This is ne of the treasures I found in a second-hand children's bookshop Hay-on-Wye when i was there recently – a third edition of ‘Jo of the Chalet School’ by Elinor M Brent-Dyer, published in 1936, with illustrated bookplates intact. This is the second book in the famous series about a girls’ school in the Austrian Tyrol, but was the first one I ever read. I had found a box of them in my grandmother’s attic while staying there on Christmas holidays, and read my way through them. Years later, I asked my grandmother if I could have that box of books and she said she had thrown them in the bin. If only she had known how much they are worth now! A first edition of ‘Book 1: The School at the Chalet’ is now worth a cool $3,600. Brent-Dyer wrote 59 books in the series in total, and they are the longest-surviving series of girls’ school stories every published, having been continuously in print for more than 70 years. More than 100,000 paperback copies are still sold every year. This one was first published in 1926 and is full of quaint expressions and old-fashioned values, but the setting and time is marvellously created and the story is full of charm and humour, just like I remembered.
I liked this much more than the first one so I'm so glad I persisted. I'm getting really attached to the students, especially Joey (who I consider the main character at this point). I still wish most of the adventures would take place within the school and revolve around school activities but I really enjoyed the girls' Christmas spent with a host family nonetheless. The Robin is a lovely addition to the cast, too. At this point I'm considering this an adventure series, not a school series, and reading it as such. A bit frustrated as I really wanted a meaty school series but trying to take it as it comes.
Do You like book Jo Of The Chalet School (2000)?
Who writes these synopses?!The Chalet School now boasts over 30 pupils. Correct The autumn term sees adventures of all kinds - a flood that threatens the school I think you'll find this happens in the EASTER term and the dramatic rescue of an unwanted St Bernard puppy. Oh, well done. Although we don't actually witness the rescue, do we? Finally Joey, Robin and Madge spend a delightful Christmas at Innsbruck. 'Finally'? No, this happens halfway through the book, before the flood. HELLO! Did you read this properly? Lose half of it? Pick up my copy (which consists entirely of loose pages because I've read it so often) and put the pages back in the wrong order?There's not actually a great deal to put into a review of 'Jo of', except a huge health warning: if you have finished this one, and really enjoyed it, watch out! You are about to get sucked in to Chaletworld, a land which gets increasingly bonkers the more time you spend in there. Seriously, stop here.
—Deborah
