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megs_s's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
ines_polena's review against another edition
2.0
one more book done from Malory Towers!
this collection is quick to read, and it’s the best when I want something light and when I want to get ahead of my Reading Goal of the year.
However, this collection is always the same, the books are childish and the stories always look basic and not that exciting.
but don’t worry, I’m will finish it!
this collection is quick to read, and it’s the best when I want something light and when I want to get ahead of my Reading Goal of the year.
However, this collection is always the same, the books are childish and the stories always look basic and not that exciting.
but don’t worry, I’m will finish it!
nehanibu's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
books_coffee_cornwall's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eline_berk's review against another edition
4.0
Er was een MYSTERIE. Echt deze boeken zijn een en al jeugdsentiment en ik ga er te goed op
emi_2's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sarahlee2000's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kaypat23's review against another edition
3.0
The girls of Malory Towers return! We get all the usual elements found in the original series so some readers may recognize a sense of repetition. As usual, there is a new girl entering the term and there is some fuss about horses. Old characters like Bill and Clarrissa reappear, running a ranch nearby the school and encountering some sinister difficulties from a wolf in sheep's clothing.
In this book, we are introduced to a new girl named Esme who was raised in America. She has some beef with another new girl named Lucy. Lucy is the new horse enthusiast of the story and she becomes Julie's special friend (both girls are horse girls). Esme and Lucy are cousins but their fathers have clashed before, souring things between the 2 girls. The book focuses mostly on them trying to repair their family bond and overcoming their ill feelings.
Pamela Cox continues the tradition of the "American exchange student" which Enid Blyton pioneered in her original series. In Enid's original Malory Towers and St Clare's books, there would always be a student from America who comes to Malory Towers and gets introduced to the sensible, respectable life of an English schoolgirl. However, I deducted some stars because of Esme's hokey American accent. Her trademark word is saying "gee" all the time and this was very annoying. Americans don't talk like that. I counted 10 gees in one page and that's excessive.
Points were also deducted for the overall holier-than-thou message of some characters who demonized makeup on Esme, saying that it is "unbecoming" and "ugly". I also didn't really like how they wanted to change Esme and transform her into an English Rose ala the ugly duckling makeover because she was already unique the way she was. The message that English girls are so much more worthy and have natural beauty because they don't wear makeup is a rather annoying aspect. But I'm glad that Esme stood up for her own individuality at the end. Still, the book pushes the idea of demonizing makeup on school girls which is in itself a more complex and nuanced topic that cannot be just summarized into "makeup bad! Natural beauty good!"
The book also shows how some girly girls can play tennis and still maintain their femininity such as Esme. But I found Mary and Bonnie to be quite annoying because they kept looking down at girls who were more masculine and sporty than they were. I acknowledge that these 2 girls are written as the morally gray and sneaky characters though and we are probably not supposed to like them one hundred percent.
The horse thief side plot was well executed but I felt that the antagonist of this story was a little predictable. I think it would be more satisfying if the ice queen bad girl was more subtle and we did not know about her true intentions at the end. My first impression of her was that she would definitely be the villain at the end and I was right.
Still, it was an entertaining read and a commendable effort from Pamela Cox. If Esme's accent did not annoy me so much, this would have been a 4 star read.
In this book, we are introduced to a new girl named Esme who was raised in America. She has some beef with another new girl named Lucy. Lucy is the new horse enthusiast of the story and she becomes Julie's special friend (both girls are horse girls). Esme and Lucy are cousins but their fathers have clashed before, souring things between the 2 girls. The book focuses mostly on them trying to repair their family bond and overcoming their ill feelings.
Pamela Cox continues the tradition of the "American exchange student" which Enid Blyton pioneered in her original series. In Enid's original Malory Towers and St Clare's books, there would always be a student from America who comes to Malory Towers and gets introduced to the sensible, respectable life of an English schoolgirl. However, I deducted some stars because of Esme's hokey American accent. Her trademark word is saying "gee" all the time and this was very annoying. Americans don't talk like that. I counted 10 gees in one page and that's excessive.
Points were also deducted for the overall holier-than-thou message of some characters who demonized makeup on Esme, saying that it is "unbecoming" and "ugly". I also didn't really like how they wanted to change Esme and transform her into an English Rose ala the ugly duckling makeover because she was already unique the way she was. The message that English girls are so much more worthy and have natural beauty because they don't wear makeup is a rather annoying aspect. But I'm glad that Esme stood up for her own individuality at the end. Still, the book pushes the idea of demonizing makeup on school girls which is in itself a more complex and nuanced topic that cannot be just summarized into "makeup bad! Natural beauty good!"
The book also shows how some girly girls can play tennis and still maintain their femininity such as Esme. But I found Mary and Bonnie to be quite annoying because they kept looking down at girls who were more masculine and sporty than they were. I acknowledge that these 2 girls are written as the morally gray and sneaky characters though and we are probably not supposed to like them one hundred percent.
The horse thief side plot was well executed but I felt that the antagonist of this story was a little predictable. I think it would be more satisfying if the ice queen bad girl was more subtle and we did not know about her true intentions at the end. My first impression of her was that she would definitely be the villain at the end and I was right.
Still, it was an entertaining read and a commendable effort from Pamela Cox. If Esme's accent did not annoy me so much, this would have been a 4 star read.