Five on a Treasure Island - Famous Five by Enid Blyton
| Five on a Treasure Island - Famous Five by Enid Blyton | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: A nostalgic look back at the books I read as a child but I'm not certain that they're going to appeal to today's readers. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 192 | Date: May 1942 |
| Publisher: Hodder Children's Books | |
| ISBN: 978-1444908657 | |
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Julian, Dick and Anne can't go on their usual holiday this summer and to make matters worse their mother tells them that their father wants her to go on holiday to Scotland with him and without the children. (No. Don't say it. Please.) She's no idea what she's going to do with the children until their father has the idea of sending them to their Aunt and Uncle at Kirrin Bay. Apparently the Aunt and Uncle need the money and they have a daughter, Georgina, who doesn't have many friends a refer to be known as George. In fact - she won't answer to anything else. Surprisingly the children are excited and the family sets off on the long journey from London.
When I was a child I loved these books. Up to the age of about ten I devoured every one that I could get my hands on and read them so many times that I could just about recite them. When I was a parent of a child of the same age I - well, I gently nudged my daughter away from the books, plying her with others which seemed better. In retrospect I wasn't keen on the sexist attitudes, although these were, in fairness, common at the time the books were written. And whilst the stories were exciting the vocabulary was limited and the dialogue frequently wooden.
So, how did I feel reading them as a grandparent? Well - nostalgic is the simple answer. I had a strong sense that I ought to be reading them under the blankets with a torch. Would I buy them for my grandchildren? I'd probably give them as a curiosity with the aim of provoking a discussion about how attitudes had changed. I know exactly what my feisty granddaughter would have to say!
This latest edition from Hodder features a cover illustration by Quentin Blake. The first five books in the series are illustrated in aid of House of Illustration and we've seen Five Go Adventuring Again illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, Five Run Away Together illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark, Five Go To Smuggler's Top illustrated by Oliver Jeffers and Five Go Off in a Caravan illustrated by Chris Riddell.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending these books to the Bookbag. Fot more books which have stood the test of time, have a look at our Top Ten Classics of Children's Literature.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Five on a Treasure Island - Famous Five by Enid Blyton 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 Five on a Treasure Island - Famous Five by Enid Blyton at Amazon.com.
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