Book name: The Naughtiest Girl Again
Author: Enid Blyton
Publisher: George Newnes Ltd
Format: Print, ebook
Genre: Vintage children’s books
Publication Date: 1942
Star Rating: 4/5
Elizabeth has previously been dubbed the naughtiest girl in the school.
It’s true that a term at Whyteleafe School has improved her, but she still falls prey to her temper.
When Elizabeth returns to school for a new term she is determined to do better, and everyone is rooting for her.
However, she soon falls back into losing her temper.
Robert is bullying a younger boy. Elizabeth complains about this to a school meeting, but she is unable to prove her case when the younger boy, Peter, is too afraid to tell the truth.
Elizabeth is angry about Robert getting away with it.
Kathleen, who has other reasons for grievance against Elizabeth and her friend Jenny, then starts playing tricks on them.
Garden tools are muddied, leaving John to accuse Elizabeth of not cleaning them. Elizabeth’s school books go missing, getting her into trouble with a teacher.
Worse of all, two of Jenny’s pet mice are taken. They are never seen again.
Kathleen is delighted when Jenny and Elizabeth blame Robert for the tricks.
Robert is annoyed with them for being unjustly accused.
There is so much tension within the school!
My only reservation in what was otherwise a splendid school story was the use of negative physical descriptions to establish that a character was unlikeable. I don’t like that. A person’s physique is not related whether they are nice or not and should never be used in children’s books to establish likeability or otherwise.
The resolution of all the issues comes through the regular school meetings. These are run by older pupils. I was thoroughly impressed by the focus on justice and fairness that shone through in these meetings. Evidence was required before anyone was punished for what they had done.
There was also a pleasing emphasis on reforming character. Empathy was used to enable the other pupils to understand why Robert was bullying younger children. He improved very quickly after understanding himself.
Most school stories don’t feature co-ed schools, so it was lovely to see boys and girls learning together.
Thank you for reading my review.
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