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rayne_1906's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
1 hour 27 minutes - A nice ending to the series - including characters from Darrell's era was quite interesting, and overall a good read.
eline_berk's review against another edition
4.0
Ik ben echt een beetje verdrietig dat deze serie nu klaar is. Ik heb twaalf delen gelezen over Malory Towers en haar leerlingen. Twaalf! En dan te bedenken dat ik de eerste zes nog veel vaker gelezen heb in de oude edities van mijn moeder. Deze serie was een en al nostalgie, en wat ben ik blij dat ik besloot om de boxset aan te schaffen. De 6 nieuwe delen van Pamela Cox waren ook simpelweg subliem! Net als Darrell en Felicity moet ook ik nu gedag zeggen tegen Malory Towers. En wat heb ik een fijne tijd gehad met deze verdomd suffe boeken.
kaypat23's review against another edition
5.0
Malory Towers has come to an end with this final book in the series. Pamela Cox finishes the series with flair and grace, reuniting the old girls of Malory Towers (Darell Rivers & co) and the new girls (Felicity Rivers and her gang). It was quite refreshing to catch up with all the old favorites. We now know that Darell is working as a reporter, Sally is a nurse, Mavis is a famous opera singer and Alicia is working with the police force (putting that sharp brain to good use!). There is also the thrilling case of Gwendolyn Lacy, an ex student of Malory Towers who has come back to teach an etiquette class. For those who remember Gwen in the original series written by Enid Blyton, you'd remember her as a snobbish, spiteful and spoilt girl.
But in this final book, Gwen has greatly changed and is taken down a peg, humbled by her wrongdoings and finally making a true friend. However, her old past comes back to haunt her and most of the story is spent speculating about the identity of a spiteful old enemy who intends to make her teaching career at Malory Towers a big flop!
This book is significant for several reasons which I will list below. I thought it was pretty good and a sensible end to the series.
1. The girls have shown outstanding character growth! I feel they have really matured into understanding, wise and practical people. June has put her rebellious and headstrong ways behind her and decided to train hard to be a games teacher. Felicity Rivers wants to become a doctor. Even the girls who aren't very good at studying and did not take the Higher Cert were not pessimistic about their future. Instead, they chose practical careers that suit their skills. Amy and Bonnie want to set up a premium dress shop, making use of Amy's finances and Bonnie's sewing skills. Alice is going to work for her father and isn't ashamed of it. I liked that the girls' different ambitions were addressed with kindness and understanding. Nobody made fun of each other for being less smart than the others or not knowing what to be yet.
2. We get 2 new characters this term: Lizzie and Edith. Lizzie is a proper wet blanket and stick in the mud who is constantly harassing her sister Edith because she fears Edith is having way too much fun and she isn't studying. Lizzie is so worried about her studies that she neglects time for sports or leisure because she believes she is here on her uncle's charity. How will he react if he finds out that Edith has been making friends with Daffy and planning a midnight feast?
Lizzie's serious character is a fascinating foil to the other girls because she is the only girl who is too interested in studying to have any other hobbies. There's a wake-up call and a message to lead a balanced life in this book too because the other girls soon put Lizzie firmly in her place. I like how Lizzie learns not to control her sister's life and allows Edith to make her own decisions and mistakes.
3. The mystery of Gwen's spiteful enemy was sustained and well-organized. We get a few strange events happening and there are accusations abound as it seems that someone really has it out for Gwen. Masquerading as her, stealing her things, wrecking her classroom...I think this might be the most brutal treatment of a teacher anyone has ever seen! The book dealt with the malicious individual very maturely and revealed that sometimes, the people we think are innocent can turn out to be very sly and vicious on the inside. Looks can be deceiving. But on the other hand, it also showed us that what comes around goes around. Gwen's beastly personality in her younger days finally came back to haunt her and what a haunting that was!
The ending was great as well and I'm pretty glad the series came to an end. The character traits and events are a bit repetitive at times but I mostly read this to relax anyway so I don't mind.
But in this final book, Gwen has greatly changed and is taken down a peg, humbled by her wrongdoings and finally making a true friend. However, her old past comes back to haunt her and most of the story is spent speculating about the identity of a spiteful old enemy who intends to make her teaching career at Malory Towers a big flop!
This book is significant for several reasons which I will list below. I thought it was pretty good and a sensible end to the series.
1. The girls have shown outstanding character growth! I feel they have really matured into understanding, wise and practical people. June has put her rebellious and headstrong ways behind her and decided to train hard to be a games teacher. Felicity Rivers wants to become a doctor. Even the girls who aren't very good at studying and did not take the Higher Cert were not pessimistic about their future. Instead, they chose practical careers that suit their skills. Amy and Bonnie want to set up a premium dress shop, making use of Amy's finances and Bonnie's sewing skills. Alice is going to work for her father and isn't ashamed of it. I liked that the girls' different ambitions were addressed with kindness and understanding. Nobody made fun of each other for being less smart than the others or not knowing what to be yet.
2. We get 2 new characters this term: Lizzie and Edith. Lizzie is a proper wet blanket and stick in the mud who is constantly harassing her sister Edith because she fears Edith is having way too much fun and she isn't studying. Lizzie is so worried about her studies that she neglects time for sports or leisure because she believes she is here on her uncle's charity. How will he react if he finds out that Edith has been making friends with Daffy and planning a midnight feast?
Lizzie's serious character is a fascinating foil to the other girls because she is the only girl who is too interested in studying to have any other hobbies. There's a wake-up call and a message to lead a balanced life in this book too because the other girls soon put Lizzie firmly in her place. I like how Lizzie learns not to control her sister's life and allows Edith to make her own decisions and mistakes.
3. The mystery of Gwen's spiteful enemy was sustained and well-organized. We get a few strange events happening and there are accusations abound as it seems that someone really has it out for Gwen. Masquerading as her, stealing her things, wrecking her classroom...I think this might be the most brutal treatment of a teacher anyone has ever seen! The book dealt with the malicious individual very maturely and revealed that sometimes, the people we think are innocent can turn out to be very sly and vicious on the inside. Looks can be deceiving. But on the other hand, it also showed us that what comes around goes around. Gwen's beastly personality in her younger days finally came back to haunt her and what a haunting that was!
The ending was great as well and I'm pretty glad the series came to an end. The character traits and events are a bit repetitive at times but I mostly read this to relax anyway so I don't mind.
kat_hart08's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I really do hate endings. If I could I would absolutely continue reading Pamela Cox’s writing of Malory Towers.
michelleful's review against another edition
4.0
I think this was a decent ending to a decent but not terribly stellar continuation of the Malory Tower series, though I did think it a pity that when we finally get to see someone from below stairs,
Still, I loved the original books as a kid, and I'll probably never tire of revisiting them every few years. I probably won't be revisiting the continuations, but I could see a kid just starting out and reading them all through treating them all the same and having them all be a collective part of their nostalgia when they grow up.
Spoiler
she turns out to be a petty thief. I think bringing back Darrell and the others for a reunion was a fun choice, but it also took away from Felicity and her own achievements. She doesn't really get to do a lot in this book. I was happy to see all the old girls' new careers, including the memorable Gwendoline Lacey's, unlikely as it is that all of them are pursuing careers after university during that time period.Still, I loved the original books as a kid, and I'll probably never tire of revisiting them every few years. I probably won't be revisiting the continuations, but I could see a kid just starting out and reading them all through treating them all the same and having them all be a collective part of their nostalgia when they grow up.
rachachase1702's review against another edition
4.0
And the re-read is over! I really enjoyed revisiting this series.
Perhaps in ten years I'll return for another round...
Perhaps in ten years I'll return for another round...
samjaymc's review against another edition
3.0
Once again, Pamela Cox does Enid Blyton justice as she allows readers to follow Felicity, June, Susan, Alice and their classmates through their final term at Malory Towers.
For their final term, Miss Grayling has a suprise in store for the sixth formers. Gwendoline Lacey, Darrell's old classmate, returns to Malory Towers as a mistress, who will be teaching the girls etiquette amongst other things.
Little do they know that much more will happen in their final term at Malory Towers then they expected. Much more!
For their final term, Miss Grayling has a suprise in store for the sixth formers. Gwendoline Lacey, Darrell's old classmate, returns to Malory Towers as a mistress, who will be teaching the girls etiquette amongst other things.
Little do they know that much more will happen in their final term at Malory Towers then they expected. Much more!
crystalmethany's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable still, however the plot seemed jumpy and characters seemed a little duller. It was difficult to grasp what Gwen's personality is like after a few years, and the author never seems to make up her mind what to do with her. The feature of the maids (or rather just maid) felt terribly out of place and was completely unbelievable, and while the old girls' reunion was a lovely idea, there were characters missing without explanation and those who were present were given very little chance to show any of their personality. Felicity encountered no real bumps in the road in her time as head girl, and she is so lacking in personality that she is quite the Mary-Sue in the end, as is Susan. The most interesting characters we encounter in the six follow-up books are Bonnie and Olive, the latter of which is only around for one book and the other gets little time to shine after her introductory story. Cox recycles many plots from the original series, which, plus the very similar set of characters, makes for rather repetitive reading at times.
annebeth's review against another edition
4.0
Another great nostalgic book! This one was even better with loads of references to the Darrell series and guest appearances.