Monthly Online Book Magazine - December 2008
Crammed with page after page of great Christmas gift book ideas!
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book review pages |
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stories & features |
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Archives - worth a look!
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December 2008 Issue - GIRLS GONE BY BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS
The Chalet School Christmas Story Book
Title: The Chalet School Christmas Story Book
Author: Elinor Brent-Dyer and others
Publisher: Girls Gone By
Date: 2007
Pages: 301
Format: Paperback
Series: Chalet School – anthology of original and new material
Description
Christmas in Chalet-land: sleigh rides and carols, shoes full of chocolates and an angelic Robin. Snow, candles and laughter.
Alongside Elinor M. Brent-Dyer’s own tale of 1920s Christmas in the Austrian Tyrol, this new book from Girl’s Gone By has sixteen further stories by Chalet School series enthusiasts, including Helen Barber, Katherine Bruce, Caroline German and Heather Paisley, who have written about the Christmases Elinor never described, from every era in the School’s history.
The book is well illustrated throughout, immaculately produced and would be an ideal addition to any Chalet School fan’s library this Christmas.
Challenge for the Chalet School
Title: Challenge for the Chalet School
Author: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Publisher: Girls Gone By
Date: 2007
Pages: 237
Format: Paperback
Series: Chalet School series number 55
Description
It is a big challenge that the Chalet School has to meet. For the best part of the Christmas term it is deprived of its Head Mistress. However, she has a good substitute and the staff and prefects all back her up. Things are made no easier by the arrival at the school of two new girls each of whom is a problem though each in a different way. Evelyn Ross learns to put other people’s needs and wishes before her own during the first half-term; but it takes practically the whole of the term for Jocelyn Marvell to decide that after all she means to become a real Chalet girl. Before that happens she gets into endless trouble and keeps the school on its toes, wondering what she will do next. Still, the challenge comes for her too in the end, helped on by that old favourite, Mary-Lou Trelawny, who bobs up just when Jocelyn has got herself into a really sticky mess, and comes to the rescue in her own inimitable way.
The Vicarage Children
Title: The Vicarage Children
Author: Lorna Hill
Publisher: Girls Gone By
Date: 2008
Pages: 204
Format: Paperback
Series: The Vicarage Children, number 1
Description
The Vicarage Children is the first title in the Vicarage Children trilogy, the second and third being The Vicarage Children in Skye and More About Mandy.
Set in Northumberland, in the area where Lorna Hill’s husband ministered, the ancient vicarage, near the site of a Roman camp, is a fitting background for the very realistic family and their adventures.
The sympathetic narrator, Mandy, and her toddler brother, Binny, are highly attractive characters, whereas their elder sister, Ally, displays many of the characteristics that so often appear in teenagers today.
The children’s father owns a very beautiful Home Communion set, which features in the story. The original belonged to Lorna Hill’s clergy husband, and is now in the proud possession of Clarissa - GGBP publisher and priest - who has written an introduction about it.
Torley Grange
Title: Torley Grange
Author: Gwendoline Courtney
Publisher: Girls Gone By
Date: 2008
Pages: 276
Format: Paperback
Description
Freedom and fun – Molly Kenrick wished so hard that she might have her share! The other girls at the High School could not understand why her Aunt Jessie was so strict; and certainly life was very dull for Molly.
But suddenly everything changed in the most bewildering way, and Molly found herself in the centre of the merry family at Torley Grange. She had found her freedom – and life was fun!
Mary Carries On by Mary Cadogan
Title: Mary Carries On
Author: Mary Cadogan
Publisher: Girls Gone By
Date: 2008
Pages: 202
Format: Paperback
Description
Mary Cadogan is well known as one of the foremost commentators on girls’ fiction and popular culture. In this book, published to celebrate her eightieth birthday, she provides a wide-ranging, authoritative and entertaining look at girls’ school stories and other period fiction. Among the authors given individual articles are Dorita Fairlie Bruce, Enid Blyton, Elinor M Brent-Dyer, Elsie J Oxenham, L M Montgomery, and Richmal Crompton, while her more general themes include secret societies, feminism, Girl Guide fiction, and story papers. Mary’s meticulous research and critical appraisal combine with her warm and witty style to make this a truly absorbing read. Learn what she considers the almost perfect girls’ school story, where the Silent Three hid their robes, and why Amalgamated Press artists were supposed to show schoolgirls submerged to their armpits whenever swimming costumes were worn. The book is extensively illustrated with pictures from books and story papers.
Susan in the Sixth
Title: Susan in the Sixth
Author: Margaret Biggs
Publisher: Girls Gone By
Date: 2007
Pages: 153
Format: Paperback
Series: Melling series, number 7
Description
Gay, adorable Susan Blake is quite sure that she will be head girl for the coming year at Melling School. After all, who else is there? But Melling’s gentle headmistress chooses Susan’s best friend, Laura Lacey, who then finds her friendship with Susan in danger, for Susan is disappointed and resentful.
The pupils of this pleasant school are all weekly boarders however, and for a time the wedding of Susan’s sister, Helen, puts all else in the background; for Helen, whom everyone loves, is marrying Laura’s brother, Matthew. But, at school, Susan finds that she is not even a success as a prefect, while timid Laura, whom she has guided and protected through the years, grows confident and independent, gradually winning the respect of even the cheekiest junior. Poor Susan knows just how fond of Laura she really is, but pride and misunderstandings stand in the way of reconciliation until, with the discovery of a forgotten letter, Laura breaks down the barrier and the two are friends once more.
In this engaging sequel, readers of the previous books about Melling by Margaret Biggs will meet again the lovable Blake and Lacey families, and their entertaining friends.
This new edition from Girl’s Gone By includes a foreword by Margaret Biggs and the full publishing history of the story.
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