New Term at Malory Towers by Pamela Cox (author) and Enid Blyton (creator)
| New Term at Malory Towers by Pamela Cox (author) and Enid Blyton (creator) | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Karen Inskip-Hayward
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| Summary: A nice nostalgia trip for us older readers and a fun read for the kids. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 208 | Date: May 2009 |
| Publisher: Egmont Books | |
| ISBN: 978-1405244725 | |
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When I was a child, I absolutely adored reading Enid Blyton's books and at one time, I owned eighty of hers! My very favourites were the series set in Malory Towers, a boarding school for girls. As a child, I loved reading these books and wished I could go to Malory Towers too and join in all the fun of lacrosse, dormitories and midnight feasts! So when I saw Pamela Cox had written some new Malory Towers books for the Enid Blyton range, I wanted to read one and see if that old magic was there.
The back cover says the book is suitable for nine year olds and above. I think girls up to around fourteen would enjoy this and there is certainly nothing to worry about, if you give these books to a child. They follow the Enid Blyton tradition – everything is jolly and innocent and fun. Of course, there are bad things that happen, but you can be guaranteed a happy resolution and a good moral message.
As the book is set in the school, you get to meet the schoolgirls and the staff. Where the former series I read in the 1980s starred Darrell Rivers, these feature her younger sister Felicity. This presents a good continuity from the older books, so new readers could read both series in order or just start with the new ones. Felicity is a wonderful heroine – essentially a good character, but not too good or perfect as to seem boring.
This book follows Felicity and the other third formers through a term at school. We meet her best friend Susan, the prankster June, the spiteful Veronica and the new girls Amy and Bonnie, amongst the other girls. The staff are full of variety too with the French mistresses, the horse-loving Miss Peters and the kindly headmistress Miss Grayling.
With all good books, there are conflicts and dilemmas. Amy seems rather snobbish and Bonnie is far too clingy, but will the other girls help them to change their ways and fit in? Who will be the Head Girl for the year? Will June play many good tricks this term and how will she get on with fellow trickster Freddie?
It is a gentle read and an enjoyable one, with around 200 pages to the novel and about ten pages to a chapter, so it shouldn't seem too daunting for young readers. I am not sure whether the style and some of the language would seem strange to modern readers, but my sixteen-year-old daughter loved all the Enid Blyton books when she was younger, so I doubt the idiosyncratic language would be a problem.
Sadly, I didn't find New Term at Malory Towers as good as the books I read as a child, but I think that may be due to my increased age rather than any fault with the books. I won't be reading any more of the new series, but if my youngest daughter enjoys this one, I would definitely buy her some more.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
If this book appeals then we think you might also enjoy First Term at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant.
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You can read more book reviews or buy New Term at Malory Towers by Pamela Cox (author) and Enid Blyton (creator) at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy New Term at Malory Towers by Pamela Cox (author) and Enid Blyton (creator) at Amazon.com.
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Wendy J Jenkins said:
Just to comment on Pamela Cox additions to the Malory Tower and St Clares series. I also read and loved these Enid Blyton books and wished I could go to Malory Towers. I am now 60 years old and have bought and read all the Pamela Cox additions. I think they are, as Felicity would say, "jolly good fun" or "smashing". A really good innocent, moral book for 9 years +. Pamela has maintained the theme set by Enid Blyton extremely well and the character's are still true to the original style. I read many books of different topics and themes and occasionally get tired of reading new material, I will then pick up all the Malory Towers books and read in quick succesion knowing that I will have an easy read were I will often smile and laugh. Well done Pamela Cox.
