blyton, there are 9 more parts to it and I wish to read all of them.
Thanks 😊
GENRE - FICTION - KIDS CLASSIC - COMEDY.
What a wonderful book by Enid Blyton!
I had received this book 24 years ago while I was in a Boarding School, recently I was just cleaning my library and got hold of it once again, I started to read it and to my surprise couldn't put it down and completed it in a few hours.I wished I had read this novel In my schooling years.
The book is about this Girl Elizabeth who is the only daughter to her parents, she is rich, bright and beautiful most importantly she is a Naughty spoilt brat.
Her mother recognizing the fact she is getting spoilt being the only child decides to put her in a Boarding School.
Elizabeth is quite furious with this decision and takes a vow to be the be Naughtiest little rascal in school and that Whyteleafe School gets tired of her and expells her, at the same time although she wants to go home she also falls in love with her new school and also develops a bond with a few characters in the Novel.
This book is for anyone who loves to read kid novels like Malgudi Days, the author Enid Blyton has written it very well so much so that you will fall in love with it and with every chapter your appetite to know more shall grow deeper.
This is the first part of the Naughtiest Girl series by Enid Blyton, there are 9 more parts to it and I wish to read all of them.
Thanks 😊
December 2, 2024
من این کتابو توی طاقچه هدیه گرفتم و خوندم و مناسبتش هم این بود که از نظر هدیه دهنده، شرورترین دختر دنیام :)
خیلی داستان نوستالوژیکبه، الان بنظرم اغراق شده میاد ولی فکر میکنم برای یه بچه توی اوایل نوجوانی خیلی ام باحال باشه
خیلی داستان نوستالوژیکبه، الان بنظرم اغراق شده میاد ولی فکر میکنم برای یه بچه توی اوایل نوجوانی خیلی ام باحال باشه
February 11, 2021
To tell the truth, I am not really all that sure how I feel with regard to Enid Blyton’s The Naughtiest Girl in the School, finding both much to appreciate and enjoy about Blyton’s presented narrative, but also considering more than a few aspects of Whyteleafe school rather uncomfortable and problematic with regard to politics and philosophy.
For one, while I actually do think that the “naughty” girl of the title, that young Elizabeth Allen needs to learn quite a few lessons (such as how to make friends, that making up one’s mind should not mean being unwilling to change, and yes indeed, that Elizabeth is definitely rather too spoiled and used to generally getting her own way), considering how easily Elizabeth makes friends with Joan and how readily she wants to and attempts to help her, I personally do not really like the book title of The Naughtiest Girl in the School all that much, as I in fact do not think that Elizabeth is actually all that often deliberately ill mannered and nasty and indeed that often her supposed naughtiness and being in trouble and disgrace at school are actually and in fact more the result of things just happening, of Elizabeth being a bit unlucky, of her trying to do good deeds which end up rather majorly backfiring.
And for two (and also much more of a potential problem for me), while I have certainly often heard it claimed that Enid Blyton’s coeducational Whyteleafe School is supposedly and truly progressive, sorry, but on both an emotional and on an intellectual level, there are serious and not to be taken lightly issues with Enid Blyton seemingly promoting and celebrating collective thinking. For while it might well be progressive to have the students in The Naughtiest Girl series be pretty much self governing, those communal meetings and the students as a group deciding on suitable punishments, not to mention that the entire system of the students being made to deposit their cash allowances into some type of common piggy bank, with everyone receiving the exact same amount every week, in my opinion, that does kind of feel a bit like a foray into Communism (with all of the students being rather the same and also receiving the exact same amounts of money per week, maybe something that would perhaps make life at boarding school easier with all students sharing, with all students being collectively similar, but there is something about this and how much this is celebrated which I definitely consider rather strange and kind of turning students into generic robot like entities).
And therefore, while I have actually still quite enjoyed The Naughtiest Girl in the School, and really do adore Elizabeth Allen as a character, the in my opinion rather overly exaggerated focus on the glory and the benefits of collectivism (and how Enid Blyton really does seem to totally consider this superior to individualism in The Naughtiest Girl series), this does definitely make me more than a trifle uncomfortable (since for me, I do always consider individualism important even if being communal, sharing etc. is also necessary, and yes, the one-sidedness of celebrating collective ideals and behaviours in The Naughtiest Girl in the School, it truly does make me take enough textual issue and umbrage to only consider a very low and grudging three star rating).
For one, while I actually do think that the “naughty” girl of the title, that young Elizabeth Allen needs to learn quite a few lessons (such as how to make friends, that making up one’s mind should not mean being unwilling to change, and yes indeed, that Elizabeth is definitely rather too spoiled and used to generally getting her own way), considering how easily Elizabeth makes friends with Joan and how readily she wants to and attempts to help her, I personally do not really like the book title of The Naughtiest Girl in the School all that much, as I in fact do not think that Elizabeth is actually all that often deliberately ill mannered and nasty and indeed that often her supposed naughtiness and being in trouble and disgrace at school are actually and in fact more the result of things just happening, of Elizabeth being a bit unlucky, of her trying to do good deeds which end up rather majorly backfiring.
And for two (and also much more of a potential problem for me), while I have certainly often heard it claimed that Enid Blyton’s coeducational Whyteleafe School is supposedly and truly progressive, sorry, but on both an emotional and on an intellectual level, there are serious and not to be taken lightly issues with Enid Blyton seemingly promoting and celebrating collective thinking. For while it might well be progressive to have the students in The Naughtiest Girl series be pretty much self governing, those communal meetings and the students as a group deciding on suitable punishments, not to mention that the entire system of the students being made to deposit their cash allowances into some type of common piggy bank, with everyone receiving the exact same amount every week, in my opinion, that does kind of feel a bit like a foray into Communism (with all of the students being rather the same and also receiving the exact same amounts of money per week, maybe something that would perhaps make life at boarding school easier with all students sharing, with all students being collectively similar, but there is something about this and how much this is celebrated which I definitely consider rather strange and kind of turning students into generic robot like entities).
And therefore, while I have actually still quite enjoyed The Naughtiest Girl in the School, and really do adore Elizabeth Allen as a character, the in my opinion rather overly exaggerated focus on the glory and the benefits of collectivism (and how Enid Blyton really does seem to totally consider this superior to individualism in The Naughtiest Girl series), this does definitely make me more than a trifle uncomfortable (since for me, I do always consider individualism important even if being communal, sharing etc. is also necessary, and yes, the one-sidedness of celebrating collective ideals and behaviours in The Naughtiest Girl in the School, it truly does make me take enough textual issue and umbrage to only consider a very low and grudging three star rating).
November 26, 2021
Re-read in 2021
It was so good to re-read this one..
It made me realise what I don't want to do
But still not sure what I want to do 🤣
Going to the next book to find that
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Reviewed in 2020
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This was the first novel that made me a reader i am today. Hence it holds a special place in my heart.
Its a story of a spoiled Rich Kid being sent to Boarding school. its so much fun to read this. How she faces her fears and how she learns to be good yet naughty. There are so many other characters in the book which are really good to her, from whom she learns to be like she is now.
i really loved it then and definitely children will love it.
It was so good to re-read this one..
It made me realise what I don't want to do
But still not sure what I want to do 🤣
Going to the next book to find that
.
.
Reviewed in 2020
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This was the first novel that made me a reader i am today. Hence it holds a special place in my heart.
Its a story of a spoiled Rich Kid being sent to Boarding school. its so much fun to read this. How she faces her fears and how she learns to be good yet naughty. There are so many other characters in the book which are really good to her, from whom she learns to be like she is now.
i really loved it then and definitely children will love it.
August 22, 2020
I’ve found a few old favourites and ‘never reads’ while sorting out the library in the school where I’m employed this term, hence a sudden detour into extensive children’s lit reviews!
I never read ‘The Naughtiest Girl’ series as a child (I was fiercely addicted to Malory Towers) and it’s been intriguing to compare them. Whyteleaf is quite a different school, where students are given a democratic role in its daily running and decision-making. Aside from this, there are no great surprises here - even the characters aren’t especially memorable. Relaxing and enjoyable though - and it’s worn its age (eighty years young) surprisingly well.
I never read ‘The Naughtiest Girl’ series as a child (I was fiercely addicted to Malory Towers) and it’s been intriguing to compare them. Whyteleaf is quite a different school, where students are given a democratic role in its daily running and decision-making. Aside from this, there are no great surprises here - even the characters aren’t especially memorable. Relaxing and enjoyable though - and it’s worn its age (eighty years young) surprisingly well.
Read
December 28, 2020I missed this in my childhood, but my daughter got a copy for Christmas. My 5 year old daughter and 6 year old son both loved it and we all cried at one point. lovely to share at this age.
September 6, 2007
Elizabeth Allen is a horrid, spoiled brat. Her parents send her to Whyteleafe, a school with Socialist and sadistic tendencies that strips her of her foolish pride and transforms her into a sensible, loving, moral, typically British schoolgirl.
I read my mother's childhood copy of this book (printed on flimsy, WWII-era paper) when I first visited England. I spent the rest of my childhood rereading it and writing parodies of it.
I read my mother's childhood copy of this book (printed on flimsy, WWII-era paper) when I first visited England. I spent the rest of my childhood rereading it and writing parodies of it.
August 21, 2017
A rather delightful little tale of a quite extraordinary little girl and the somewhat bizarre school she is sent to...
April 22, 2018
این کتابو خیلی بچه بودم که خوندم و چیز زیادی ازش یادم نیست
فقط میدونم دوسش داشتم
فقط میدونم دوسش داشتم
December 29, 2017
While reading the first chapter, all I could think was "Nobody talks like that, not even in 1940". It sounded like dialogue from a particularly bad 40s B movie. Elizabeth's parents allowed her to get out of control and torture her governesses for ten years but suddenly decide enough is enough and instead of dealing with their child's misbehavior, she needs to be send off to boarding school. Yes, boarding school will cure her.
I was getting tired of the constant "Elizabeth cannot really be bad because she does well in her lessons and is beautiful". Ah yes, only ugly, unintelligent children can be TRULY naughty. Yes, I know, it's the 1940s. People probably did say "Aw, you, naughty? But you're such a pretty little girl" but when you added in the fact that Elizabeth was brilliant at everything she tried without actually trying, it was just too much.
I did read Blyton's other school stories as a girl and though I wouldn't have wanted to go to those schools, they seemed okay to me. Whyteleafe feels like a communist colony to me. As someone who has been bullied at school, I couldn't help but feel like this was Lord of the Flies waiting to happen. The whole school could make the life of an unpopular child a living hell by collectively turning against him or her. The way the other students punished Elizabeth left a bad taste in my mouth. The monitors were creepy. They are basically kids spying on everyone else and reporting the other student's transgressions to the head boy and girl. Though that school would have been my worst nightmare as a little girl (I would have rather attended St. Clair's, where I'd have to serve older girls!), it's expected that all children love Whyteleafe school. There has to be something wrong with any child who does not.
On the day Elizabeth arrives at boarding school, she can't help thinking that sharing a room with five other girls would be exciting. This is a spoiled child, who just one chapter ago ranted about how she hates other boys and girls. She also gets excited about the gym and as times goes on, you get the impression that she is really enjoying school though most of the other children want nothing to do with her.
"On another evening there was a small dance, beginning at half-past seven, for an hour. Elizabeth loved dancing too, and when she saw the notice on the notice-board, she was pleased.
No wonder the children were happy at Whyteleafe! There seemed always something lovely to look forward to, something exciting to do. "
Does this sound like a child who has no friends at school, HATES her school (which she claims she does) and just wants to go home? Looking at the way people treat her and the fact that she has never been away from home, Elizabeth should be miserable. A miserable child doesn't think "No wonder all the other children here are so happy". She doesn't even seem to miss home, her parents, or her pets
The only child who seems to miss her mother at all is Joan- whose mother ironically dislikes her and wants nothing to do with her until Elizabeth fixes that little problem. Seems a bit unlikely that a woman who never cared for her daughter would change her ways because of another child's interference.
I was getting tired of the constant "Elizabeth cannot really be bad because she does well in her lessons and is beautiful". Ah yes, only ugly, unintelligent children can be TRULY naughty. Yes, I know, it's the 1940s. People probably did say "Aw, you, naughty? But you're such a pretty little girl" but when you added in the fact that Elizabeth was brilliant at everything she tried without actually trying, it was just too much.
I did read Blyton's other school stories as a girl and though I wouldn't have wanted to go to those schools, they seemed okay to me. Whyteleafe feels like a communist colony to me. As someone who has been bullied at school, I couldn't help but feel like this was Lord of the Flies waiting to happen. The whole school could make the life of an unpopular child a living hell by collectively turning against him or her. The way the other students punished Elizabeth left a bad taste in my mouth. The monitors were creepy. They are basically kids spying on everyone else and reporting the other student's transgressions to the head boy and girl. Though that school would have been my worst nightmare as a little girl (I would have rather attended St. Clair's, where I'd have to serve older girls!), it's expected that all children love Whyteleafe school. There has to be something wrong with any child who does not.
On the day Elizabeth arrives at boarding school, she can't help thinking that sharing a room with five other girls would be exciting. This is a spoiled child, who just one chapter ago ranted about how she hates other boys and girls. She also gets excited about the gym and as times goes on, you get the impression that she is really enjoying school though most of the other children want nothing to do with her.
"On another evening there was a small dance, beginning at half-past seven, for an hour. Elizabeth loved dancing too, and when she saw the notice on the notice-board, she was pleased.
No wonder the children were happy at Whyteleafe! There seemed always something lovely to look forward to, something exciting to do. "
Does this sound like a child who has no friends at school, HATES her school (which she claims she does) and just wants to go home? Looking at the way people treat her and the fact that she has never been away from home, Elizabeth should be miserable. A miserable child doesn't think "No wonder all the other children here are so happy". She doesn't even seem to miss home, her parents, or her pets
The only child who seems to miss her mother at all is Joan- whose mother ironically dislikes her and wants nothing to do with her until Elizabeth fixes that little problem. Seems a bit unlikely that a woman who never cared for her daughter would change her ways because of another child's interference.
April 18, 2013
Of all Ms Blyton's school series, the Whytleafe School series featuring Elizabeth Allen have remain personal favorites since I read them about three decades ago. Even when I was young, the notion of student based bodies - students bringing problems and students solving it themselves in a common forum - made a deep impression on me. There are also socialistic tendencies around everyone getting an equal share of money which also seemed to be so right to me. So to me, the Naughtiest Girl series was quite radical in concept.
Then the characters themselves were so lovable. Elizabeth is feisty and utterly charming. You cannot but help like her from the word go. She is easily my favorite Blyton character. The head and girl Rita and William, the Beauty and the Beast (head mistresses) seem to the wise people we can aspire to.
Blyton's portrayal of Elizabeth as a grey character, how she swings from the black to the white makes her a triumphant creation and perhaps a unique heroine in the annals of "boarding school" heroines.
Then the characters themselves were so lovable. Elizabeth is feisty and utterly charming. You cannot but help like her from the word go. She is easily my favorite Blyton character. The head and girl Rita and William, the Beauty and the Beast (head mistresses) seem to the wise people we can aspire to.
Blyton's portrayal of Elizabeth as a grey character, how she swings from the black to the white makes her a triumphant creation and perhaps a unique heroine in the annals of "boarding school" heroines.
June 23, 2012
The very first "proper" book I ever read. I think I was maybe 7 or 8 years old. It has lead to 35 yrs of reading with a passion, 1000s of books many I'll never remember reading but this one I'll never forget. I can even remember the point in time when I finished it, where I was at home and how proud I was of myself. Most importantly how proud my dad was of me. He too had a passion for reading and loved books. Apologies to those reading this expecting a review and not my trip down memory lane... Nevertheless, if choosing this for your child my childhood self says... Awesome!
February 29, 2012
The Naughtiest Girl in School
I bought a couple of Blyton’s books a couple of years ago because I thought that I might have missed out not having had the chance to read them when I was a child. I never got around to reading them until one Friday afternoon a couple of weeks ago.
The books all seem a bit formulaic and I had to constantly remind myself that they were written at a totally different time in a rather different society. Nevertheless I couldn’t shake the conflicting feelings about the book’s premise that girls must behave in an obedient, proper and polite way at all times. My inner feminist was screeching indignantly.
I don’t negate that it would be desirable if kids were taught to be polite, because there’s quite a bit of rudeness going around these days. I wonder, though, whether politeness and gentleness can really be “taught” or whether they are rather picked up by mimicking others. I reject the notion of a uniform society, no matter how polite. Being different, being individual should be celebrated in kids as well as in adults.
The story of little Elizabeth’s struggle to be naughty and horrid to achieve her goal of being sent home from Whyteleafe Boarding School drew me in despite myself, but it was more of a detached scientific reading, a fascination with a world that no longer exists in the depicted way if ever it did. At first I thought that I wouldn’t be able to get used to the archaic language, but it didn’t bother me that much after a while.
I am not really familiar with whole literary sub-genre of boarding school setting, but I always had a soft spot for it, glorifying life at boarding school (I did, obviously, never attend one myself). I only owned one or two books set in the BS environment when I was a kid and I adored them.
I seriously doubt the appeal of this book to young children today. There are a few points in its favour:
- the need for a best friends to share joy and worry with
- the desire to do well in school, to please parents and teachers
- the wish to be loved, to be surrounded by the people and objects one loves
- the ability to easily adapt to new surroundings
There are, however, as many points I’d argues make the book inaccessible for today’s youth. Just to mention two:
- the old-fashioned and dated language
- the almost tech-free setting (sports, music, painting, and dancing as opposed to video games, internet, mobile phones, etc.). Then again, the Harry Potter books worked fine without technical gadgetry, but they had spells and potions to counter that lack (not to mention, a lot more suspense with the fight of good vs evil and far more action).
The whole book is extremely feeling-based. The most important thing is to pass the judgement and gain the appraisal of others.
If one were inclined to do so, one could break the entire novel into lessons:
- the pleasure of sharing as opposed to hoarding everything to oneself
- the good deed of saying “I’m sorry”
- pride is wrong and will only hurt oneself
- strength lies within one’s ability to change one’s mind
And so on and so forth. The almost socialist self-governance of the pupils amused me. Of course, this would only work if the world (or a school) were populated by as perfect role models as portrayed here, who’d never abuse the power given to them, and we all know that the world doesn’t work that way (not even in a boarding school micro cosmos).
I bought a couple of Blyton’s books a couple of years ago because I thought that I might have missed out not having had the chance to read them when I was a child. I never got around to reading them until one Friday afternoon a couple of weeks ago.
The books all seem a bit formulaic and I had to constantly remind myself that they were written at a totally different time in a rather different society. Nevertheless I couldn’t shake the conflicting feelings about the book’s premise that girls must behave in an obedient, proper and polite way at all times. My inner feminist was screeching indignantly.
I don’t negate that it would be desirable if kids were taught to be polite, because there’s quite a bit of rudeness going around these days. I wonder, though, whether politeness and gentleness can really be “taught” or whether they are rather picked up by mimicking others. I reject the notion of a uniform society, no matter how polite. Being different, being individual should be celebrated in kids as well as in adults.
The story of little Elizabeth’s struggle to be naughty and horrid to achieve her goal of being sent home from Whyteleafe Boarding School drew me in despite myself, but it was more of a detached scientific reading, a fascination with a world that no longer exists in the depicted way if ever it did. At first I thought that I wouldn’t be able to get used to the archaic language, but it didn’t bother me that much after a while.
I am not really familiar with whole literary sub-genre of boarding school setting, but I always had a soft spot for it, glorifying life at boarding school (I did, obviously, never attend one myself). I only owned one or two books set in the BS environment when I was a kid and I adored them.
I seriously doubt the appeal of this book to young children today. There are a few points in its favour:
- the need for a best friends to share joy and worry with
- the desire to do well in school, to please parents and teachers
- the wish to be loved, to be surrounded by the people and objects one loves
- the ability to easily adapt to new surroundings
There are, however, as many points I’d argues make the book inaccessible for today’s youth. Just to mention two:
- the old-fashioned and dated language
- the almost tech-free setting (sports, music, painting, and dancing as opposed to video games, internet, mobile phones, etc.). Then again, the Harry Potter books worked fine without technical gadgetry, but they had spells and potions to counter that lack (not to mention, a lot more suspense with the fight of good vs evil and far more action).
The whole book is extremely feeling-based. The most important thing is to pass the judgement and gain the appraisal of others.
If one were inclined to do so, one could break the entire novel into lessons:
- the pleasure of sharing as opposed to hoarding everything to oneself
- the good deed of saying “I’m sorry”
- pride is wrong and will only hurt oneself
- strength lies within one’s ability to change one’s mind
And so on and so forth. The almost socialist self-governance of the pupils amused me. Of course, this would only work if the world (or a school) were populated by as perfect role models as portrayed here, who’d never abuse the power given to them, and we all know that the world doesn’t work that way (not even in a boarding school micro cosmos).
August 12, 2025
تو زندگیم کتابی به این مسخرگی نخوندم. نه صبر کن کافه پیا...
فکر کن نشستی تو خونت یهو ننت میاد میگه هی یو! بند و بساطتو جمع کن یه هفته دیگه داری میری مدرسه شبانه روزی. معلم خصوصیت هم میگه آره خیلی بچه پررو و بیشخصیتی هستی جمع کن برو دیه نبینیمت یره.
سوار قطار میکننت حتی زحمت نمیدن درست حسابی بیان راهیت کنن خودشون هم یه سال قراره برن عشق و حال. بعد براشون سواله چرا بچه نمیخواد بره مدرسه. تو شرایط عادی هیچ بچه بدبختی تو روز اول دوست پیدا نمیکنه حالا فکر کن یه سری گنده لات زورگو همون اول بسم الله عین کنه بچسبن بهت هی بگم بی تربیت و بی ادب. کی با این اوسکلا دوست میشه آخه؟ یه مدل از حرف زدن باقی بچه های «مودب» با الیزابت «بی ادب»: هوی حواست باشه من حوصله پررو بازی های تو رو ندارم. اون یکی بچه هم که خیر سرش هیئت منصفه بود، موهای این بدبخت رو همون روز اول کشید. این چه جهنم دره ایه؟
خودشون به مدیر ها بگن دیو و دلبر کیلی کیلی فانی بعد این بدبخت گفت یه خوکچه هندی گرفتم شبیه فلان معلمه بهش گفتن بی ادب. خب خوکچه هندی با اون قیافه بانمکش از دیو که بهتره. این خارجیا هم احمقنا.
یارو اختیار نداره روی میزش وسیله ای که میخواد بذاره تازه بابتش مسخره هم میشه!
یه جا جعبه میگردونن و بچه ها رو مجبور میکنن پولشونو که ننه باباشون دادن بندازن تو جعبه که بین بچه ها تقسیم شه. چرا؟؟؟؟ که یه جوری نشه یکی بیشتر خرج کنه یکی کمتر. تازه اگر بخواد بیشتر خرج کنه باید از بقیه اجازه بگیره که پول خودشو برداره. یه (خیلی عذر میخوام) گوزو خانمی هم هست که کیف پول این بدبخت رو برداشته تو هوا تکون میده که آهای اینم کیفش بگیرید. کمونیسم ایز دت یو؟
تازه یه جا گیر دادن بااااییییددددد خوراکی ها تو با ما تقسیم کنی وگرنه بچه بی تربیت و نفرت انگیزی هستی. دقت کنید که اینو بچه های مودب تو روی تازه وارد گفتن. بعد که بچه حالا تعارف نکرده اون بچه های دوست داشتنی هم چیزی به این تعارف نکردن. بعد که بچه خواسته غذاشو تقسیم کنه بهش محل ندادن. خب آخه عقب مونده ها....
اه
فکر کن نشستی تو خونت یهو ننت میاد میگه هی یو! بند و بساطتو جمع کن یه هفته دیگه داری میری مدرسه شبانه روزی. معلم خصوصیت هم میگه آره خیلی بچه پررو و بیشخصیتی هستی جمع کن برو دیه نبینیمت یره.
سوار قطار میکننت حتی زحمت نمیدن درست حسابی بیان راهیت کنن خودشون هم یه سال قراره برن عشق و حال. بعد براشون سواله چرا بچه نمیخواد بره مدرسه. تو شرایط عادی هیچ بچه بدبختی تو روز اول دوست پیدا نمیکنه حالا فکر کن یه سری گنده لات زورگو همون اول بسم الله عین کنه بچسبن بهت هی بگم بی تربیت و بی ادب. کی با این اوسکلا دوست میشه آخه؟ یه مدل از حرف زدن باقی بچه های «مودب» با الیزابت «بی ادب»: هوی حواست باشه من حوصله پررو بازی های تو رو ندارم. اون یکی بچه هم که خیر سرش هیئت منصفه بود، موهای این بدبخت رو همون روز اول کشید. این چه جهنم دره ایه؟
خودشون به مدیر ها بگن دیو و دلبر کیلی کیلی فانی بعد این بدبخت گفت یه خوکچه هندی گرفتم شبیه فلان معلمه بهش گفتن بی ادب. خب خوکچه هندی با اون قیافه بانمکش از دیو که بهتره. این خارجیا هم احمقنا.
یارو اختیار نداره روی میزش وسیله ای که میخواد بذاره تازه بابتش مسخره هم میشه!
یه جا جعبه میگردونن و بچه ها رو مجبور میکنن پولشونو که ننه باباشون دادن بندازن تو جعبه که بین بچه ها تقسیم شه. چرا؟؟؟؟ که یه جوری نشه یکی بیشتر خرج کنه یکی کمتر. تازه اگر بخواد بیشتر خرج کنه باید از بقیه اجازه بگیره که پول خودشو برداره. یه (خیلی عذر میخوام) گوزو خانمی هم هست که کیف پول این بدبخت رو برداشته تو هوا تکون میده که آهای اینم کیفش بگیرید. کمونیسم ایز دت یو؟
تازه یه جا گیر دادن بااااییییددددد خوراکی ها تو با ما تقسیم کنی وگرنه بچه بی تربیت و نفرت انگیزی هستی. دقت کنید که اینو بچه های مودب تو روی تازه وارد گفتن. بعد که بچه حالا تعارف نکرده اون بچه های دوست داشتنی هم چیزی به این تعارف نکردن. بعد که بچه خواسته غذاشو تقسیم کنه بهش محل ندادن. خب آخه عقب مونده ها....
اه
July 5, 2021
Enid Blyton was a huge part of my childhood. She should get most of the credits for making me the reader I am today. The Naughtiest Girl in the School, was one of my favourite series by her. I love Elizabeth Allen, despite her rude and silly behaviour I loved how nice she was inside. And I remember being constantly wanting to study in a boarding school after reading this, Malory Towers and St.Clares series.
May 28, 2018
نمی دونم این کتاب زمان خودش جزو کتابای نوجوان خوب محسوب می شده یا نه ولی می دونم که یکم ماجراها اغراق شده بود و نمی تونستم خیلی خوب باهاش ارتباط برقرار کنم.
به احترام خاطراتم باهاش سه ستاره دادم.
پ.ن:چه عجیب کتابی که سالها پیش خونده بودم رو الان از لیست آثار مترجم موردعلاقه م پیدا کردم
زندگی چه بازیایی داره.
به احترام خاطراتم باهاش سه ستاره دادم.
پ.ن:چه عجیب کتابی که سالها پیش خونده بودم رو الان از لیست آثار مترجم موردعلاقه م پیدا کردم
زندگی چه بازیایی داره.
October 13, 2021
من قبلا وقتی خیلی کوچولو بودم این کتاب رو خونده بودم و خیلی دوستش داشتم. تصمیم گرفتم دوباره بخونمش، چون میخوام یه سری کتاب مناسب نوجوانان معرفی کنم.
خیلی کتاب گوگولی بود و به شدت مناسب برای کودکان و نوجوانان، به خصوص سنین یازده تا چهارده سال، هستش.
خیلی کتاب گوگولی بود و به شدت مناسب برای کودکان و نوجوانان، به خصوص سنین یازده تا چهارده سال، هستش.
August 7, 2021
رمان نوجوان خوب و تر و تمیزیه.
February 4, 2020
* 4.25 out of 5 stars
Reread it in 2020 after almost 17 years... and it was wonderful! Major nostalgic feelings!
Reread it in 2020 after almost 17 years... and it was wonderful! Major nostalgic feelings!
September 22, 2022
A fun tale of a school girl who does all she can to be sent home and is, as the title suggests, very naughty to enable her to get her wish.
March 24, 2017
Uma série ótima, ao nível a que nos habituou Enid Blyton.
February 20, 2018
Selalu suka rasanya tiap baca ulang karya Enid Blyton yang satu ini. Ada beberapa novelnya yang bercerita tentang sekolah asrama tapi seri Si Badung masih menjadi favorit saya.
Saya nyaris berkaca-kaca saat membaca bagian Joan dan ibunya saling mengungkapkan perasaan, dan itu berkat Elizabeth yang karakternya unik dan bikin saya gemes juga mesem-mesem sama ulahnya.
Saya suka konsep sekolahnya. Meski entah mengapa saya kok rasanya agak gimana gitu kalau harus bahas keburukan tiap orang di sesi Rapat Besar. Iya sih, ada hubungannya ke sanksi sosial juga, dan untungnya siswa-siswinya tipe yang ga usil dengan malah jadiin bahan bully-an misalnya. Tapi saya tetap aja agak sedikit pesimis kalau di dunia nyata seperti itu adanya, yang ada malah setelah RB selesai terus jadi bahan olokan kalau lihat polah pelajar masa kini. Soalnya RB kan buka aib seseorang di depan semua orang padahal toh sanksi masih bisa diterapkan dengan adanya skema musyawarah mufakat dengan orang-orang tertentu saja, ga harus melibatkan semua murid. Rasanya seperti kembali ke era natalis konsep demokrasi, hehehe.
Semoga aja saya bakal bahas detail masalah ini di review blog saya. Kalau ga lupa dan rajin cari data, wkwkwk.
Saya nyaris berkaca-kaca saat membaca bagian Joan dan ibunya saling mengungkapkan perasaan, dan itu berkat Elizabeth yang karakternya unik dan bikin saya gemes juga mesem-mesem sama ulahnya.
Saya suka konsep sekolahnya. Meski entah mengapa saya kok rasanya agak gimana gitu kalau harus bahas keburukan tiap orang di sesi Rapat Besar. Iya sih, ada hubungannya ke sanksi sosial juga, dan untungnya siswa-siswinya tipe yang ga usil dengan malah jadiin bahan bully-an misalnya. Tapi saya tetap aja agak sedikit pesimis kalau di dunia nyata seperti itu adanya, yang ada malah setelah RB selesai terus jadi bahan olokan kalau lihat polah pelajar masa kini. Soalnya RB kan buka aib seseorang di depan semua orang padahal toh sanksi masih bisa diterapkan dengan adanya skema musyawarah mufakat dengan orang-orang tertentu saja, ga harus melibatkan semua murid. Rasanya seperti kembali ke era natalis konsep demokrasi, hehehe.
Semoga aja saya bakal bahas detail masalah ini di review blog saya. Kalau ga lupa dan rajin cari data, wkwkwk.
April 14, 2023
Elizabeth Allen is such a rude and provoking child that her governess quits and her parents, in despair, send her to boarding school. To punish them for sending her away, Elizabeth is determined to be the naughtiest girl in the school and thus be expelled as quickly as possible.
My review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
Whyteleafe School is unusual because it is both co-ed and more or less self-governing (in an era where all schools in fiction were single sex and the teachers all powerful). The Head Boy and Girl are portrayed as so wise and so fair that even Elizabeth is disconcerted and impressed by them and longs for approval. Seeing other children thrive in this environment and unexpectedly longing for friends eventually inspire Elizabeth to turn over a new leaf, much to the delight of her schoolmates and parents.
My review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
Whyteleafe School is unusual because it is both co-ed and more or less self-governing (in an era where all schools in fiction were single sex and the teachers all powerful). The Head Boy and Girl are portrayed as so wise and so fair that even Elizabeth is disconcerted and impressed by them and longs for approval. Seeing other children thrive in this environment and unexpectedly longing for friends eventually inspire Elizabeth to turn over a new leaf, much to the delight of her schoolmates and parents.
August 31, 2016
My daughter has really enjoyed this as a chapter book for bedtime reading, thanks to myself enjoying a trip down memory lane she's been up later than usual for "one more chapter" on many a night. I love that my children love books as much as me
May 13, 2021
عالی عالی عالی
در دوران نوجوانی چندین بار خواندم و یادم می آید که بازهم با هربار خواندنش متوجه گذر زمان نمیشدم
در دوران نوجوانی چندین بار خواندم و یادم می آید که بازهم با هربار خواندنش متوجه گذر زمان نمیشدم
Read
December 20, 2022did i read this random book just for the sake of trying to reach my goodreads goal? yes yes i did.
April 25, 2017
A Elizabeth é uma menina mimada e traquinas (e muito rica) que apenas com a aparência encanta qualquer um. A mãe e o pai têm que ir para fora e sua precetora, a Miss Scot , já não a aguenta, portanto a sua única alternativa é ir para um colégio.
Se queres saber se a nossa Elizabeth quer ou não ir ficar ou não ficar no colégio, tens que ler este livro. Acredita é uma caixa de surpresas!!! ;-P <3
Se queres saber se a nossa Elizabeth quer ou não ir ficar ou não ficar no colégio, tens que ler este livro. Acredita é uma caixa de surpresas!!! ;-P <3
April 8, 2017
Meh. Not Blyton's best, despite the catchy title and the appealing cover. I still like The Twins at St Clare's series the best.
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