Book Reviews

Five Go Adventuring Again

by Grace

I have heard the audio book version of this book, I haven't yet read the book itself. I like this story because I had never heard of a tutor before. It sounds horrible to have to study at home during Christmas holidays. I felt very sorry for Julian, Dick, George & Anne.

My Dad used to study Latin and so he enjoyed it when the "via occulta" phrase cropped up. I love the idea of secret passages and there is one that is very important to this story.

Five Go To Smuggler's Top

by Grace's Dad

This is the fourth book in the series and the first in which the Five leave Kirrin Cottage and Kirrin Island for a new location. This adventure takes place in the rather sinister Smuggler's Top house set atop the misty Treadaway hill surrounded by marshes.

Without giving too much of the plot away, the Five stay at Smuggler's Top with school friend Pierre Lenoir (Sooty) and his sister Marybelle. Sooty is a fine companion to the Five and shows commendable pluck and resourcefulness during the adventure.

The servant Block is a sinister character, apparently deaf and rather an unpleasant fellow. It's no wonder that the children do their best to maintain the upper hand over him.

The plot centres around smuggling activity (the clue is in the title after all) and although you can most likely pick out the main villains without too much difficulty the plot unravels in quite a suspenseful manner and the story is well told. The rather foreboding atmosphere of the house is particularly well described.

Timmy is absent for a large part of the book but he is able to play a major part in rounding up the bad guys, as you might expect.

Five Have Plenty of Fun

by Grace's Dad

This is the fourteenth book in the series and has many of the usual ingredients - Kirrin Island, a scientist friend of Uncle Quentin, a slight disdain for the American accent and we see a new character thrust upon the Five - Berta. There is some good humour as Berta's name changes and the family (particularly Uncle Quentin) cannot keep up with the changes as Berta is disguised to avoid the threat of kidnapping.

Needless to say, an adventure soon unfolds and kidnapping is involved. We are re-acquainted with Ragamuffin Jo who helps out and we encounter some fair folk (a popular Blyton theme). Julian and Dick think nothing of breaking and entering to make a thrilling rescue and all ends well as you might expect.