Number 46 in the original chronology, involving five girls who are not (yet) Chalet School pupils, and indeed have taken a strong dislike to the school. This is mainly because, in the first chapter, they are caught trying to do something dangerous…

Alongside life in the Chalet School, we read about these children who have relatives in the Sanatorium, and who spend a lot of the time roaming around the area, finding both good and not-so-good things to do.

There’s a fair amount of Joey Maynard in this book, which is always a plus point in my view. Her wisdom and parenting ideas come through quite strongly, as does her compassion. The triplets have positive parts to play too.

I had entirely forgotten the storyline of this, having not read it for probably twenty years or more. Some is predictable, but the vendetta against the school adds an interesting twist, and there’s a more sober subplot involving Mary-Lou and her family-by-marriage.

My edition is one of the original hardbacks, so it’s a full edition; the Armada paperbacks were somewhat abridged. ( )