Jo of the Chalet School
Synopsis"Why, Madge thinks we may get up to thirty by Christmas, and it's only our second term!"
Joey Bettany is eager for the second term at the Chalet School, founded by her elder sister in the beautiful Tyrolean Alps, to begin. And when Madge and Miss Maynard come back from Innsbruck with a very new pupil, all of Joey's protective instincts are awakened, for little Robin Humphries is only six years old, and the motherless little girl soon wins the hearts of the whole school.
With the winter drawing in, the girls are eager to know how they will fill the cold months, and folk dancing and the school magazine are taken up with enthusiasm. Joey, voted to be editoress, is particularly preoccupied, and when she disappears it is assumed that she has sought a quiet place to work on her editorial. But a search of the school proves fruitless and Madge is at her wits end until a frantic Joey reappears, bringing with her a new addition to the family.
The girls soon forget this latest escapade in the excitement of the arrival of the new singing master - Plato is like no one they have known before, and Joey is distracted from the latest prank of the Middles when her sister is unwell, and then her own carelessness leads to much worry for Madge in turn. Still more excitement when the first issue of the Chaletian arrives, leaving more than one of its young contributors sure where their future lies. The term ends in grand style with the performance of the first Nativity Play, 'The Youngest Shepherd'.
The Bettanys and Robin then spend a magical Christmas in Innsbruck.
The new term at the Chalet is full of excitement; there is to be an ice carnival on the Tiernsee and they girls hope to be able to go. And when Madge declares it unsuitable, some of her pupils are determined to have their fun, with nearly tragic consequences.
Danger is on hand from more natural causes too; the Robin falls into the mill stream tearing down to the lake and then the girls are woken from their sleep by the sounds on flood waters crashing around the Chalet.
But not all of the excitements are unpleasant; Grizel Cochrane returns to school late, following the death of her grandmother, full of the Girl Guide movement and nothing will do but the girls must start a company of their own.
It is an exciting term for Joey on a more personal level too; laid up in bed as the result of her own disobedience she embarks on writing an Elsie book. And with the term drawing to a close, she finds that a story of hers has won a competition. For Joey, this settles things and she announces, "I'm going to start right in now and be an AUTHORESS".
The final excitement for Joey, however, comes from Madge herself, when she announces news that will change both their lives forever.
contributed by Nicky Wade, England __ working from a hardback edition
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