Jo of the Chalet School
Key Facts (Possible Spoilers)
School facts:
The action takes place during the second and third terms at the Chalet School at
Briesau
Madge Bettany is headmistress
Series Characters Whereabouts:
Gisela Marani is head-girl
Jo Bettany is a Middle
Robin Humphries is School 'baby'
When Joey disappears from school early in the Christmas Term, she reappears "cuddling a roly poly ball of a puppy to her, crying, her clothes torn". A poor family has been forced to drown the pups of its dog, and Joey has only been able to save one. Rufus becomes as much one of the family as the Robin.
The excitement of the end of the Christmas term soon fades into the background for Madge, Joey and the Robin, who are to spend their first Austrian Christmas in Innsbruck with Bernhilda and Frieda Mensch and their family. Christmas shopping and skiing are followed by Mass in the great Hof Kirche and then the glories of Christmas Day; music, sleigh ride and finally the beautiful Christmas tree make a perfect holiday for the family three.
"Well, we had the most glorious time, and the splendidest Christmas I've ever known," Joey, heaved a little sigh.
The Chalet Girls make their first rebellion against the edict against slang; Jo is the ringleader in a campaign to speak only Shakespearian English.
When Madge forbids the girls to attend the ice carnival, Joey, Marie, Frieda, Simone and Paula defy her and sneak out of school, determined to have a good time. But Joey is no expert and, intent on watching Marie show off her skill, she trips and falls into the path of an oncoming skater.
Good comes from the near tragedy, however, for that skater is no other than Jem Russell who, finding himself with an excuse to visit the Chalet often, wastes no time in making himself invaluable to Madge.
He plans to settle at the Sonnalpe above the Tiernsee, and he wants nothing more than to carry off the pretty head of the Chalet School with him.
contributed by Nicky Wade, England __ working from a hardback edition